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Pilot of final Vulcan bomber flight former Maidstone Grammar School pupil

The Vulcan XH558 will fly over Kent on Sunday afternoon after taking off in Doncaster.

The exact time the iconic bomber will take to the air has yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to be at about 1pm.

Kent enthusiasts should be able to spot the aircraft just over half an hour later.

This map shows the approximate time after takeoff the plane will fly over each town on Sunday afternoon. The exact takeoff time has yet to be decided
This map shows the approximate time after takeoff the plane will fly over each town on Sunday afternoon. The exact takeoff time has yet to be decided

Taking less than half an hour to circle the county, the Vulcan will visit Gravesend, Sheppey, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Manston, Dover and Ashford.

The man who will be in charge of the final ever Vulcan flight is a former Maidstone schoolboy.

Bill Ramsey moved to Kent at the age of seven, and went to Maidstone Grammar School before entering the RAF, aged 19.

The Vulcan XH558 mark two will make its final flight this weekend, a last tour of the county before it is grounded for good.

Bill Ramsey retired from the RAF in 2008 after a career of 36 years
Bill Ramsey retired from the RAF in 2008 after a career of 36 years

This model was first built in 1965 and served with the air force until the early 1990s, where it had a number of roles including its initial purpose of bombing, a tanker plane, and more recently for training exercises.

After the RAF decided that they would no longer support it, it was purchased and restored to working order with the help of public donations in 2007, and it has been flying ever since.

Several Kent towns are to be included in the flypasts, which will include visits to Gravesend, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Manston, Dover and Ashford. It will also fly over the Isle of Sheppey, the birthplace of British aviation.

The Vulcan bomber at the recent Herne Bay airshow
The Vulcan bomber at the recent Herne Bay airshow

Mr Ramsey, who has piloted the plane 63 times, will fly it for its final ever journey.

The pilot retired from the RAF in 2008 after a career spanning 36 years.

He said: "It's stopping for a combination of many circumstances, I guess in the short term it's because the companies responsible felt it was a good time to stop the flight before we possibly ventured into the possibility we could not guarantee the aircraft's safety."

Mr Ramsey will pilot the Vulcan for its final ever flight
Mr Ramsey will pilot the Vulcan for its final ever flight

"It's kind of mixed emotions really, we'd like to go on forever but we're going out on a high. I guess all good things come to an end."

"We've had the opportunity to do some really great stuff, as our commentator Shaun Maffett said, don't be sad it's over, just smile because it happened.

Flyover times will be released at around 5.30pm.

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