Vulcan Bomber

[Lissa]

Sat outside Ma Larkins just outside Chipping Norton yesterday and we were amazed and delighted to have a Vulcan bomber fly right overhead! My God, those things are awesome! Made my day!

Did anyone else see it yesterday, or does anyone know where it had come from?

[madness]

That's a rare sight these days. I saw one fly over many years ago and agree that they are awesome.

[shifter]

I saw it in Aston Clinton in Bucks on Saturday. I was siting in the car at a petrol satation when sudenly there was a noise like thunder, the ground was actualy shaking! Lokked in my mirror to see the vulcan behind me, jumped out of the car to have a look.
The aircraft was in a 90 degree bank at low level and must have been at near full throttle.
I don't mind admiting it gave me goose pimples, awesome sight! It makes you forget the cr%p state of the country and feel proud to be British again.
You must of seen it on it's way to us, it was doing a display at RAF Halton.

[Bluepete]

I remember when I was about 12 years old, going to RAF St. Mawgan in Cornwall to the annual air display. A Vulcan did it's usual slow and low pass, then fast and low (wow!) then dissapeared.

The commentator was waffling on, then told us to all look up, directly above the flight line.

There, sillhouetted against the sky was that great big delta wing, which suddenly changed to a line in the sky. The Vulcan was diving straight at the crowd, but we couldn't hear a thing.

Next thing, it pulled up what seemed like only meters from the ground and went to full power, right over our heads, climbing straight over the crowd as steeply as it could.

People fell over, babies died, eardrums bled, dogs went mad and ate their own tails, all in all, a fantastic display of raw power!

You don't get that these days!

Ah, memories.....

Pete

[Stingo]

May be it was involved with the fly past for HRH's birthday bash?

[Essex of Essex]

It's not "a Vulcan bomber" it's the Vulcan bomber, the last one still flying and struggling for funds, based I believe at Bruntingthorpe.

[gruntygiggles]

I nearly cried when I aw it on Saturday. I was with Squirrel and Stretchie at the Harley/Buell dealership near Abingdon, Oxfordshire and we heard the roar coming behind us. Turned around and saw my baby XH558 flanked by what looked like two DC10's and I could have dfallen over.

My dad used to take me to all the air shows as a child and what he doesn't know about military (and commercial for that matter) aircraft isn't worth knowing. I've forgotten most of the knowledge he passed on, but there were two planes that I loved. The Harrier Jump Jet and the AVRO Vulcan. My favourtite by far is the Vulcan. AN awsome feat of engineering and one of the most complex pieces of engineering to take to the skies. They've done a complete restoration of XH558 over the last 9 years after Mr. C Walton of C. Walton Ltd, the man that bought her after her 33 year service ended was able to realise his dream of getting her ready to flu again. He later sold her to the Vulcan to the Sky Trust and funding was raised through the Lottery Heritage Fund and public donations until she was declared fit to fly a couple of years ago and the testing and fast taxis etc began. At the end of this post is a link to the video of her first flight after her restoration. The process involved removing many of the components to make her as light as possible and AFAIK, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust has secured enough funding to see her take part in the full 2009 air display season.

I love this plane and when we saw her, many out the front of the dealership were wondering what she was. Many were saying Concorde, a few were whispering Vulcan, but I just said, "It is". "Oh my god, it's a Vulcan....it' unmistakeable, that's a Vulcan and it's the first time I've seen her fly since I was 14 when I watched her very last flight"

I'm babbling now and boring you all....but yes Lissa, we saw her, I nearly cried and the only slightly sad thing is, most people thought it was kind of cool, but had no idea of the history of this plane. Perfect safety record, incredible capability (it can roll you know!) and XH558 made her maiden flight in 1960, saw active service and is now here just for our enjoyment as the only remaining Vulcan in flight!

My dad saw the DC10's later in the day and said his heart sank when he went outside and the Vulcan was no longer with them. He used to taxi them on the runway when in the RAF. Apparently, they would regularly have 6 take off in quick succession (all on the runway together) and he said he would literally bounce off the floor when they went into take off just due to the sheer power.

Ok, enough..sorry, here's the link and make sure your speakers are on and powerful enough to cope....lol


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8LVRobNHm8

There are louder clips, but this is by far the best quality!

Could you get a more perfect landing?

[Luckypants]

Vulcan - bloody amazing! I remember being on holiday as a boy and my Dad stopped the car on the perimeter of RAF Scampton where a Vulcan was doing circuits and bumps. The RAF Police came to check that we were not Russian spies or IRA or whatever then told us how to get to a better place to watch. Best two hours of plane watching ever! I think my mum was bored out of her skull though... :D

[Luckypants]

May be it was involved with the fly past for HRH's birthday bash?

According to the http://www.vulcantothesky.org website, it was attending the RAF Cosford air show on the 14th. She is based at Bruntingthorpe.

