Did You Fly The Vulcan?? (Merged)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
You've not seen a 28lb er up close and personal then?
Beautiful piece of engineering. Engineered superbly to provide a technical solution to a rare problem at a huge cost. Electrically initiated explosive squibs, moving shutters, large quantity of smoke and flash compound and a frag area out to 25-30 metres.
New design costs peanuts and uses kinetic energy principle to keep the miniscule cartridge from premature detonation and placed in a carrier to stop birds hitting it in the first place.
Beautiful piece of engineering. Engineered superbly to provide a technical solution to a rare problem at a huge cost. Electrically initiated explosive squibs, moving shutters, large quantity of smoke and flash compound and a frag area out to 25-30 metres.
New design costs peanuts and uses kinetic energy principle to keep the miniscule cartridge from premature detonation and placed in a carrier to stop birds hitting it in the first place.
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Oh dear, I had the misfortune to thumb-through the new Avro Vulcan - A History by Peter Dancey (Tempus Publishing) yesterday.
Some absolute gems:-
...both the Blue Streak ballistic missile and the Blue Steel stand-off missile came to be seen as the Vulcan's main armament
or how about
...these airframes were the re-designated as B2A
then again we could try
...27 Squadron at RAF Waddington from November 1973 until March 1982
maybe the best one I've found so far however, must be
... Vulcan B.2 BB serial XM607 (seems this designation refers to Black Buck aircraft)
I stopped reading after this
Some absolute gems:-
...both the Blue Streak ballistic missile and the Blue Steel stand-off missile came to be seen as the Vulcan's main armament
or how about
...these airframes were the re-designated as B2A
then again we could try
...27 Squadron at RAF Waddington from November 1973 until March 1982
maybe the best one I've found so far however, must be
... Vulcan B.2 BB serial XM607 (seems this designation refers to Black Buck aircraft)
I stopped reading after this
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The Tempus Publishing book revue is revealing.
I now understand why the bomb doors were on the bottom of the aircraft.
...........went on to serve in the RAF from 1952 to 1984. During this time it carried Britain's first nuclear weapon, the gravity bomb, and played an important part of the deterrence policy in the Cold War.
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Mistakes would be fine but there are limits! It's also a bit annoying to see that the author's stolen stuff from my last Vulcan book and hasn't even got the good grace to give me a mention in the acknowledgements or references. Couldn't even give one of my own photographs a suitable credit to the bloke that took it (me!). Shabby business!
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Hi,
I am looking for anyone that knew Flight Lt Stephen Sumpter (my uncle) he was killed when Vulcan XM604 crashed at Cottesmore on 30th Jan 1968 he was the Nav/plotter. I would love to hear from anyone that knew him.
forget has already been a huge help in finding information on the crash itself.
Many Thanks
Matt Sumpter
I am looking for anyone that knew Flight Lt Stephen Sumpter (my uncle) he was killed when Vulcan XM604 crashed at Cottesmore on 30th Jan 1968 he was the Nav/plotter. I would love to hear from anyone that knew him.
forget has already been a huge help in finding information on the crash itself.
Many Thanks
Matt Sumpter
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Here's one for ya - XM575. According to the info I can find, it was retired and delivered to Bruntingthorpe and subsequently ferried to East Midlands. Other snippets contradict this and say it went directly to East Midlands. Anyone know the truth on this?
Vulcan B2A XM575 was withdrawn from service with the Royal Air Force on 21st December 1982 and arrived at the Aeropark early in 1983. It was repainted in 1986 and 1994.
Retired in 1983, 575 is preserved at the East Midlands Aeropark.
Delivered to Castle Donington on 28th Jan 83, is was udated to G-BLMC.
From three of the sites I looked at.
Added from a forum:
XM575 is the last surviving vulcan of the very last 'public' QRA at Raf Finningley on the 19th september 1981. She was retired to east midlands airport. Then in 1985 ther wer plans afoot to fly her to Bruntinghorpe with help from Bae who came and started to restore her to flying contition for this one off flight.
The civil serial for XM575 is G-BLMC. I work with XM575 at East Midlands Aeropark (I am a volunteer), she is in a really healthy condition. 3/4 engines are in working order (although we can't test them due to houses behind). 575 looks to have a happy future here at the Airport. It's highly unlikely 575 will fly again. I'm just happy its on display.
Retired in 1983, 575 is preserved at the East Midlands Aeropark.
Delivered to Castle Donington on 28th Jan 83, is was udated to G-BLMC.
From three of the sites I looked at.
Added from a forum:
XM575 is the last surviving vulcan of the very last 'public' QRA at Raf Finningley on the 19th september 1981. She was retired to east midlands airport. Then in 1985 ther wer plans afoot to fly her to Bruntinghorpe with help from Bae who came and started to restore her to flying contition for this one off flight.
