Avro Vulcan

What a plane, and wonderfull to watch. They are trying to restor all the ones that are rusting around people fields so hopfully they will be bk flying again. Im actually attending a talk called "Vulcan to the Sky" next week about the situation with this brilliant aircraft.
and despite playing in a roaringly loud metal band, the vulcan is (from memory) the loudest plane i have heard!!





[edit on 20-10-2005 by PrimalDeaf]

I love this aircraft.............. I was lucky enough to see this aircraft in flight, it was some sight when it started to turn to the right and I could see the whole of the aircraft.



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[edit on 20/10/2005 by Mirthful Me]

A very nice plane indeed... Feel free to post more facts about the plane...

[edit on 20-10-2005 by Figher Master FIN]

"At its operational height the Vulcan can outfly and outmanoeuvre any fighter in squadron service today."
- Air Ministry Press Release (1958).

The Vulcan was the absolute queen of the skies, bar none. The highlight of every air show I saw in the '70's and early '80's was either this aircraft or the Lightning doing its trademark full burner vertical climb, or at the very best shows, both!




Her shape changed quite dramatically over the years as this shot of a very early one shows. Compare the straight leading edge with the picture above. Just think how amazing this bomber looked when in first flew in 1952, the biggest delta winged aircraft ever flown at the time, it made the B-47 look almost old fashioned by comparison, the B-2 Spirit of its day and even the USA and USSR didn't have any bombers that could match its performance or versatility. Just try outflying a 1958 vintage fighter in a B-47 or Tu-16!

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And then in 1982 she finally got to go to war;



[edit on 20-10-2005 by waynos]

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[edit on 20/10/2005 by Mirthful Me]

Here are some cool pictures I found of the Vulcan after reading this thread.



Here is a good picture that shows how big the Vulcan is compared to people

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[edit on 20/10/2005 by Mirthful Me]

seing this thread brought back a cool memory, when i joined the RAF it was customery for aircraft to fly over a passing out parade. I was lucky that on my passing out parade three Vulcans did a fly past. it was spectacular.

I always get beat up when I say this, but I really think the Vulcan is the ugliest plane ever to fly. Really, I understand how much its beloved, but god what an ugly plane. Looks like Rodan from Godzilla:


www.avia-art.com..." target='_blank' class='tabOff'/>


I guess its like an ugly child, you have to love it anyways

I don't think it's ugly at all, but everyone has differnt tastes. Sadly I've never seen this thing fly, but i'd love to. The town where I live now has an internation airshow every year. Although it kind of sucks now, but back in the day the Vulcan used to come here all the time.

Here's a great site full of lots of photos of the vulcan. www.avrovulcan.org.uk...

Skippy, just out of curiosity, do you find the Vulcan ugly in all its forms or in the canouflaged B.2 version we all like posting here?


If you will indulge me, for instance, do you still think the Vulcan is ugly like that beast picture you posted in this shot below?

I think this version is pure aerodynamic beauty, but, much as I love the Vulcan in all its forms, I could maybe see your point with the later B.2. Though, I suspect, you might have a different view if you'd seen it flying for real, maybe you have?

Avro Vulcan was another nice creation by the geniuses at Avro. Same with the Lancaster. And the Arrow. All of these were top-of-the-line creations in their time. Great company.

The vulcan is (I must say) SOMEWHAT ugly but otherwise nice. Its absolutely HUGE. I have seen on in RL and its the size of three of my houses! The wings are much bigger than they look. And the sound... Those things are loud when they want to but when they idle its actually very difficult to hear them. The Vulcans go over my house on the way to wherever it is they go sometimes. Its quite a sight to see. Wish I could see one level bombing a full load, though! Must be ncie to see the explosions.

I wonder if these things were nuclear-capable?

Darkpro, yes they were nuclear capable. In fact that was the reason they were built, the British Nuclear deterrent.

This deterrent was built up around the 'V-Force' which was made up of three different types of bomber. The Vickers Valiant was the first, entering service in 1955, this was followed by the Avro Vulcan in 1957 and the Handley Page Victor in 1958. It was an odd decision for Britain to buy three different bombers when, in the same class, the US standardised on the B-47 and the USSR on the Tu-16. The reason was that the British didn't want to risk losing the entire bomber force in any ofthe types were found to be faulty and had to be grounded.

When the Royal Navy took over the nuclear deterrent in the 1960's the V force switched to conventional bombing.

