Cadets and Staff from No 163 (Coventry-Phoenix) Sqn were treated to not one, but two fly-pasts on Sunday 21 June 2009 as they assisted XM 655 MAPS at the yearly fast taxi run of Vulcan XM 655 at Wellesbourne Airfield, in the South of Warwickshire.

As the Cadets and Staff from the Squadron carried out their Gate Administration Duty of welcoming Visitors, Exhibiters and Members of Public to the event, everyone stopped and cast their eyes skywards as The Red Arrows in their usual formation with the customary Red, White and Blue trailing behind them, flew over the airfield.

This was then followed by the reason for everyone gathering at the Airfield as at the allotted time Vulcan XM655 carried out its fast taxi run along the Airfields main runway before coming to a halt at its usual hardstanding.

With one Vulcan on the ground, all eyes focused again to the Sky to see Vulcan XH558, out of Bruntingthorpe Airfield, make several passes over the crowd to mark a very fitting end to the event of the fast taxi run of Vulcan XM655.

Flight Lieutenant L Vile RAFVR(T), Officer Commanding 163 Squadron said; “it is a privilege for the Squadron to be able to assist 655 MAPS each year at this event which is thoroughly enjoyed by Cadets and Staff alike. With the highlight of the day being the fast taxi run of Vulcan XM655, the “icing on the cake” for all who attended was seeing the fly-past of The Red Arrows and Vulcan XH558 and we look forward very much to attending next year”.