[gruntygiggles]

According to the http://www.vulcantothesky.org website, it was attending the RAF Cosford air show on the 14th. She is based at Bruntingthorpe.

Yep, based at Bruntingthorpe and she's doing all the major air shows this year, so I'll be dragging Stretchie and the dogs to one or two...lol.

Mike, it's great when the guys in uniform help you out isn't it! My mum was the same...and my sister, but me and Dad used to love it!

[Lissa]

I'm glad I'm not the only one to be emotionally moved by this fantastic plane!

It's even more fantastic to see it flying considering at the start of this year they needed £1 million ponds to keep the project going. I believe the whole amount was raised by public donations.

[timwilky]

I
I'm babbling now and boring you all....but yes Lissa, we saw her, I nearly cried and the only slightly sad thing is, most people thought it was kind of cool, but had no idea of the history of this plane. Perfect safety record, incredible capability (it can roll you know!) and XH558 made her maiden flight in 1960, saw active service and is now here just for our enjoyment as the only remaining Vulcan in flight!


Sorry to disappoint you but the vulcan does not have a perfect safety record. a few have gone down with ruptured fuel tanks etc. for instance 5 crew killed when XM645 undercarriage went through plus 1 civilian the wreckage landed on.

or the turbine blade disintegration on XM610, that wrecked no1 then no2 engines, ruptured tanks and converted it into a fireball.

Do a google and plenty more crashes will be bound to appear

Lovely aircraft considering its 1940s design. But certainly not perfect

[Jamiebridges123]

Would have loved to have seen this.. :|

I did see 4 spitfires the other day though, my what a sight..

[timwilky]

4 in a single flight?


I love seeing the battle of britain flight, and had to stop shooting once as deafened by the Lanc a spit and hurricane passing overhead about 200ft above us on its way to Woodvale

[zsv650]

it's been over my work a few time's look's great and it's a shame they struggled to pay for it the amount of money wasted on undeserving crap causes could have paid for a bit of true brit history.

[Jamiebridges123]

4 in a single flight?


I love seeing the battle of britain flight, and had to stop shooting once as deafened by the Lanc a spit and hurricane passing overhead about 200ft above us on its way to Woodvale

They were like, flying over someplace yesterday where i can't remember where i was.. or saturday.. again can't remember...

[MR UKI (1)]

There's a woman at work whose husband is one of the pilots, he's retired from RAF.

[Quiff Wichard]

There's a woman at work whose husband is one of the pilots, he's retired from RAF.

a woman!!

and you speak to her.. ?.


I used to see them at air shows as a kid. ace int they .. woodford air show we always went to.. .. spitfires are the ones though eh.. tears in the eye time that is.

[Bluefish]

a woman!!

and you speak to her.. ?.


I used to see them at air shows as a kid. ace int they .. woodford air show we always went to.. .. spitfires are the ones though eh.. tears in the eye time that is.

why's that quiff do you remember them from the war?.

[urbane1]

My dad worked on the Vulcan in the 70's at Waddington, many great memories of the 3 plane scrambles at the Finningley airshows.

Anyone read Vulcan 607, which recounts the attack on the Falklands, unbelievable logistics were involved in getting it there and back.

[philbut]

It was over Oxford too.

[Lou M]

I saw it Saturday over Evesham. I'd just picked up my new bike so was trying to concentrate on new riding position etc, when I noticed this odd plane in the sky, so couldn't oggle too much. A colleague told me today that it came over here both days.

I saw it last summer too, very very high up, asked Mr Lou if Concorde was still flying as I wasn't sure what it was, but realise now that it was the Vulcan.

[instigator]

My grandad used to be the chief test pilot and flying instructor for the Vulcan conversion unit back 'in the day'. My father has a photo of maybe 80-125 officers/pilots in 1959, standing in 4 rows with the Vulcan bomber right behind them. And my grandad right in the middle, at the front. It gives you an indication on the sheer size of the things. Always makes me smile to see it.

I still haven't heard let alone seen one fly though...:(

Shall try and dig out which ones he flew as we have his flight records somewhere.

Ah harr...I found him. To the right of the guy with the dug. Not the photo I'm looking for though...

http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/vulcan_people/230.jpg

[Dan]

incredible capability (it can roll you know!)

Which is impressive, but not as impressive as a Lancaster rolling ;)

Awesome aircraft, the Vulcan. My sister's godfather (now deceased) was a V-bomber pilot in the 60s, and was always sore that he got stuck on the Victor instead of the Vulcan.

[ophic]

Anyone read Vulcan 607, which recounts the attack on the Falklands, unbelievable logistics were involved in getting it there and back.
I've read it. Very highly recommended read. Basically the RAF pulling extreme long distance bombing capability out of a hat.