The civil serial for XM575 is G-BLMC. I work with XM575 at East Midlands Aeropark (I am a volunteer), she is in a really healthy condition. 3/4 engines are in working order (although we can't test them due to houses behind). 575 looks to have a happy future here at the Airport. It's highly unlikely 575 will fly again. I'm just happy its on display.
Last edited by Exrigger; 21st Jun 2007 at 17:13. Reason: Additional Info
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XA903
2AV8,
Apologies that this response is over 2 months old but I was researching something when I came across your posting.
I worked on XA903 in both OLY593 and RB199 configurations during the 70's as an engineer at the R-R Flight Test Centre at Filton. However, I regret that I don't have any photographs of the cockpit - mores the pity!
I assume you have tried the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust at Bristol and, in particular, Alan Baxter (assuming he still takes an active role in things - you'll have to excuse me but I'm a little bit out of touch with things at the RRHT) who was the Flight Test Engineer most associated with XA903.
If I can be of any assistance please send me a PM and I will do the best I can. Thankfully, I am still in-touch with some of those remaining from the halycon flight testing days at Filton.
Apologies that this response is over 2 months old but I was researching something when I came across your posting.
I worked on XA903 in both OLY593 and RB199 configurations during the 70's as an engineer at the R-R Flight Test Centre at Filton. However, I regret that I don't have any photographs of the cockpit - mores the pity!
I assume you have tried the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust at Bristol and, in particular, Alan Baxter (assuming he still takes an active role in things - you'll have to excuse me but I'm a little bit out of touch with things at the RRHT) who was the Flight Test Engineer most associated with XA903.
If I can be of any assistance please send me a PM and I will do the best I can. Thankfully, I am still in-touch with some of those remaining from the halycon flight testing days at Filton.
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A bit late but I've just remembered that I saw 903, OCT/NOV '71, being converted for the 199 in a certain big shed outside Cambridge. Perhaps Marshall of Cambs have some pictures or drawings still?
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Not long now until your appointment with that rose, eh Tombstone?
And Primetime Joanna's team are busily polishing their lenses ready to record the event in all its dubious glory for posterity!
And Primetime Joanna's team are busily polishing their lenses ready to record the event in all its dubious glory for posterity!
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This should rattle a few old brain cells. Pictures taken from 1968 Bomb/Nav/Comm competition.
Last edited by forget; 15th Jul 2007 at 16:48. Reason: Resized
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Forget, Indeed. I remember Mick Hibberd as an old man 
Also Taff Traylor. I seem to remember this was about the time that the AEO had to respond to an encrypted morse question with an encrypted reply.
Questions along the lines of "What is your eta FDP?" or "What is your estimated fuel at FDP?" Such multi-choice questions could then be answered with "1012" or "12000lb" etc.
As the AEO wrote down the received code the plotter would decode the message. As the plotter decoded the message the radar would select the correct prepared and encoded answer. As the meesage receive was acknowledged the AEO would immediately respond.
One crew go zero penalties for response delay and 100% penalties for wrong answer!
Also Taff Traylor. I seem to remember this was about the time that the AEO had to respond to an encrypted morse question with an encrypted reply.
Questions along the lines of "What is your eta FDP?" or "What is your estimated fuel at FDP?" Such multi-choice questions could then be answered with "1012" or "12000lb" etc.
As the AEO wrote down the received code the plotter would decode the message. As the plotter decoded the message the radar would select the correct prepared and encoded answer. As the meesage receive was acknowledged the AEO would immediately respond.
One crew go zero penalties for response delay and 100% penalties for wrong answer!
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Where are they now (Vulcan drivers)
Once ran into John Huggins in a Marylebone Road sandwich bar 30 years ago,wonder where he and his motley crew are now. Happy days on the Goose 1971 and at Machrihanish MBD 1968 and Valley 1969/70. I was permanent staff on dispersal, what a life 2 weeks work a year and the rest waiting for it to happen.
Did a months relief at Leuchars in late '70s, anyone remember removing 43 Sqd Cockerel and handing it back from the whistling t*t while sitting on the runway... happy days.
Oh yes, 17.5 years, first night at Waddo out of trade training 02.00 QRA start engines right behind my block! I thought my world was ending very early!!
Did a months relief at Leuchars in late '70s, anyone remember removing 43 Sqd Cockerel and handing it back from the whistling t*t while sitting on the runway... happy days.
Oh yes, 17.5 years, first night at Waddo out of trade training 02.00 QRA start engines right behind my block! I thought my world was ending very early!!