A RETIRED Vulcan pilot has offered to get back in the cockpit so the aircraft can fly on an extra day of the Bournemouth Air Festival.

The iconic Cold War-era bomber is due to perform a display on Sunday, but air crew shortages and concerns about overcrowding mean it is unlikely to put in a second appearance earlier in the week.

However, pensioner Maurice Patterson, who flew the aircraft as a Flight Lieutenant and Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force in the 1960s and 1970s, has said he would be happy to “lend a hand” as co-pilot if the Vulcan to the Sky Team can find a pilot.

“It is a fantastic aircraft and I loved flying it for the RAF,” said Mr Patterson, 76.

“It is a real privilege to be able to say that I have done that. I’m not sure I’d be allowed to get back at the controls. It’s been a while!”

Mr Patterson, who lives in Christchurch, flew the Vulcan between 1968 and 1980, with 9 Squadron at RAF Cottesmore, the Operation Command Unit at RAF Scampton, and 44 Squadron at RAF Waddington and in Cyprus.

He retired from the service in 1990 with the rank of Wing Commander, and has gone on to help raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for a host of charities, including the Coda Fiddle Orchestra, the John Thornton Young Achievers’ Foundation and Bournemouth Rotary.

He’s also a member of the air festival board.

He was made an MBE for his charitable work.

Sunday’s display will be the Vulcan’s last in Bournemouth before it is retired later in the year.

There was an outcry after it was revealed that, despite the funding being in place, Air Festival organisers had taken the decision not to sanction the plane flying on Saturday as well due to fears of over-crowding.

Saturday is the busiest day of the festival and already attracts nearly 450,000 visitors.

The Vulcan to the Sky Team has the go-ahead to fly a dusk display on Thursday or Friday, but is struggling to find air crew as many have day jobs with airlines.