IT has taken 15 years and well over £6m but, much to the delight and relief of Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival organisers, the restored Avro Vulcan bomber has given its first public display since 1992.

IT has taken 15 years and well over £6m but, much to the delight and relief of Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival organisers, the restored Avro Vulcan bomber has given its first public display since 1992.

The former RAF delta-wing aircraft took to the skies at the RAF Waddington International Airshow, on Saturday, and while a small technical problem kept it grounded on Sunday, it is now well and truly back on the air show circuit giving renewed hope that it will appear at Lowestoft on Thursday and Friday, July 24 and 25.

Paul Bayfield, managing director of Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival Ltd, said: “We are delighted that the Vulcan has at last made it to an air show and we will be watching events very closely over the next two weeks. We cannot at this stage say that the Vulcan will definitely appear at Lowestoft. It may be that we will not know that for sure until a few days before our event takes place but we are now more hopeful.”

Mr Bayfield added: “It's not a make or break situation for us. Without the Vulcan we will still have a show with the wow factor.

“We have nearly 40 aircraft displaying over the two days including the Red Arrows, the Typhoon and the Battle of Britain Flight. However, should the Vulcan join us then it will be a massive bonus - the icing on the cake - and we would expect it to attract record crowds.”

Plagued with setbacks and financial problems the Vulcan's operating company, Vulcan to the Sky Trust, can at last be more optimistic about the future.

Up until a few days before the Waddington air show, the Vulcan project had serious financial problems but at the eleventh hour came the news that a new sponsor had been found.

Aerobytes Ltd, suppliers of flight safety and fuel saving software, made a donation which is expected to help keep the world's only airworthy Vulcan flying through this summer's air show season.

Shortly after the donation was made came the news that the Civil Aviation Authority had given the Vulcan a permit to fly and a licence to display at public events.

The Vulcan has been given the green light to take part in the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford tomorrow and Sunday, and and at next week's Farnborough Air Show.