THE last airworthy Avro Vulcan bomber in the world is returning to East Lothian for one last flypast before retirement.

Avro-Vulcan XH558 has extended its farewell tour and will conduct its second flyover of the year in the county, flying past the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, on Saturday.

The vulcan previously flew over the Haddington Show at nearby East Fortune Race Track (see video above), as well as the museum, on June 27 this year, as part of a V-Force Tour, which visited the location of every complete Vulcan, Victor and Valliant aircraft in the UK to commemorate the unique role these aircraft played as Britain’s nuclear deterrent during the 1950s and 1960s.

Avro-Vulcan XH558 has been operated by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust since 2007, following a £7 million restoration; however, the aircraft will cease its flying career and be grounded permanently at the end of this flying season.

The National Museum of Flight is home to Avro Vulcan XM597, one of only two RAF Vulcans to be used in combat when it was deployed to the Falklands in 1982 to drop anti-radar missiles on enemy targets.

Steve McLean, general manager of the National Museum of Flight, said: “The Avro Vulcan is an iconic example of British aviation technology with a dramatic delta-winged shape and exceptional engineering that enabled her to fly twice as fast as the Lancaster.

"The sight and sound of the Vulcan are truly incredible and hundreds of visitors enjoyed the spectacle of her last visit here earlier this year.

"We’re greatly looking forward to seeing and hearing her fly over her sister aircraft at East Fortune for the final time on Saturday.”

The Avro Vulcan flyover is expected to take place early to mid-afternoon on Saturday and visitors are advised to arrive at the Museum by noon to avoid disappointment.