Thrilling moment Cold War jet undergoes annual testing - deafening spectators | SWNS

Hundreds of spectators were forced to cover their ears as an iconic Cold War bomber underwent annual testing - accompanied by the signature roar from its mighty engine.

The distinctive jet-powered Avro Vulcan bomber with its Delta wing was once primed with nuclear weapons ready to defend Britain and its allies from Soviet attack.

Now there are only just three of the former RAF bombers still left in working condition in the world.

This video shows one of them performing four taxi runs with its mighty engines letting out its signature howling boom.

Spectators were forced to cover their ears and hold onto their hats as the jet bolted down the runway at Southend Airport, Essex on Saturday, June 26.

And - for the first time in 15 years - the Vulcan deployed its braking parachute on its final run - traditionally used to help slow the jet when landing on short runways.

In its heyday during the '60s the military plane was armed with nuclear bombs and ready to strike Soviet targets in the event of an attack by the Russians.

Though designed as a deterrent to nuclear warfare, the Vulcan was primed to be in the air within a minute and could reach speeds of 580mph.

The jet, which is almost six decades old, is now maintained by the volunteer-led Vulcan Restoration Trust at Southend Airport.

Trustee Richard Clarkson, 60, said: "For us as a group it's the ultimate thing that we can do. It marks the end of a long period of restoration for the last 15 years.

"We regularly taxied it in the early '90s and 2000s but then we stopped to give it some tender love and care.

"The engineers were working flat out for the best part of four weeks to get it ready."

"It's a popular and historic aircraft because of the shape and the sound that it makes.

"The engines make a sort of howl that makes it quite distinctive."

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