The Avro (A. V. Roe and Co.)/ Hawker Siddeley Vulcan was designed in the 1950s in response to the development of high-altitude, subsonic nuclear bombers by the USSR, and was the second of three types of 'V' bombers ordered by the UK Government, after the Vickers Valiant, and the Handley Page Victor. The Vulcan entered service with the RAF in 1956, and was initially intended to be used to deliver nuclear weaponry onto the cities and strategic installations of the Soviet Union, in the event of the Cold War heating up. As the focus of nuclear capabilities shifted toward submarine and ground-based missiles, however, the Vulcan's role also shifted to that of strategic bombing, and was most notably used during the Falklands War, in the longest raids ever carried out by bombers until the 1990s, codenamed the Blackbuck raids. With the advancement of technology of nuclear missiles, and the development of multi-role aircraft, such as the Panavia Tornado and SEPECAT Jaguar, the Vulcan was retired from RAF service in 1984.

The aircraft pictured, Avro Vulcan XL318, is a Vuclan B Mk.II variant, and first flew in August 1961, serving with the RAF for 20 years before being retired from active service in December 1981, with a total of 6094 flying hours. Most of her time was spent based at RAF Scampton with 617SQN (The Dambusters), flying training exercises and display flights around North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and would remain an aircraft of the squadron until 617 was disbanded in January 1982.

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