Did You Fly The Vulcan?? (Merged)
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Sunflower
I went with No 101 Squadron on their Sunflower, my partner was Don Lennox, the Captain was Fiery Jack---BUT
We flew in XM657 which belonged a gent from Hampshire, I ask the question "Why did he not go in his own bomber"-- did he know something. I know we spent a night on Wake Island.
He went to KT Hong Kong, I got the short straw went to Darwin.
We flew in XM657 which belonged a gent from Hampshire, I ask the question "Why did he not go in his own bomber"-- did he know something. I know we spent a night on Wake Island.
He went to KT Hong Kong, I got the short straw went to Darwin.
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Akrotiri Confused
AK 71 is mixing it up with a Canberra B(I)8 of 88 Squadron, we were there from Germany to assist in the Kuwait 1961 excursion.
Some plumber mixed the breech locking tools after a stoppage. The pilot counted the rounds (tracer) INTO THE BAY.
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Some plumber mixed the breech locking tools after a stoppage. The pilot counted the rounds (tracer) INTO THE BAY.
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Akrotiri Confused
AK 71 is mixing it up with a Canberra B(I)8 of 88 Squadron, we were there from Germany to assist in the Kuwait 1961 excursion.
Some plumber mixed the breech locking tools after a stoppage. The pilot counted the rounds (tracer) INTO THE BAY.................
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Operation Vantage.....
Some plumber mixed the breech locking tools after a stoppage. The pilot counted the rounds (tracer) INTO THE BAY.................
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Operation Vantage.....
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Forget
The Vulcan accredited to others was taken by me at Offutt it is XM609
The Captain was Phil Leckonby of 101 Squadron. We were going home to Waddo, the other Chief was the late Alan Ashton who was bringing another Vulcan later.
The badge on the tail is the US NAVAL unit at Saufley Field, Pensacola, where we had been previously.
The Captain was Phil Leckonby of 101 Squadron. We were going home to Waddo, the other Chief was the late Alan Ashton who was bringing another Vulcan later.
The badge on the tail is the US NAVAL unit at Saufley Field, Pensacola, where we had been previously.
XM609 at Offutt
Join Date: Jul 2010
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left in nosewheel bay
I had a similar experience as that SAC, In the late 50s I was a Cpl Tech BDS night QRA on 101 B1s, had to get an urgent NBS Calc 5 box changed (after the plane had left the pan), in Nose wheel eqpt bay. Normal teqhnique was to climb up from servicing steps and stand in bay straddling the U/c door coamings. I had just completed reconnecting box when the green light came for the off, and the beast started to roll out to the runway, saw servicing ladder disapear. A microseconds indecision as the Beast gathered speed, Pan looked a long way down (it was higher on the B1s), dropped, and rolled as the exhaust washed over me. Other than shaken, warmed and twisted ankle, unhurt. Back in the crew room asked Chief what would have happened if I hadn't jumped? His reply was that I would have probably fallen out upon take-off and I certainly wasn't important enough to abort the take-off, as he didn't know if it was exercise or for real.
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Bert Caskie
Hi Trevor
I am Bert Caskie (DFC)'s son and would be interested to know about his connection to you. I don't know about him ever having been a 'best man' and would be very interested to know more.
Obviously if there's anything in particular you'd like to know about Dad then ask away!
All the best
Ian
I am Bert Caskie (DFC)'s son and would be interested to know about his connection to you. I don't know about him ever having been a 'best man' and would be very interested to know more.
Obviously if there's anything in particular you'd like to know about Dad then ask away!
All the best
Ian
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Vulcan mass take off from Akrotiri
Sometime during my tour at Akrotiri (1972 or 1973)there was an AOC-inC's inspection culminating in a mass scramble of Vulcans, some 12-14? if memory is to be trusted.
The last one was hauled sharply into the air and there was much intaking of breath by many around me when the A/C was banked hard to starboard with very little ground clearance evident. Anybody see/hear about the event? or was there?
That definitely started my love affair with the aircraft, realised last year with the return of 558. What a showman's aircraft.....always end up with tears down my face....
