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Remembering Wearside's Vulcan bomber connection
Nostalgic Sarah Spencer celebrated her 48th birthday by visiting the historic plane which flew her father around the world.
It was on Sarah's birthday, 25 years ago, that the RAF bomber first arrived at the North East Aircraft Museum at Washington.
Now she has paid an emotional visit to see the aircraft for herself.
Her dad Jack Tallis, 78, always said that flying around the world in the XL319 Vulcan, which acted as a deterrent during the Cold War, was the highlight of his RAF career.
He was moved by his daughter's pilgrimage from Gloucestershire to Wearside to trace the flight path of his glory days.
Sarah said: "This was a birthday present from my husband Malcolm. I told him it was what I really wanted to do, sit on the seat in my dad's plane.
"It is very exciting. As a navigator he would have flown facing backwards. There is not a lot of room in there and only the pilot and co-pilot had ejector seats the other three crew didn't."
There are only 19 Vulcan bombers left and the one at the museum was one of three which flew around the world in 1962.
The aircraft travelled to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, on November 22, before continuing their journey around the globe.
They made the transatlantic crossing in 226 minutes, one of the fastest crossings for a sub-sonic aircraft to date, and returned home in time for Christmas.
Sarah said: "When I told my dad about the plane he seemed surprised, he didn't think it would have been kept in such good condition."
The Aircraft Museum paid 5,000 for the plane and its log book which have become the centre piece of the museum.
The plane was the only attraction to fly into the airfield 25 years ago, a sight witnessed by hundred of spectators and the BBC after its triumphant role in the Falklands war.
In its position outside the museum building, the Vulcan is visible from the A19, but curators are hoping to build a hanger for it.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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