[gruntygiggles]

Sorry to disappoint you but the vulcan does not have a perfect safety record. a few have gone down with ruptured fuel tanks etc. for instance 5 crew killed when XM645 undercarriage went through plus 1 civilian the wreckage landed on.

or the turbine blade disintegration on XM610, that wrecked no1 then no2 engines, ruptured tanks and converted it into a fireball.

Do a google and plenty more crashes will be bound to appear

Lovely aircraft considering its 1940s design. But certainly not perfect

I know....not the Vulcan in general that paragraph was talking about XH558 so not disappointed at all. Not perfect, but incredible none the less!

[KeithCRM]

On Sunday the Vulcan was on its way to Cosford Airshow (and me!). Massive turnout, prob due to its appearance.

Got the chance to see it flying at close quarters, awesome sight and fantastic sound :D

[yorkie_chris]

Anyone read Vulcan 607, which recounts the attack on the Falklands, unbelievable logistics were involved in getting it there and back.

Operation "skin of your teeth"! A great read!

[metalangel]

Wish I'd seen it... I took some awesome pics of the one at the RAF Museum in Hendon when I was there in May, it's damned impressive and they have an exhibit where you sit in the huuuuuge bomb bay and watch videos of them scrambling.

[Lou M]

On Sunday the Vulcan was on its way to Cosford Airshow (and me!). Massive turnout, prob due to its appearance.

Got the chance to see it flying at close quarters, awesome sight and fantastic sound :D

Pictures???


And, Instigator, that's a fab picture you've posted there.

[Kinvig]

There was a Daily Mail* campaign to help raise funds to keep it in the air.













*Allow me to point out that I don't buy the Daily Mail, there was a copy open on a table at the gym when I walked past.

[stewie]

I used to refuel them, they used to pop over to Germany in the eighties when I was out there, because they weren't one of our own aircraft they would sent to the VAS (visiting aircraft section ) to be refuelled, they were something else tbh, and we always used to sit and watch them go if they were on a quick turn round. They were part of the V force of nuclear bombers alongside the Victor and the Valiant, the Valiant is the forgotten one but the victor later became an air tanker and possibly refuelled the Vulcan on the falklands raid, dunno about that tbh.
http://www.drivearchive.co.uk/xplanes/vbombers.htm

[ophic]

possibly refuelled the Vulcan on the falklands raid, dunno about that tbh.
Certainly did. It took a whole fleet of Victors to get one Vulcan over the target.

[plowsie]

Where we work is a small collection of villages, one of them is called Sywell, they have an Aerodrome, the vulcan did a fly by one day, we heard it coming downwards and was like wtf, then was saw it pull up and head off towards the South. Was a beautiful sight.

[gruntygiggles]

Well, seeing as it brought me to tears, I've just made my contribution to the Vulcan to the Sky group and will continue to when I can. Anything that can rouse that much emotion and hold so many fantastic memories of my childhood and how me and my dad would spend hours getting sunburned at airshows is worth the effort and and a little dent in the wallet IMO.

Dads book was lost a few years back when his luggage was swapped at Heathrow, so I think I just decided upon his fathers day pressie.....along with a framed painting of a Lightning. Not the Buell Lightning I want, but the English Electric Lightning. ANother awsome and beautiful in a sheer raw power kind of way military plane. It's up there in my top 5......

http://www.space-travellers.com/home/grafik/images/lightning_1.jpg

[Caddy2000]

TSR-2


pinnacle of aircraft engineering in the whole world.
pinnacle of British government stupidity!
Oh, it also made the lightning look slow (on 1 out of 2 engines on re-heat), and the lightning was phenominal!

[timwilky]

As I used to go to the industrial estate behind BAE Warton, the lightnings on test would take off, clear the fence and full reheat up. I know a test pilot was once rumoured to have got in trouble for doing it as soon as he felt the undercarriage lift and is suppossed to have hit the runway with his tail. Must be bollox but a good pub story.

The noise and brown trousers when one is suddenly 50ft above your head and gunning it out. Now all I get are those damm typhoons disturbing my sleep.

I probably saw the TSR 2 as kid, but would not have known as it did a couple of flights out of Warton

[yorkie_chris]

I have heard a tale about a lightning pilot encountering an "odd, black, delta shaped" aircraft which when the pilot closed with opened the taps and left the lightning as if it was stood still. Of course everyone at the time thought the pilot had been to the pub on the way home as the lightning was the hottest thing in the air... but it later turned out to be the still-secret SR71.

TSR-2

A damn shame, and a beautiful bit of kit.

[gruntygiggles]

I have heard a tale about a lightning pilot encountering an "odd, black, delta shaped" aircraft which when the pilot closed with opened the taps and left the lightning as if it was stood still. Of course everyone at the time thought the pilot had been to the pub on the way home as the lightning was the hottest thing in the air... but it later turned out to be the still-secret SR71.