The last one was hauled sharply into the air and there was much intaking of breath by many around me when the A/C was banked hard to starboard with very little ground clearance evident. Anybody see/hear about the event? or was there?
That definitely started my love affair with the aircraft, realised last year with the return of 558. What a showman's aircraft.....always end up with tears down my face....
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If ever there was any doubt regarding the Vulcan's ability to depart with some haste in comparison with the opposition, I offer:
YouTube - B52 Vs R.A.F. Vulcan
YouTube - B52 Vs R.A.F. Vulcan
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B52, capable but no charisma!
The B52 certainly lumbered into the air with its peculiar nose-down attitude, but I suppose that the Vulcan with a full bomb load would not have the AOA on takeoff that it manages in display mode with enough fuel for the display and a diversion...
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
anjuna, not so.
At display weights and the peacetime power setting with 201 engines the power-weight ratio was about 1:2.
A 301 engined Mk 2 with full conventional bombload and unrestricted power, such as we enjoyed in the 60s, had a power-weight ratio of about 1:2.38.
Even in high temperatures and max bomb load the ROC as 5000 ft per minute and time to 45000 feet about 9 minutes.
At display weights and the peacetime power setting with 201 engines the power-weight ratio was about 1:2.
A 301 engined Mk 2 with full conventional bombload and unrestricted power, such as we enjoyed in the 60s, had a power-weight ratio of about 1:2.38.
Even in high temperatures and max bomb load the ROC as 5000 ft per minute and time to 45000 feet about 9 minutes.
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Eye witness account, so it must be true
I was on the flight line that day & there were some Americans in the crowd, who were whooping & cheering & stating loudly how the B-52 was the greatest! When the Vulcan took off, there was silence. As I looked around, their mouths were wide open & they didn't say a lot after that. I just thought to myself YES!
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Hellerman Pliers
On 101 Sqdn, and in the Electronics bay we used to refer to them as AESPFOOs
translated as Ancient Egyptian Silver Plated Fundamental Orifice Openers.
It seems that wherever they were used the descriptions were always scatological.
translated as Ancient Egyptian Silver Plated Fundamental Orifice Openers.
It seems that wherever they were used the descriptions were always scatological.
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Soviet QRA
Just working my way through this thread, driven by memories of watching Vulcans at Finninley in the mid to late sixties.
Got to page 40 and I haven't seen any reference to V-bombers being intercepted by scrambled Soviet fighters.
Lightning and Phantom pilots don't seem shy about scrambling to intercept Bears testing our reactions and response, so I assume this must have happened in reverse. Didn't it?
OP
Got to page 40 and I haven't seen any reference to V-bombers being intercepted by scrambled Soviet fighters.
Lightning and Phantom pilots don't seem shy about scrambling to intercept Bears testing our reactions and response, so I assume this must have happened in reverse. Didn't it?
OP
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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Vulcan Crash
Interesting reading. I ran the Waddington Ejection Seat bay at the time of the XM610 crash at Wingate, so it was good to see our equipment actually worked.
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Been away for a long time but interesting to see some of the eng. posts (OK I understand the thread is "Did You Fly" but I sort of think most of the operators (tee hee!) have an interest (more or less) in the eng. aspects of this great aircraft's service life. From my engineering perspective, the 2 great design features in the V-force (Vulcan in particular) NBS were:
The Calc 3 (balistics "computer") square rooting pin wheel
The automatic variation setting cam unit (Calc 5? - can't remember if that was the box)
In other words - how did they come up with these things? I thought the AVSCU was a joke till I saw the pukka item in a servicing bay (looked like the burnt out candle the night you fell asleep in the bath ) and I thought - hats off to the boffins that designed this.
Discuss :-)
MSJ
The Calc 3 (balistics "computer") square rooting pin wheel
The automatic variation setting cam unit (Calc 5? - can't remember if that was the box)
In other words - how did they come up with these things? I thought the AVSCU was a joke till I saw the pukka item in a servicing bay (looked like the burnt out candle the night you fell asleep in the bath ) and I thought - hats off to the boffins that designed this.
Discuss :-)
MSJ