BOLTON and Leigh residents who look to the skies this weekend will witness a poignant moment in aviation history.
The last airworthy Vulcan will fly over Westhoughton, Atherton and Tyldesley on Saturday as part of a farewell trip around Britain.
The Cold War era bomber will pass over the towns en route between Warton Aerodrome near Preston and Barton City Airport, Manchester.
The delta-winged aircraft – the last airworthy example of Britain’s ‘V Force’ –will then head to Woodford aerodrome, near Stockport, where the Vulcans were designed and built by Avro.
Alongside the Valiant and Victor aircraft, Vulcans carried Britain’s nuclear deterrent before it transferred to Trident submarines.
Vulcan XH558 was restored to airworthy condition by the Vulcan to the Sky charity, but its age and high number of accumulated flying hours have seen partners withdraw technical support for the aircraft.
Exact timings of the fly-past have not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to be around 3pm.
After taking off from Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster the Vulcan is expected over the west of Bolton, also passing by Horwich and Blackrod, before it arrives at Barton.
Other farewell trips by the Vulcan are planned for the end of October, before the aircraft is finally retired.
On Sunday, the Vulcan will perform an orbital trip around the south of Britain.
We’re looking for your images and videos of the Vulcan on Saturday. Send your images to webdesk@theboltonnews.co.uk, via Facebook through facebook.com/theboltonnews, or Twitter @TheBoltonNews
For more on this Saturday's event, click here
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