Sutton Publishing, Motorbooks International

The Vulcan Story

by  Peter R March

Reviewed By  Paul Bradley, IPMS# 35554

MSRP: $17.99 The Vulcan was an iconic British aircraft. Designed at the end of World War II, in service in the fifties and serving until 1982, the huge delta was the epitome of Britain's nuclear deterrent force. Now it looks like a new generation of aviation enthusiasts will have the chance to experience the Vulcan's distinctive take-off - I remember the feeling that every molecule in my body was been shaken apart - as one example is restored to flying condition for the 2007 airshow season. This postcard-sized book is evidently intended as a fundraiser for the Vulcan To The Sky Trust, the organization charged with restoring and operating this unique aircraft. It is also evident that the book is intended as a primer on the subject, tripping lightly as it does across the history of the Vulcan and the era to which it belonged. At 71/2" by 5", and with just 120 pages, you know that the detail here is pretty general, but that will not detract from the usefulness of this book to the younger or less-knowledgeable reader in its introductory task; indeed, author March writes well within these parameters. The Vulcan is a very photogenic aircraft, especially in flight, and so it is pleasing to see so many nice photos included. I particularly liked the shot of the all-white Vulcan with Skybolt missile mock-ups under the wings; though it is a shame that it is broken across the spine! March details the development and operational history of the Vulcan, including some details of the Falklands War, where Vulcans were used in anger for the first and last time, right before the type's demise. The author then details the efforts by the RAF to keep a Vulcan flying for display purposes, the demise of that team, and the story of the preservation and restoration of XH558, the Vulcan now slated to fly in 2007. Really, that story deserves a book in and of itself and it is to be hoped that this small volume is just a taster for that in the future. Frankly, the book serves its purpose well, but is not one for the dedicated modeler as it holds little real value in that respect. But for the general aviation enthusiast, this is a book that I can recommend. The Vulcan Story is available from Motorbooks International - please visit their website for details on ordering and shipping costs. Our sincere thanks to them for the review sample.

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