THE fight to keep an iconic aircraft in the skies enters its final stage this week.

The last airworthy Avro Vulcan, which has been a major attraction over the past two years at the Bournemouth Air Festival, could be permanently grounded if a bid to raise £400,000 by Thursday fails.

Restored thanks to the Vulcan in the Sky Trust, the XH558 has faced a constant battle to raise the cash to keep her airworthy.

And this year, due to the tough economic climate and lost income from events hit by poor weather, donations have suffered a large drop.

Trust chief executive Dr Robert Pleming said: “By Thursday evening we need to be sure that we will have £300,000 by the end of the week.

“If there is any doubt, she will follow Concorde into permanent retirement or be sold to a collector almost certainly abroad.

“If we don’t make it, a heritage icon as popular as the Tower of London may never be seen by the British public again.”

The trust reckons the Vulcan, which receives no government funding, swells air shows crowds by 20-40 per cent.

Dr Pleming said: “We have a great business plan for 2011 that will substantially improve our commercial funding. But the stark reality is that we look unlikely to survive beyond October.”

More than £150,000 has been raised so far by the trust.

For more information or to sponsor the aircraft go to vulcantothesky.org