Avro Vulcan

Contains threads on Royal Air Force equipment of the past, present and future.
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The Armchair Soldier
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Avro Vulcan

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

A thread for one our most iconic aircraft - the mighty Vulcan.

Unfortunately, I'll be starting it off with some rather sad news:

Final Flight for Doncaster Vulcan Bomber
A Vulcan bomber aircraft, which is stationed in Doncaster, will enter its final flying season this year.

The Avro Vulcan XH558 was flown by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1985.

It will fly for the final time this Autumn before going on display at The Vulcan Aviation Academy and Heritage Centre at Robin Hood Airport.
http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update ... an-bomber/

There's no way in Hell I'll be missing her final flight.

Some videos of what will soon be no more:







A recommended watch:


RetroSicotte
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by RetroSicotte »

Eternally glad I saw her at Ayr last year.

Videos do not do the sound justice.

SDL
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by SDL »

I saw her at Goodwood FOS in 2013. I agree that nothing compares to the noise in person.

marktigger
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by marktigger »

all good things must come to an end

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Phil R
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by Phil R »

Nothing has made my spine tingle more than the shear force of the sound from 4 Olympus engines roaring overhead at low level (500 ft). A sensation that I will never forget. :D

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by Tony Williams »

Talking of the sound of four Olympus engines - I was working in Reading when Concorde was operating. I was in an building on the east side, and frequently spoke on the phone with colleagues in another building on the west side. Whenever Concorde took off, I had to stop talking for half a minute as I couldn't hear anything else. Then we could talking for another minute until my colleague had to stop as it flew over him...

Little J
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by Little J »

My dad's just let me know (so I thought I'd pass it on), ITV news at 10 tonight will be doing a segment on the Vulcans last flight...

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by marktigger »

have to say its been emotional. but won't miss the constant appeals for money from vulcan to the sky. hopefully someone will send the auditors in.

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by arfah »

Just been buzzed by XH588 as she took off and banked steeply from Southend airport :D
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The Armchair Soldier
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

I finally got to see her in Scarborough for the Armed Forces Day:


One of the most incredible things I've witnessed in a long time. It flew low right over the top of my head on its first pass. Just incredible. Online videos really don't do its sound justice.

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by JohninMK »

Quite a good thread on the history etc, http://gizmodo.com/the-last-of-the-vulc ... 1715162689

I spent my summer holiday at RAF Tengah in Singapore in 1964 (my father was O/C RAF Bukit Gombah the radar station on the island). The normal aircraft there were Hunters and Javelins but we had a detachment of three Vulcans for a couple of weeks. When they came to leave as their next stop on the way home was Gan they were fully fuelled. Given the adverse temperature and humidity affect on thrust they used just about every one of the 3000 yard runway. Quite a crowd had gathered to watch and the noise was tremendous.

Back in the late 80's they put on demonstrations at the RAF Mildenhall annual Air Show (those were the days!) and the sight and sound of one doing a fast right angle turn, half way down the runway, away from the crowd will live with me forever. Especially the creaking and groaning sounds from the airframe before the engine noise hit us. Amazing.

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by JohninMK »

The Armchair Soldier wrote: One of the most incredible things I've witnessed in a long time. It flew low right over the top of my head on its first pass. Just incredible. Online videos really don't do its sound justice.
No amplification system can do it justice. Its the same as Concorde, you feel it as much as hear it.

JohninMK
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by JohninMK »

Videos of the Vulcan at RIAT Fairford

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-la ... 1718892290

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by JohninMK »

The Vulcan at Eastbourne this weekend. The small boats would have had an interesting experience! Bit like sitting in the middle of the runway at a normal airshow.


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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by S M H »

H.M.A.F.V Hurricane's crew got the ultimate Vulcan fly past complete with 21 1,000 pd bombs dropped on Garvie Island at Cape Wrath range in April 1982 X 3 The crew said nose was something else.

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

An image uploaded by the RN showing XH558 flying over HMS Middleton, RFA Argus and HMS Iron Duke at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

Image

marktigger
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by marktigger »

well its last few months will now be sedate fly by's

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by SKB »

Vulcan flying over Dunsfold, August 2015

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by SKB »

Vulcan flew a flypast tribute over the A27 crash site of the Hawker Hunter.

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

Image

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Blazing through the skies over RAF Lakenheath, the Avro Vulcan XH558 made one of its last flights in England.

Scheduled to retire in September, the Avro Vulcan XH558 has been a symbol of history and nostalgia throughout the United Kingdom since its first flight in 1960 through display flights and its participation in the Cold War.

"It was an unbelievable experience I'll never forget," said Senior Airman Trevor T. McBride, 48th Fighter Wing photojournalist. "Not only did I just receive an amazing opportunity to fly in an F-15C Eagle, I was able to document a major historical event here in the U.K."

The Vulcan flew in unison with a pair of F-15C Eagles over the base following its appearance at an air show. The Vulcan XH558 in the formation was the first to be delivered to the RAF and now the last complete Vulcan in the world.

"The Vulcan topped my expectations," said Col. Robert Novotny, 48th Fighter Wing commander. "The Vulcan is such a unique aircraft and seeing such an iconic plane fly with our Lakenheath fighters really brings home our alliance."
Read More: http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/news/story ... =123457098

More images can be found here.

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SKB
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by SKB »

Vulcan flying in formation with TWO Lancasters! (@ 07:00 )

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by GastonGlocker »

The Armchair Soldier wrote:Image

Image

Image
Blazing through the skies over RAF Lakenheath, the Avro Vulcan XH558 made one of its last flights in England.

Scheduled to retire in September, the Avro Vulcan XH558 has been a symbol of history and nostalgia throughout the United Kingdom since its first flight in 1960 through display flights and its participation in the Cold War.

"It was an unbelievable experience I'll never forget," said Senior Airman Trevor T. McBride, 48th Fighter Wing photojournalist. "Not only did I just receive an amazing opportunity to fly in an F-15C Eagle, I was able to document a major historical event here in the U.K."

The Vulcan flew in unison with a pair of F-15C Eagles over the base following its appearance at an air show. The Vulcan XH558 in the formation was the first to be delivered to the RAF and now the last complete Vulcan in the world.

"The Vulcan topped my expectations," said Col. Robert Novotny, 48th Fighter Wing commander. "The Vulcan is such a unique aircraft and seeing such an iconic plane fly with our Lakenheath fighters really brings home our alliance."
Read More: http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/news/story ... =123457098

More images can be found here.
Gorgeous pairing...

JohninMK
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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by JohninMK »

Vulcan having problems locking its nose wheel Sept 5th at Prestwick. Spitfire comes along to help.


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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by RetroSicotte »

Wow. Just wow.

Seeing a freaking Spitfire coming in to fly escort for a plane in trouble, like it was 1940 all over again.

See, I was at this airshow, and I remember seeing the Vulcan flying in circles in the distance for a long long time. Crowd was wondering and the announcers kept saying there wa sa "delay" on anything else taking off for the show. No-one knew what...now I know I guess.

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Re: Avro Vulcan

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

RAF Tribute to Bomber Command Heroes

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Veteran aircraft of past and present RAF combat missions paid tribute to the heroes of Bomber Command. Two Tornado GR and the Avro Vulcan 'The Spirit of Great Britain' fly over Lincolnshire in order to send off the Vulcan bomber before her retirement.

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