"They have retreated, our troops have reached the outskirts of Port Stanley. A large number of Argentinian soldiers have lain down their arms. White flags are flying over Port Stanley. Our troops have been issued the command to shoot only in self-defence. Discussions among the commanders on the capitulation of the Argentinian troops in the Falklands have begun."
- British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, reporting on the British victory over Argentine forces, June 14th, 1982

The Avro Vulcan, sometimes referred to as the Hawker Siddeley Vulcan, is a delta wing subsonic jet strategic bomber that was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1953 until 1984. It was developed in response to a specification released by the Air Ministry. At the time, both jet engines and delta wings were considered cutting-edge and relatively unexplored; thus, the small-scale Avro 707 was produced to test the principles of the design. In flight, the Vulcan was an agile aircraft for its size.

The Vulcan B.1 was first delivered to the RAF in 1956. In service, the Vulcan was armed with nuclear weapons and was a part of the RAF's V bomber force, the United Kingdom's airborne deterrent against aggression from other powers such as the Soviet Union during the Cold War. In addition to an extensive electronic countermeasures suite, the Vulcan had a small radar cross-section, aiding its deterrent role by evading detection and therefore increasing the likelihood of penetrating Soviet airspace and deploying its weapons load successfully. A second batch of aircraft, the B.2, was produced with new features, including a larger wing and greater fuel capacity, along with more advanced electronics and radar systems.

The B.2s were adapted into several other variants, the B.2A carrying the Blue Steel missile, the B.2 (MRR) for Marine Radar Reconnaissance use, and the K.2 tanker for air-to-air refuelling. The Vulcan was also used in the secondary role of conventional bombing near the end of its service life in the 1982 Falklands War against Argentina during Operation Black Buck. One example, XH558, was recently restored for use in display flights and commemoration of the employment of the aircraft in the Falklands conflict.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a RAF Avro Vulcan B.2 strategic bomber that is assigned to The Vulcan Restoration Trust. Pre-order! Ship Date: September 2026.

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 22-inches
Length: 22-1/2-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "In Vulcans We Trust" - The Avro Vulcan remains one of the most spectacular and cherished British aircraft ever to take to the skies. XL426 served as the RAF's Vulcan Display Flight aircraft, thrilling millions at airshows across the nation before being deemed 'no longer required' and sold to a private buyer in 1986. Her final flight was a brief 20-minute delivery hop from RAF Scampton to Southend Airport, where she has resided ever since under the dedicated stewardship of the Vulcan Restoration Trust.

In March 1997, XL426 performed her first fast taxi demonstration along Southend's main runway, an event that has since become a phenomenon among aviation enthusiasts. These high-speed runs offer a rare 'living' Vulcan experience, with the thunderous roar of her engines drawing spectators from across the country.

Even holidaymakers aboard modern Airbus jets pause to watch in awe as this magnificent delta-winged bomber trumpets down the runway, a testament to the enduring affection the British public holds for this remarkable aircraft.