Early access with Crew Bus ticket for Avro Vulcan B.Mk2 XM655 Sunset & Night Shoot at Wellesbourne

About this event

Join us for this one of a kind opportunity at Wellesbourne Airfield which includes a 2 hour photo shoot with crew bus 'Spiney Norman', followed by the full sunset and night shoot with XM655 experience. This session will begin at 11:30 and will give you exclusive access to the crew bus which will be positioned on the edge of the airfield to allow for clean backdrops, just as it would of been in the 1950's & 60's. With a full Vulcan crew and the addition of a couple of ground crew our intention is to offer a small group of photographers exclusive internal access for some 'making it real' cameos along with some great opportunities outside the bus before we head into the main event that starts around 14.00. 

This is the first time we have had use of crew bus Spiney Norman with great thanks to Solway Aviation Museum who have agreed to transporting her from Carlisle for our event. This will be a one off shoot with the bus and will not be repeated so one not to miss. We only have 10 spaces available for this session to ensure plenty of room to be creative. The shoot will run from 11:30-13:30 with the main Vulcan event starting from 14:30-19:30 so you have a break between the shoots for refreshments. While she will feature in our main shoot she will be more a prop than the star attraction so if you want some lovely period close ups of her and the Vulcan crew be sure not to miss this opportunity. 

The Bedford crew bus as well as serving in the RAF during the50's & 60's also saw a moment of fame when she featured on an episode of Bangers & Cash.

This ticket includes the later full Vulcan experience shoot, of which the details are here - 

We are extremely pleased to be returning to Wellesbourne in 2025 to continue our support of this much loved Avro Vulcan plus the brand new added addition of a Crew Bus. With the continued uncertainty over the airfield we feel this support is vital as not only does it raise much needed funds it also helps to raise awareness of this icon through the huge untold marketing of the wonderful images captured on these events. So come with us as we recreate scenes of a bygone age when the Vulcan was the mainstay of the UK's Cold War V Force and latter day Bomber Command. If you've been to a previous event you know just how great an opportunity this is, and if you have been before make a return as there are always different images to capture.

Avro Vulcan XM655 was third from last of the Vulcan bombers produced for the Royal Air Force, being delivered in late 1964, and was part of the UK's nuclear deterrent force throughout the 1960s and 1970s. It is now owned by Wellesbourne Airfield, and is looked after by 655 Maintenance and Preservation Society (655MaPS) which is a volunteer organisation of Vulcan enthusiasts. XM655 is one of only two Vulcans remaining in ground running condition, the only one with the most powerful of the engine variants, the Bristol Olympus 301s. The aim of 655MaPS is to keep this fine example of British engineering in running condition for as long as possible and to raise much needed funds by showing her off to the adoring public on a regular basis with 'fast taxi runs'. 

It was 55 years ago when XM655 first entered service with the RAF and 36 years since her landing at her then new home of Wellesbourne Airfield. Our first event back in November 2014 was part of the celebrations to mark these milestones and saw just under a hundred photographers gather to capture some very special images so returning in 2023 is going to be another special event for us, some 8 years after our first event.

The Vulcan event will start at 14:30 with a welcome address from the Chairman of 655MaPS. Shortly after this we will start our photography taking advantage of the late Autumn afternoon light. There will be various cameos set up for you to enjoy, these will include ‘Cold War’ Re-Enactors that will be playing the parts of Ground Crew and Airman. The Society have some wonderful equipment that will also be at our disposal such as a genuine tug, towing arm and of course the all important payload loaded in the bomb bay (we are assured that these are models and not the real thing…). XM655 will be positioned on the taxiway directly in front of where she normally lives, this will afford us the luxury of a clear backdrop. After dark we will be lighting XM655 and will continue the theme of recreating cameos that represent those everyday scenes that were once commonplace on RAF Bases around the UK. To ensure you don't miss any of the action there will be hot food and drinks available for you to enjoy (at extra cost) all evening just off to the side of where the photography will happen. The photography is due to finish around 19.30 with XM655 set in a full state of 'ready to depart', all her lights on and ground crew giving her pilot directions from the taxi way. 

We hope many of you will wish to join us as we offer something a little different with the use of the Bedford bus.

For more information on XM655 and how you can support the Society or become a member of 655MaPS please click this link to their homepage, www.xm655.com                                                                                                                                  

Event requirements

Equipment

• Spare batteries
• Camera
• Lenses
• Camera protection - rain covers etc

Knowledge

• All levels welcome

Fitness

• Medium

Other essentials

• Sturdy outdoor shoes
• Warm clothing
• Wet weather gear