So secret, dad managed to get him and me a look inside one at the open aircrraft museum in Arizona. It was only there for about a month, can't remember the reason why, but after a few hours walking around the planes, we got chatting to a guy that served in some of the same places my dad had and they knew some mutual aquaintances, so he let us in the hanger to see it. Awsome and yeah......piloting a lightning and seeing that...you really would think the aliens were coming...lol

A damn shame, and a beautiful bit of kit.

Yep......gorgeous plane. There are so many that are easily forgotten.

[keithd]

talking of gorgeous planes...

me and a friend were chatting last week about the noise the Spitfire makes, and how wonderfully sexy and distinctive it is. i think at one point i even downloaded a sound clip of the spit and played it extremely loudly though the stereo!! our other halves looked at us as if we were a bit bonkers and how could we get that excited by it. im extremely pleased to see ladies of the .org on here expressing their passion and love for planes, restored my faith in the fairer sex ;)

[gruntygiggles]

talking of gorgeous planes...

me and a friend were chatting last week about the noise the Spitfire makes, and how wonderfully sexy and distinctive it is. i think at one point i even downloaded a sound clip of the spit and played it extremely loudly though the stereo!! our other halves looked at us as if we were a bit bonkers and how could we get that excited by it. im extremely pleased to see ladies of the .org on here expressing their passion and love for planes, restored my faith in the fairer sex ;)


Hahahaha.....it's one of the passions that just keeps getting stronger. The sound is the main thing for me too. The sound of a vulcan taking off, a fly by of Spits, Hurricanes and Lancasters, the sound of a Harrier Jump Jet doing a slow verticle take off right in front of you at an air show, turning, bowing and then taking off proper is truly AWESOME and that unmistakeable sound you used to get when you heard Concorde coming.

My favourite part of flying is the take off and landing and the feeling of power. Our Land Rover sounds like a plane taking off when you hit the throttle hard (not quite so loud...lol) and my brother-in-law has a chipped 4.0ltr V8 pick up defender 90 that is so super tuned for racing (off road trialing) it is just amazing to hear it scream down the road....lol.

KeithD........I am a girl, but it is me that will be dragging Dan to the air shows this year to give him a little education in raw power!!!

[keithd]

aaah Concorde!! PLEASE bring that plane back into service!!! somebody. Branson, anybody!!

one of the highlights of my yoof was going to farnborough air show, front of the crowd and Concorde did a fly by kind of landing and taking off type thing, christ the noise was amazing. i could feel my whole body shaking inside out, and it was the only plane i had to put my fingers in my ears for!!!

[gruntygiggles]

aaah Concorde!! PLEASE bring that plane back into service!!! somebody. Branson, anybody!!

one of the highlights of my yoof was going to farnborough air show, front of the crowd and Concorde did a fly by kind of landing and taking off type thing, christ the noise was amazing. i could feel my whole body shaking inside out, and it was the only plane i had to put my fingers in my ears for!!!

I saw that once and I think I must have been about 6 and it too was at Farnborough....just called dad to check...lol.

An interesting fact about the Vulcan that I just remembered and confirmed with dad is that apart from it's incredible short take off and land abilities, it can have three of the four engines fail on take off and still climb away! That's quite something for such a big plane.

I'm going to be seeing Richard Branson as part of my interview process with a potential job and I might question him on that. I know he's tried quite hard in the past, but the powers that be have said a definite no for fears that it will be brought back to commercial service or something stupid like that. Maybe the way to go would be down the Heritage Britain route and obviously some very big sucking up to the French powers that be because they have a big say in it too and we can have a "Concorde to the Sky" organisation like the Vulcans and both of these beautiful Delta Wings back on the air show circuit!

Oh.....if I win the euro millions, I'm buying my dad an English Electric Lightning. I can get one for £22k that he can keep on MY new big garden.....lol

[MR UKI (1)]

Oh.....if I win the euro millions, I'm buying my dad an English Electric Lightning. I can get one for £22k that he can keep on MY new big garden.....lol[/quote]

Jeremy Clarkson has or had one in his garden.

[gruntygiggles]

Oh.....if I win the euro millions, I'm buying my dad an English Electric Lightning. I can get one for £22k that he can keep on MY new big garden.....lol

Jeremy Clarkson has or had one in his garden.[/quote]

Ok.....I've been sprung....I might have nicked the idea from Clarko!

[Jamiebridges123]

aaah Concorde!! PLEASE bring that plane back into service!!! somebody. Branson, anybody!!

Yeah that'd be awesome but not financially viable unfortunately.

one of the highlights of my yoof was going to farnborough air show, front of the crowd and Concorde did a fly by kind of landing and taking off type thing, christ the noise was amazing. i could feel my whole body shaking inside out, and it was the only plane i had to put my fingers in my ears for!!!

Wow, sounds really cool. Never seen one really fly by but I did see one take off,, awesome..

I remember I went to the Heathrow Visitor centre things years ago as a kid, and just as luck would have it... they had a Concorde open day.. a bus would take you to the hanger and you'd get a guided tour.. brilliant!

