XL426

XL426 was the 44th of 88 Vulcan B.2s. It first flew from Woodford on 23 August 1962, a flight of 1 hour 35 minutes. On 13 September it joined No. 83 Squadron at Scampton, carrying Blue Steel until 1969. On 10 September 1963 it crossed from Goose Bay to Scampton in 4 hours 5 minutes.

From 1971 to 1981 it served mostly with No. 617 Squadron, with short spells on No. 27 Squadron and No. 230 OCU. Its 1981 overhaul at St Athan was the 298th and last Vulcan major service. It then joined No. 50 Squadron at Waddington and flew in the Falklands victory flypast over London on 12 October 1982. From 1984 it was the display flight's aircraft until 14 June 1986, when XH558 took over.

Roy Jacobsen bought it and flew it to Southend on 19 December 1986, its last flight. It had logged 1,891 flights and 6,236 hours. It became G-VJET in July 1987, but his memorial flight plans stalled for lack of money. A supporters' club formed in March 1990 took ownership in July 1993 and became the Vulcan Restoration Trust, a charity from 1996. XL426 made its first Southend taxi run on 7 October 1995 and its first public high-speed run in spring 1997. The Trust has since dropped the airworthiness goal and aims to keep it taxiable to around 2034.

XL426 is kept at London Southend Airport and is open on the Trust's Visit the Vulcan days and other set dates; visits are by booking or appointment only. Paid VIP visits include a guided tour and a seat in the pilot's or co-pilot's position, and the Trust runs public taxi runs each May and September.