The sky’s the limit
Civitas, 3 September 2010
The Avro Vulcan, an iconic plane, is a masterpiece of British engineering and a symbol of the manufacturing proficiency we once had. While the industry that produced it is no more, the last Vulcan can inspire a new generation to continue where we left off.
The Vulcan is iconic, not just for its size and shape but for the milestone it represents as one of the last entirely British-made planes. On this basis it retains a special place in the hearts of many Britons. The story of XH558, the sole surviving airworthy Vulcan, could parallel the potential of British manufacturing– the plane was raised from a museum piece to a fully functioning machine in a matter of years. The same could be true for British industry.
The Vulcan revival project embodies two main factors necessary for the revival of manufacturing: enthusiasm and competence. The former is already almost universally present throughout the British population – who doesn’t want to see the huge delta wing roar overhead? Estimates have been made that the Vulcan’s appearance at an air show increases ticket sales by at least 20%.
Affection for the Vulcan is the same as that for the Red Arrows or Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, all of which represent the heyday of British manufacturing, when these planes were produced, from blueprint to runway, without the need for importing foreign components or expertise. Whilst Wilson’s ‘white heat of technology’ is now a somewhat ebbing flame and such aerial monuments to national prestige may never be built again, it is clear that there is still a popular enthusiasm for these big projects.
However, the true worth of the Vulcan is not as a relic of better days but as a light of hope for the future of British industry. A core purpose of the ‘Vulcan to the Sky’ trust that manages the plane is to enthuse the youngest generation, who can put their inspiration into practise, training as engineers and entering into industry. . XH558’s mere flight demonstrates a triumph of British ingenuity and creativity and while it has set a high standard, the bar can certainly be raised by the next generation.
There is clearly a latent ability in Britain. For example, the Vulcan was renovated piece by piece by people who worked her over for years to restore her to airworthy condition. The plane’s transformation was, and still is, funded by donations and it receives no state funds; those working on the restoration are volunteers who dedicate not only their time, but their expertise to the project. Hence we not only owe the Vulcan’s resurrection to the skills of a dedicated team, but also to the wider generosity of the public who have backed up their enthusiasm with funds.
On this basis, the Vulcan’s restoration and maintenance is surely an embodiment of David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’. The ideas of a few have reversed the fortunes of a doomed plane and created an entire community based around this single aim. The Government can certainly take no credit in this triumph.
There is perhaps a place for government involvement in this project though: to pay attention to the renewed sense of pride the Vulcan has fostered in British manufacturing and particularly to encourage those with the ability but not the inclination towards industrial employment, that it genuinely is a worthy career path. The current Government has stressed the importance of improving the quality of British science-based degrees and involving undergraduates directly in vocational industry work. While this is an admirable aim, it is unlikely to inspire uptake of these degrees. The only way to do that is through demonstrating the potential that such an education has – a big flying triangle is a very good way of doing this.
The Government should explore ways to advertise the inspiring and diverse industry that is British manufacturing, and bring this comprehension to young people, those rather than waiting for them to just sign up to scientific degrees . The resultant economic benefit of an industrious nation with a strong comparative advantage is obviously desirable, and as such selling this approach should be too hard. The Vulcan is a big, transportable symbol of British ability, but there is only one of her whilst there are millions of Brits to be inspired. Exhibitions are one way to achieve this – they have happened before and should happen again: the Festival of Britain for example attracted 10,000,000 visitors in just five months.
The Vulcan’s flights will sadly come to an end around 2015, but unless the Government provides new impetus for the next generation of engineers, it will be far more than the loss of a huge shadow from the sky, it will be the loss of inspiration.