It was a case of long time no see as an audience watched the distinctive delta-winged bomber return to the airbase last week for maintenance work and testing.

The icon of the Cold War last visited RAF Coningsby in June 1992, when it gave a flying demonstration in its last season as an RAF display aircraft.

The historic connection between the Vulcan and the base go back further, however, as Wing Commander Tony Innes, acting station commander at Coningsby, explained.

He said: "The Vulcan was stationed here in 1962 and it is a testament to the aircraft's build and quality that it is able to fly into RAF Coningsby some 46 years later.

"We are delighted to facilitate additional testing for the Vulcan."

Andrew Edmondson, engineering director of the initiative that returned the Vulcan to full working order – the Vulcan to the Sky project – said: "Everyone at Coningsby, and the RAF in general, has been hugely supportive of the project.

"A big part of our mission is to honour all those who served during the Cold War, and it was great to see so many people on the airfield coming out to show their appreciation of what we are trying to achieve."

The team is now looking for a commercial sponsor to keep the Vulcan in the sky.