[Luckypants]

but financially enviable unfortunately.
I would be envious of anyone that could afford to do it to. :rolleyes:

[Jamiebridges123]

Fixed, try and excuse me. :|

[Mr Speirs]

but it later turned out to be the still-secret SR71.

Still Secret??? There's one on display in Virginia.

[Lissa]

Still Secret??? There's one on display in Virginia.

You don't have to go that far to see one! :p

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/Lissasv650/duxford019.jpg

[Mr Speirs]

Is that Duxford???

But yeah, Still Secret? Me thinks not :)

[Lissa]

Is that Duxford???



It is indeed! :D

[Luckypants]

But yeah, Still Secret? Me thinks not :)

But it was still secret when the Lightening pilot saw it, before is disappeared over the horizon at a proper speed. I think that is what YC meant.

Those blackbirds are fast birds from http://www.vfp62.com/SR-71.html

"One day, high above Arizona , we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, ' Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast."

[yorkie_chris]

Still Secret??? There's one on display in Virginia.

Yes still secret at that time, at same time there was no jet to get anywhere near the Lightning.

[gruntygiggles]

But it was still secret when the Lightening pilot saw it, before is disappeared over the horizon at a proper speed. I think that is what YC meant.

Those blackbirds are fast birds from http://www.vfp62.com/SR-71.html

"One day, high above Arizona , we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, ' Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast."

That really is hilarious!

[KeithCRM]

[quote=Lou M;1942691]Pictures???



Sorry, no pictures....... but managed to get some video clips on my digital camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcHr1qsJSGw&feature=channel_page

[gruntygiggles]

[quote]



Sorry, no pictures....... but managed to get some video clips on my digital camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcHr1qsJSGw&feature=channel_page

Well done you on those clips......very nicely done.......and I like the knee down vid too...lol

[Lissa]

[quote]



Sorry, no pictures....... but managed to get some video clips on my digital camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcHr1qsJSGw&feature=channel_page

Nice!

We had our camera with us, plus both our phones, but were so amazed to see it, neither of us even thought to get any pics til afterwards!

We'd never make photo-journalists, that's for sure! :rolleyes:

[Lissa]

Seeing as you like planes, GG, and Buells, this may be of interest to you. :D

UKBEG Emma Radford Buell & European V-twin Festival - Saturday 18th July 2009.

Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
East Kirkby, near Spilsby
Lincolnshire
PE23 4DE
Web site: www.lincsaviation.co.uk

UK Buell Enthusiasts Group web site: www.ukbeg.com

This will be our sixth event at this location dedicated to the memory of one of our members, Emma Jane Radford, who passed away 22-04-04, aged just 26. We'll also be raising money for the Papworth Hospital Cystic Fibrosis unit which looked after Emma. Last year we had 280+ bikes and raised over £1200.00.

In addition to approx. 150 Buells, there'll be Italian bikes from Aprilia, Cagiva, Ducati, Morini and Moto Guzzi. British bikes will include Brough Superior, Hesketh and Vincent.

Buell UK will support the event and will have a selection of their current Buell range available for escorted test rides around the stunning Lincolnshire Wolds. You must produce a full motorcycle licence if you wish to have a test ride.

The event will include a Lancaster bomber taxi-run display. If you like Rolls Royce V12 Merlin engines at full chat and red-blooded V-twin motorcycles, you'll really appreciate this event!

The provisional timetable is as follows:
10.30 am Start time
12.00 noon to 1.00 pm Photo-call for bikes with the Lancaster
1.30 pm Lancaster bomber taxi-run
4.00 pm Lancaster bomber taxi-run

The admission charge is £6.00 per person. 'Girls on Buells' get in free.

The Aviation Centre has full catering facilities.


Pete and I went last year, and will be there again this year. Wouldn't miss it!:cool:

[gruntygiggles]

Wow, that sounds incredible Lissa. Unfortunately it'll have to be next year for us as we are away that whole weekend.

Any planes doing a fast taxi run are impressive, Vulcan, Concorde, English Electric Lightning, Lancaster, Boeing 747 are among the most incredible sounding! It really does sound like an amazing event and if you know of a website where I can send a small donation, let me know. I migt look it up on UKBEG actually as I joined that a few days ago!

Thank you so much! Hope you have a good time and while you're there, go and sit on a Buell XB12Scg.....has to be the "cg" lowered one and you'll see why I've fallen in love with it!

[Essex of Essex]

Catch the fast taxi runs as soon as you can, I suspect that after the Victor got airborne a few weeks ago they will soon be restricted to a very slow pace in the future:(

[KeithCRM]

[quote=KeithCRM;1943880]

Well done you on those clips......very nicely done.......and I like the knee down vid too...lol

Thanx, couldn't resist adding that extra vid :)

[xXBADGERXx]

My dad learnt his trade on the Avro Vulcans and still has a fondness for them , He was even re-called back to the RAF when the Falklands kicked off in case they needed Vulcan Bomber engineers .

