THE director of Bournemouth Air Festival says organisers’ heads had to overrule their hearts when deciding not to have the Vulcan display on the Saturday of the event.

It comes after an outcry against the decision, revealed in Friday’s Daily Echo, from fans.

Vulcan XH558 is set to make its final Bournemouth appearance in its last flying season when it closes the event on Sunday, August 23, and its appearances in recent years and in 2015 have been sponsored by Adrian Gunner of Merley House, Stephen Young, Lord of Westbury and Waxham, and the Vulcan to the Sky Team Bournemouth.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Maggie Keet, of Vulcan to the Sky Team Bournemouth, pressed for an extra display on the Saturday after it was confirmed that the Vulcan would be at nearby Shoreham.

But organisers said that, with Saturday attracting 440,000 people last year, they couldn’t accommodate the two biggest attractions – the Vulcan and the Red Arrows – for fear of crowd problems.

Following a vocal response to the Echo’s story online and on social media yesterday, Bournemouth Air Festival director, Jon Weaver, said: “We’re big supporters and huge fans of the Vulcan.

“We work very hard every year to bring it here and we have to make these difficult decisions sometimes.

“She’s been one of our main attractions since 2008. Our hearts would like it to come, but sometimes our heads have to overrule that.

“We’re not taking these decisions in isolation; we’re working with our Safety Advisory Group, which includes the emergency services, and make decisions based on their advice.

“We have to make the decision when we’re at full capacity. Whether the Vulcan comes or not, at 440,000 over the day, you’re at the limit, whereas we have a much lower level of attendees on the Sunday and we can cater for the demand.”

Stephen Young added: “I’m disappointed. Myself and Adrian Gunner would have put the money up for the Saturday display and that wasn’t an issue.

“This is the last throw of the dice; she’s not going to fly again.

“I would have thought if the Vulcan is here for two days you’re splitting the number of people on the ground to even it out.”

Colin Billing, who lives in Southbourne, started an online petition at change.org yesterday morning after seeing the Echo’s story and reaction.

He said: “I thought that we should have a petition. It’s important and I know that there are probably a million good reasons why this decision has been come to.

“I used to work in aviation and I do get it, but I think they’re making a rod for their own backs booking it only for the Sunday.”

Dr Robert Pleming, CEO of Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which operates the aircraft, said: “If we were invited to the Saturday we would be delighted to come.

“If they think that the crowds will become unmanageable we will bow to that, we wouldn’t want anybody put in a risky position at all, it’s totally understandable.

“If we’re looking at the weather on the Friday and Saturday looks good and Sunday looks lousy, we would want to come on the Saturday.”