My full name is Avro Vulcan B Mark 2, although that's far too much of a mouthful for most people, so most call me by my number XH558, or just FiveFiveEight. You can see my name on my tail.

It was a beautiful sunny day when, in July 1960, the doors at Woodford in Cheshire opened, and I took my first steps outside. Immediately, people were impressed with my sheer size ... I'm wider than thirteen buses, almost as long, and weigh more than eighty buses! I think you'll agree, that IS quite big! Of course, if I only had one engine like a bus, I wouldn't get very far, so Avro gave me FOUR!

Almost immediately I started working for the Royal Air Force, whose job it is to protect Britain, and sometimes other countries too. The British Army protect us on land, the Royal Navy look after the sea, and the RAF keep our skies safe. I knew straight away just what an important job I had ... although there were more than one hundred other Vulcans to help!

Even though I had been working hard for nearly thirty years, I am best remembered for my final job - I was the RAF's display Vulcan, appearing at many airshows, from 1986 until I retired in 1993. Ever since, I've longed for the day when I might fly again, and luckily thousands of people were determined to make it happen.

In October 2007, my dreams came true!