[gruntygiggles]

I've just got the go ahead that if I can secure $40,000 worth of flight packages for Cape Town Jets via Incredible Adventures, I can take my dad over there next summer and he'll have a flight in one of the three remaining airbourne English Electric Lightnings. It'll be a 1 hr flight, they use one of the two T.5's they have as they have side by side cockpit seats and dual controls, so they also let the client actually take over controls and fly.
This time next year ( because I know I can sell enough) my dad will......

Do a 50,000ft vertical climb in 1 minute....yep...they can climb 50,000ft per minute!!!
He'll cruise over Cape Town at an incredible 60,000ft...way up in the Stratosphere, he'll get to break the sound barrier and fly supersonic and as he has held a pilot license before, he'll get more than average control time too. The pilot will also do some aerobatics...including a possible barrel roll at Mach2.......yep...the lightning can do it both sub AND supersonic.

I have to thank Lissa for starting this thread and also my beloved XH558 making an appearance over my head on the weekend, as it's made me get off my ar$e and do something special for my dad.

He was speechless when I told him about it....he too knows I'll probably sell twice that value in the next 6 months........I can't believe it!

Oh...and we get shark cage diving and peninsula tours thrown in too!

Bring on next year......and anyone fancy booking a flight??? Hawker Hunter flight from $7,500, Buccaneer flight from £11,500 and Lightning flight from £16,900!!!

PM me.......:-)

[Jamiebridges123]

At £17k, absolute bargin.. all the other things one could do for that amount! :rolleyes:

Then I guess it's a once in a lifetime.. and it would be the last since you couldn't afford the food afterwards. :D

[pegasus]

myself and Dicky Ticker were having a coffee at the comfort Cafe just outside Cambridge yesterday at about midday when i looked up and saw the Vulcan overhead, I said to DT what the hell is that, and he said that's a Vulcan Bomber. Very cool sight indeed.

[Dicky Ticker]

Unfortunately I'm old eneough to remember when they were in active service

[gruntygiggles]

Unfortunately I'm old eneough to remember when they were in active service


SO we know you're at least older than 25 then.....lol.:mrgreen::mrgreen:

[Amanda M]

I've just got the go ahead that if I can secure $40,000 worth of flight packages for Cape Town Jets via Incredible Adventures, I can take my dad over there next summer and he'll have a flight in one of the three remaining airbourne English Electric Lightnings. It'll be a 1 hr flight, they use one of the two T.5's they have as they have side by side cockpit seats and dual controls, so they also let the client actually take over controls and fly.
This time next year ( because I know I can sell enough) my dad will......

Do a 50,000ft vertical climb in 1 minute....yep...they can climb 50,000ft per minute!!!
He'll cruise over Cape Town at an incredible 60,000ft...way up in the Stratosphere, he'll get to break the sound barrier and fly supersonic and as he has held a pilot license before, he'll get more than average control time too. The pilot will also do some aerobatics...including a possible barrel roll at Mach2.......yep...the lightning can do it both sub AND supersonic.

I have to thank Lissa for starting this thread and also my beloved XH558 making an appearance over my head on the weekend, as it's made me get off my ar$e and do something special for my dad.

He was speechless when I told him about it....he too knows I'll probably sell twice that value in the next 6 months........I can't believe it!

Oh...and we get shark cage diving and peninsula tours thrown in too!

Bring on next year......and anyone fancy booking a flight??? Hawker Hunter flight from $7,5000, Buccaneer flight from £11,500 and Lightning flight from £16,900!!!

PM me.......:-)

OMG that sounds absolutely awesome :cool: Got a proper shiver down my spine reading that. What a wonderful thing to do for your dad :D

[gruntygiggles]

OMG that sounds absolutely awesome :cool: Got a proper shiver down my spine reading that. What a wonderful thing to do for your dad :D

I keep getting a lump in my throat thinking about it because my dad has just always been an incredible father. Gave me and my sis a great childhood, has helped me through a horrible few years and has always seen me as the son he never had, so I just wanted to do something special. I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it without without me and Stretchie giving up on all our plans for the next year....so I got creative....lol.

He's not stopped thinking about it and got zero sleep last night....lol.

[gruntygiggles]

At £17k, absolute bargin.. all the other things one could do for that amount! :rolleyes:

Then I guess it's a once in a lifetime.. and it would be the last since you couldn't afford the food afterwards. :D

That's quite cheap when you consider the Lightning uses up 6 times the fuel of the other planes!!! And I think the Land Rover is thirsty!!!

