We were back at the Newark Air Museum for the weekend of 16-17 September, for the 60th anniversary of the museum’s Avro Vulcan XM594 entering RAF service in September 1963 at RAF Scampton.

Using the callsign GB0NAM, we made many contacts on HF (CW and SSB), and on 2m. Our thanks to those stations who took the time to contact us on what was a very enjoyable weekend in fine weather. The Maidenhead/QRA locator for the museum is IO93OC and the WAB square is SK85.

For those interested in the background and service life of XM594, Alan Lake’s “Flying units of the RAF” shows this aircraft being flown by 27 Squadron RAF at the start of its RAF service. The squadron was disbanded in March 1972 and then re-formed in 1973, with the squadron’s Vulcans - presumably XM594 among them - having been converted for maritime reconnaisance/atmospheric sampling duties.

At the end of its RAF service, XM594 was sold to the Lincolnshire Lancaster Association who placed it on long term loan to Newark Air Museum, where it occupies pride of place near the museum’s entrance. Ownership of the aircraft was transferred to the museum in December 2021. Thanks to the work of the setup team, GB0NAM is ready to go on the air this weekend!