Originally Posted by
AlphaMale
Avro Vulcan
Max Speed: 625 mph
Cruise Speed: 610 mph
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft
Armament: 21 x 1,000 lb bombs
Range: 4,600 miles
It has always been assumed by the public that a Mark 2 must be better in all respects than a Mark 1 (anything) whereas in reality any improvement from optimum may well compromise the whole. In the case of the Vulcan 2 more power meant greater lifting capacity and ability to fly higher. These came at a cost.
More realistic performance figures are:
Max Speed:0.92 or 0.93M roughly 525k or 600mph
Cruise Speed:0.84M roughly 480k or 550mph but higher equals slower
Service ceiling: 56,000 ft later reduced by oxygen equipment to 50,000 ft and then 45,000 ft for aerodynamic/aeromedical safety.
Armament: 21x 1000lb Bombs (nominal) = 22,000lb
Range: High Level out and return 3000nm 3450st m.
I have based range on a 6 hr cruise at 0.84M. The longest high-level training sorties I know of where Waddington-El Adem-Akrotiri and the reverse route the following day. The homebound leg was about 6hr 45min but they were butting into a headwind and almost had to divert to Manston. It might be possible to push the range up nearer 3500nm but that would be pushing the reserves.
Could it do it? Yes.
Could it, in the Dale Brown mode, carry AAMs? Yes. Had it had the F14 style kit it could probably have been an effective interceptor. It would certainly have forced enemy bombers to go supersonic further out from UK.