The Valiant was retired in 1964, the Victor (because it was bigger and had 50% greater load than the Vulcan,) switched from the bomber to the tanker role in the early 1970's and the Vulcan was replaced by the Tornado between 1982 and 1984, the last Vulcans in service being used as additional tankers before the VC-10 tered service in that role.

i have a mission for anyone willling to accept:

in 1982 a vulcan - `dumbo` a Vulcan with a blue dumbo the elephant insignia was based at RAF Abingdon in oxfordshire


can anyone tell me what became of her?

Without a doubt the most beautiful bomber ever to fly, even in B.2 "European theatre" camo.

I have a plan, currently on hold, to build an r/c Vulcan.

From everything I've read it was as revolutionary as the Canberra, which could actually outmanouvre a large number of fighters of the day. Even after switching from high altitude to low-level penetration the RAF expected decent survival rates, something SAC could not expect of their B36, 47 and 52s. Instead the US went for things like the Hustler (which was seriously uuugly!).

The only problem the Vulcan has is that the RAF screwed up in its only actions, the Black Buck missions. First they missed the runway and then they forgot to arm the bombs. Wasted all that mission time and fuel when the RN could have done it from the carriers, hardly the Dam Busters' finest moment. I guess they made up for it when they took their shiny new Tornadoes to the US and won the bombing competition.

Originally posted by HowlrunnerIV

The only problem the Vulcan has is that the RAF screwed up in its only actions, the Black Buck missions. First they missed the runway and then they forgot to arm the bombs. Wasted all that mission time and fuel when the RN could have done it from the carriers,

I don't think thats right, is it?

There were several black buck raids and I distinctly remember seeing photographs of bomb damaged including a crater slap in the middle of the runway and several demolished buildings and damaged aircraft.

I can't imagine that the RAF 'forgot' to arm the bombs, that would be incredibly dumb. Now if you said the USAF I would believe it immediately! (JOKE!!!!)

If you follow this link there is a flash animation of the Black buck raids, by clicking next you can actually start from Ascension and follow one of the raids through to see what happened, its pretty good.

Fly on Black Buck (nearly)

www.raf.mod.uk...

tis a good read about the black buck missions.


anyone know about my vulcan? dumbo? seen at Abingdon between 81 > 83?

i sat in the captains seat and went into the radome as well - i was 9 at the time

I can remember going to Exeter Air Day several times as a kid, back in the seventies. The highlight was always the Vulcan. She'd always do a low pass, bomb doors open, and then pull straight up, taps wide open!
God, those things were bloody loud! Used to scare the hell out of us, but it was fun, and I really miss them

Regarding your vulcan with the Dumbo motif. Dumbo was adopted as the squadron emblem of 27 Sqn when they re-equipped with the Vulcan as it was felt appropriate. The squadron badge was always an elephant as you can see here;



The Dumbo motif, adopted because they thought the Vulcans wings resembled dumbo's ears and fitted with their elephant bearing crest, can just about be made out on the fin of this 27 Sqn Vulcan.



When they re-equipped with the Tornado GR.1 they went back to the old style badge and the squadron is currently equipped with the Chinook HC.3

thank you - your a star (as allways)


so when was 1 stationed at Abingdon?

My knoledge here is far from complete but I don't think Abingdon was ever a vulcan station. However, in 1982 a lot of Vulcans were retired from service and appreared at bases all over the country, many of them becoming gate guardians. Did you see this Vulcan fly regularyl from there or could it be as I have said? There would aslo have been Vulcans present at the annual air show there.

Originally posted by waynos
Skippy, just out of curiosity, do you find the Vulcan ugly in all its forms or in the canouflaged B.2 version we all like posting here?

First up, its seems your feelings are hurt because somebody thinks your favorite plane is ugly. This must be the case, your comments suggest it.

Secondly, the B2 is not even remotly close in design or features to the Vulcan, and for you to imply its a copy is obsurd, as the USA designed and flew flying wings almost 60 years ago.

Third, Dont confuse huge bat wings on a conventional aircraft with a flying wing, 100% different.

The B2 is nothing at all like the Vulcan, your love of the plane has blinded your reasoning. And dont assume I am a fan of the B2, although I do feel its a great deal more attractive than the Vulcan.

Hey, the Vulcan may be a capable plane, but its nothing like the B2.

The Vulcan is as ugly as my left butt cheek, pure and simple. (my right butt cheek is not quite as ugly as the left)

[edit on 21-10-2005 by skippytjc]