About This Aircraft
The Avro Vulcan XM655 is one of the most remarkable surviving examples of the Vulcan fleet, holding the distinction of being one of only three remaining taxiable Vulcans and the youngest surviving example. Built in 1964, this B.2 variant was the antepenultimate (third to last) Vulcan produced and is the only operational Vulcan equipped with the most powerful Bristol Olympus 301 engines.
XM655 was completed on 19th November 1964 and delivered to No. 9 Squadron at RAF Cottesmore in November of that year, having flown only 5,744 hours during its RAF service life. The aircraft transferred to the Waddington Wing in January 1968, where it served with Nos. 101, 44, and finally 50 Squadron. During its operational career, XM655 was part of Britain's nuclear deterrent force throughout the 1960s and 1970s, maintaining the continuous readiness that characterised the V-Force during the height of the Cold War.
The aircraft was retired from RAF service in late 1983 and became the first Vulcan to be "civilianised" when it was sold to businessman Roy Jacobsen of Croydon. XM655 was flown into Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield on 11th February 1984, about a week after completing a Category 3 Check, making it a very viable proposition for continued flight operations. Hundreds of people gathered to watch this historic arrival.
Jacobsen had ambitious plans to keep XM655 airworthy and operate it on the airshow circuit. The aircraft was initially registered as G-VULC on the British civil register, and later as N655AV on the American register as part of plans to operate it in the United States. However, the Civil Aviation Authority made it clear that stringent conditions would need to be satisfied before the aircraft could fly again under civilian rules, and the costs proved prohibitive.
After two years, Jacobsen lost interest in XM655 and purchased another Vulcan (XL426) instead. XM655 was left to deteriorate at Wellesbourne for many years as parking fees mounted. Eventually, the airfield owners took Jacobsen to court to recover the accumulated fees, resulting in ownership of the aircraft passing to Wellesbourne Airfield. Ten years of neglect had put paid to any lingering hopes of the aircraft ever flying again.
The aircraft's fortunes began to improve when Delta Engineering was formed to tackle the restoration project. After Delta moved from Wellesbourne to Kemble in March 1996, the remaining volunteers formed the 655 Maintenance and Preservation Society (655MaPS) in late 1998 to properly care for XM655. This volunteer organisation of Vulcan enthusiasts has since assembled an impressive collection of workshops, storage units, and ground equipment to support the aircraft.
Under 655MaPS stewardship, XM655 underwent comprehensive restoration work and made its first public taxi run at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield on 16th February 1997, with two more runs later that year. Since then, the aircraft has made more or less annual public taxi runs, usually in June as part of the Wellesbourne Wings and Wheels show, until operations were suspended in 2016 due to airfield development issues.
XM655 has played an important supporting role for other Vulcan preservation efforts. The aircraft was used by the crews of XH558 for currency and ground training when only ground running was required or when XH558 was unavailable due to maintenance. XM655 has also appeared in several video documentaries about the Vulcan, Falklands operations, and the Royal Air Force.
The aircraft maintains unique capabilities among preserved Vulcans. All aircraft systems are powered up and exercised regularly, the rear spar has been inspected and found to be in excellent condition, and XM655 keeps fuel in its tanks at all times to maintain the system and seals in proper condition. It remains substantially complete, even featuring a bomb bay filled with fibreglass replica bombs.
A dramatic incident occurred on Friday 16th September 2022, when XM655 suffered a runway excursion during a practice run for a public event. A faulty airspeed indicator resulted in the aircraft remaining at full power for approximately two seconds longer than intended, causing excessive speed and insufficient stopping distance. The aircraft passed beyond the end of the runway, stopping just before the airfield perimeter in soft ground. The Vulcan to the Sky Trust assisted with the complex recovery operation, which required multiple recovery trucks, mini-excavators, and the movement of over 2,500 cubic metres of soil to extract the aircraft.
Despite this setback, XM655 appears to have escaped serious damage from the incident. The 655MaPS continues their dedicated work to maintain this remarkable aircraft in taxiable condition, making it available for visits every Saturday and planning future public events. XM655 stands as a testament to volunteer dedication and represents the only opportunity for the public to experience a Vulcan with its original Olympus 301 engines in operational condition.
Today, XM655 remains at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, where it continues to serve as an important piece of living Cold War heritage, demonstrating the engineering excellence of the Vulcan programme whilst providing a unique insight into Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent capabilities during one of the most critical periods in modern history.
