Radio amateurs support Vulcan bomber fundraising activities

The website

has been celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Vulcan, which is based at Robin Hood airport, Doncaster, but which is is often seen flying over Newbury on its way to or from air displays in the South of England.
Members of Newbury & District Amateur Radios Society have been transmitting using a special event callsign, GB60VUL, rather than their delegated call signs, and disseminating the news to the rest of the world.
In true Tony Hancock tradition, conversations have been held with radio hams across the world including in California, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Five locations have been used with the special event call, including radio stations at members’ homes, a station beside Greenham Common control tower and a demonstration station at Newbury’s 211 Squadron ATC Centre.
More than 3,800 stations were contacted in more than 79 different countries, with the website attracting more than 8,000 visitors. Stations making contacts with GB60VUL will receive a QSL card (a type of postcard), showing the Vulcan flying over Highclere Castle last autumn.
One of the stations operating from home was that of the chairman of NADARS, Jeremy Willis of Broad Layings, who said: “NADARS is delighted to have been asked to support this cause.
"Amateur radio is a fantastic way of communicating information around the world for causes such as this and it often assists in local and international emergencies.
"We have the resources to establish communications worldwide. We do much more than just talk about ‘the weather in Tokyo"
The Vulcantothesky organisation will be holding a stall at the NADARS 25th Radio and Computer Rally being held at the Newbury Showground on June 17.
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