[Geoffrey]

According to the http://www.vulcantothesky.org website, it was attending the RAF Cosford air show on the 14th. She is based at Bruntingthorpe.
the maintenance base is bruntingthorpe, however due to the strict rules and regualtions XH558 only lands and takes off once a year from this former airfiled for winter hibernation. it costs the restoration organisation a fortune to have the required personell (emergenecy services and temporary atc, etc...) and equipment just for one departure and arrival a year. the vulcan is kindly aloud to base it self at suitable raf stations around the country, although a small fee is expected the raf do offer a lot of deals/freebies.

17/06/2009 - XH558 departed raf lyneham at approximately 12.15pm on route to raf waddington for a once over before departing for an airshow overseas. XH558 is expected to return to either raf brizenorton or raf lyneham as an airshow is scheduled at the near by former raf kemble.

[Geoffrey]

Catch the fast taxi runs as soon as you can, I suspect that after the Victor got airborne a few weeks ago they will soon be restricted to a very slow pace in the future:(
i was there, it was not airborne and was within its restrictions.

[ThEGr33k]

Id love to see one flying... or should that be hear one. Ive heard many stories about the noises these things put out. :D

One thing though, people have said things like "the sound of power" etc... but one Airbus 380 engine puts out nearly twice the thrust of all 4 of the Vulcan's... Just a bit of info about it for ya ha ha.

[gruntygiggles]

Id love to see one flying... or should that be hear one. Ive heard many stories about the noises these things put out. :D

One thing though, people have said things like "the sound of power" etc... but one Airbus 380 engine puts out nearly twice the thrust of all 4 of the Vulcan's... Just a bit of info about it for ya ha ha.

yep......and an incredible sound they make too.....but there's nothing like the sound of some of the fighters......like a harrier doing a vertical take off or making a bow....it's not just the thrust of sending the craft down the runway, but the way it is delivered that affect how it sounds too.

[stewie]

Id love to see one flying... or should that be hear one. Ive heard many stories about the noises these things put out. :D

One thing though, people have said things like "the sound of power" etc... but one Airbus 380 engine puts out nearly twice the thrust of all 4 of the Vulcan's... Just a bit of info about it for ya ha ha.
Yeah you dipped out there Nick, pull up a sandbag and I'll tell you all about em :D actually when I was in there were certain aircraft always got you interested, Galaxy,s and Starlifters from the yanks were a sight to behold, also we had Shackeltons down the road at Lossiemouth, they were a blast from the past as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvNwiczJ69k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBW6F5tEKco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPn65t7BQUk&feature=PlayList&p=736F3CAA6AE098E7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=30
god, just realised, I sound like uncle Albert off only fools and horses :D

[ThEGr33k]

yep......and an incredible sound they make too.....but there's nothing like the sound of some of the fighters......like a harrier doing a vertical take off or making a bow....it's not just the thrust of sending the craft down the runway, but the way it is delivered that affect how it sounds too.


Aye... best sounding Jet plane ive heard (that I can remember) was a B1 bomber at full afterburn taking off. The noise is... wow. Id imagine the Vulcan is similar to that?

best sounding plane I've ever heard? pretty obvious really but its the spit fire (Merlin engine'd planes). Man... it dont come no better.

[Geoffrey]

Id love to see one flying... or should that be hear one. Ive heard many stories about the noises these things put out. :D

One thing though, people have said things like "the sound of power" etc... but one Airbus 380 engine puts out nearly twice the thrust of all 4 of the Vulcan's... Just a bit of info about it for ya ha ha.
i can remember these from my raf days, although i was never fortunate to share a base with them. by brother, now working for marshalls aerospace as a consultant would be a good fella to talk to about the vulcans and canberras.

the sound does not come from the engine, the famous vulcan howl comes from the intakes and the resonating air in a similar way as blowing over the top of an empty milk bottle. i am sure with the magic of internet you could find a video/recording of the famous howl. when you do hear it, imagine the music of three vulcans hurtling down the runway on a scramble to deliver a nuclear weapon.

this aircraft and its main sister the handley page victor were the reason the cold war was "cold", russia has the ability to attack but they also knew they did not have the ability to defend against the vulcans and victors of the raf.

[stewie]

Aye... best sounding Jet plane ive heard (that I can remember) was a B1 bomber at full afterburn taking off. The noise is... wow. Id imagine the Vulcan is similar to that?

best sounding plane I've ever heard? pretty obvious really but its the spit fire (Merlin engine'd planes). Man... it dont come no better.
I was at Wildenrath in Gemany from 80 - 84, we had a couple of F4 Phantoms on permanent standby called ''battle flight'' if the Russian bears came a bit too close to the buffer zone ''battle flight'' was scrambled , I remember going out about 6.00 am one morning heading over to one the squadrons when the traffic lights at the end of the runway changed to red and these two Phantoms came bouncing along, I was probably only 50 yrd from them as they lined up at the end of the runway, the nav was sat in the back with his head down checking his gear when the lead Phantom started to throttle up, this nav in the rear ship looked over at me grinning his head off, then they were gone, full afterburner and the minute the gear was up they just went vertical, absolutely awesome.

