About This Aircraft
The Avro Vulcan XM603 is a preserved Cold War strategic bomber with a unique and significant heritage, holding the distinction of being the only Vulcan in the world preserved in the original anti-flash white paint scheme. Built in 1963, this B.2 variant has an extraordinary story of preservation at its birthplace.
XM603 rolled off the production line at Avro's Woodford assembly plant in November 1963, making its first flight on 15th November of the same year and entering RAF service in December 1963. During its operational career, the aircraft served with multiple squadrons including Nos. 9, 12, 35, 44, 50, and 101 Squadrons as part of Britain's V-Force nuclear deterrent. By the time of its retirement, XM603 had accumulated 5,733 flying hours, including operational deployments to the Far East, Canada, and Cyprus.
The aircraft's final flight took place on 12th March 1982, when it was flown back to its birthplace at Woodford by Charles Masefield (later Sir Charles Masefield). This homecoming was symbolic, as XM603 became one of the few Vulcans to return to where it was built rather than being dispersed to various museums around the country.
Following retirement, XM603 was immediately repainted in its original overall anti-flash white scheme - the distinctive bright white finish designed to reflect the thermal radiation from nuclear explosions. This makes XM603 unique among preserved Vulcans, as it's the only one to carry this historically significant livery. The original scheme was first shown to the public at the Woodford RAFA Airshow in June 1983.
For over two decades, XM603 was lovingly maintained by the XM603 Club and the Woodford Vulcan Team. During this period, three of its four Olympus engines were kept in running condition, and the aircraft received various maintenance including the installation of a new rudder. However, the preservation team was disbanded in 2002, leaving the aircraft's future uncertain.
By 2008, XM603 faced an increasingly bleak future as it sat abandoned and slowly deteriorating. BAE Systems' departure from Woodford raised serious concerns about the aircraft's survival, with some fearing it would be quietly scrapped. However, the aircraft played a vital role in supporting other Vulcan preservation efforts, providing engines to XM655 at Wellesbourne and serving as a test platform for various studies to help keep XH558 airworthy.
The aircraft's fortunes began to improve when BAE Systems donated a parcel of land including the former fire station to the Avro Heritage Trust. In 2015, an ambitious restoration project began with the erection of a temporary scaffolding structure covered in white sheeting to protect the aircraft during refurbishment work. Volunteers undertook extensive sanding, painting, and structural repairs to ensure the aircraft's long-term preservation.
The external restoration was completed and unveiled in October 2016, with XM603 looking exactly as it would have when it first rolled out of the Woodford Flight Sheds in 1963. Since then, volunteers have continued working on restoring the cockpit and electrical systems, with the navigation systems becoming functional by 2020 and the bomb doors operational as well.
Today, XM603 is the centrepiece of the Avro Heritage Museum at Woodford, which opened to the public in November 2015. The aircraft stands proudly outside the museum as a testament to both the engineering excellence of the Vulcan programme and the dedication of the volunteers who saved it from an uncertain fate. As the only Vulcan preserved in anti-flash white, XM603 provides visitors with a unique glimpse into how these nuclear deterrent aircraft appeared during the height of the Cold War.