[ThEGr33k]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJDM-oku5Wg&feature=related

Mmmmmm.

[appollo1]

I do believe that the Vulcan will be attending the RAF Leuchars Air Show on 12th Sept this year.

more info here http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=133458

[Essex of Essex]

i was there, it was not airborne and was within its restrictions.

Geoffrey if you care to send me an e-mail address I will send you the photographs of it, all the wheels are off the floor, it went higher and further than the Wright brothers did and nobody denies that was a flight.

I have placed one of the photographs in my avatar, bit small but clearly off the floor!

[stewie]

Geoffrey if you care to send me an e-mail address I will send you the photographs of it, all the wheels are off the floor, it went higher and further than the Wright brothers did and nobody denies that was a flight.

I have placed one of the photographs in my avatar, bit small but clearly off the floor!
Thats a victor though isnt it ?
Edit; oops, sorry, just read it back mate :oops:

[Geoffrey]

there is no way that victor got airborne on its own merit as it has been crippled, it is not under investigation either. the majority of us onlookers who were there on the day would not agree the photgraphic evidence on such websites is accurate, the claims of 20ft is heavily exaggerated.

the people who witnessed the incident with there own eyes, without the use of a camera, state not all three wheels left the gound thus the aircraft was not airborne.

[Essex of Essex]

there is no way that victor got airborne on its own merit as it has been crippled, it is not under investigation either. the majority of us onlookers who were there on the day would not agree the photgraphic evidence on such websites is accurate, the claims of 20ft is heavily exaggerated.

the people who witnessed the incident with there own eyes, without the use of a camera, state not all three wheels left the gound thus the aircraft was not airborne.

It's obvious the machine is clear of the floor, at light weights it's very easy to get such a powerful machine off the floor without meaning to. This is one of the reasons that CAA limited us to a maximum of half the planned rotation speed when we used to practice rejected takeoffs in a live aircraft.

[Quiff Wichard]

my mate was at Cosford- he loves air shows.. his mum and dad used to take us to woodford air show every year when we were 11 12 13 .. now we are 42 !! .. HEY ... Mrs manning used to bring marks and spencer ready wrpped sandwiches . THATS how rich they were ! lol.

anyway . me e mailed him and here is his response.



Got some really good pics of the Vulcan on Sunday will email one two you when I get the chance.
Here is one for the biker thread. The Pilot on Sunday was the pilot who flew the Vulcan that attacked Port Stanley airfield in the Falklands war. Name of Withers.
One of the others in the cockpit Sunday was the pilot of one of the other Vulcans that turned back that day due to technical difficulties .Read the book about it Vulcan 416 (or something like that) it is a good read.
I also saw one of the last times the Vulcan flew (the very same plane) at Woodford airshow and it taxied and stopped right in front of us I seem to remember a big farewell tent at Woodford for the plane after all it was where they were built. Dad has got the video and pictures somewhere.
Luke had never seen it fly before although he has seen one in the Cosford museum. I also have a piece of one of the panels from the cockpit.
Attached is a picture of the bit just above the blokes pencil in the picture. Bit sad I know but nevertheless a bit of history.


its a good pic of inside the cockpit- but its a link off an e mail and java script or something so I dunno how to copy it and post it up. me rubbish

[Viney]

Its flying at Biggin Hill next weekend :) I'm going to camp out in my mates garden just to see/hear it :)

[MCN_LiamM]

Was at Bruntingthorpe or so a couple of months back for work.
Had never realised that was where it was kept till we drove past the hangar with the doors partly open.

Remember when I was in the Air Cadets and we were on a camp somewhere. Went to some privately-owned air museum. Really quite small grotty place owned by some farmer or something. Outisde they had a Vulcan parked up. Could touch it and everything :smt023

Been meaning to go to an Airshow again. Great fun.

[instigator]

Just had a flick through my grandad's flight records. Turns out he flew these vulcans...:

VX770 (Pre service vulcan under test flighing), VX777, XA889, XA890, XA891, XA 895, XA 898, XA 896, XA 902, XA 900, XA 904, XA 901, XA 907, XA 910, XA 911, XH 504, XH 505, XH 532, XH 559, XH 560, XH 561, XH 562 and the Vulcan B Mk2 XH 533 & XH 558 - and also the 901 and 898 for some bombing competitions in florida.

I'm chuffed. I have to go see this thing in the air now:)

[Lozzo]

When I was a kid we lived in Singapore for a few years in the late 60s, when my dad was stationed at RAF Changi. He took me out to the end of the runway one day and I sat on the roof of an army Land Rover with my legs dangling over the screen to watch a squadron of Vulcans coming in over our heads to land. I remember the noise being absolutely incredible and sticking my fingers in my ears to deaden it a little as each one flew over us.