V Bomber program (22/7/09)

[mustpost]

windriver

As I have repeated, perhaps ad nauseum, I can well remember bairns bawling at Turnhouse in the (very) early 60's on the Vulcan flyover; probably 'cos I thought I was too big for that..(aged 8) scared, me...?

[windriver]

mustpost

scared, me...?

Yes and me probably too ... but as I understood it the idea of Families Day was to show the family what one did at work.

Ten years later when I joined up, families day was little more than 'hook the duck' - 'lob a wet sponge at the padre' and the hydraulic bay Scottish Dancing team...

[Fareastdriver]

At the squadron Xmas party for the kids Santa Claus would be flown in as well.

[Marham69]

UK Viewers

UK TV Channel 'More 4' (freeview Ch 14) has recently telecast a 3 part series on Britain's Engineering exploits of the 1950s with particular reference to the RAF and strategic missile/nuclear weapons matters.

It may be of interest that they are re-telecasting the complete series on Saturday 8th August from 2100 Hrs BST - 3 hours worth.

1 - The V-Force - design and development of the Valiant, Vulcan and Victor and their operational service with the RAF

2 - Nuclear Weapons Testing - Operation Grapple - Valiants generating some 'instant sunshine'

3 - Blue Streak

Cameo appearances from amongst many others - some real stalwarts of the Valiant/Victor 1 era - Dick Russell. Alan Pringle, Derek Tuthill.

Tin Triangles do NOT rool OK. :-)

[Tankertrashnav]

Great news - I was really disappointed to miss the first episode first time round- must set my digi thingy to record it all this time.

I think Alan Pringle is the only man ever to have dropped two nuclear weapons, because after his "turn" a pilot on a later flight went sick and Alan had to stand in for him. Bit hazy on my facts but I think Alan was the man concerned.

Tin Triangles do NOT rool OK. :-)

Agreed

[Lightning Mate]

I missed it too.

Thanks for the heads up.

This is what we used to carry:

[Al R]

This programme is being repeated twice tonight on More 4 (mid evening) and then again early morning (0300 ish). The other two progs in the series about British wpns engineering in the 50s and 60s will also be showed.

[Data-Lynx]

V Force

Watched it tonight for the first time. Total respect to the crews, especially the back seat crews in the Vulcan, the maintainers and the families.

[Warmtoast]

I recorded these programs and have only now got round to viewing them and fascinatng viewing they are.

Re the second video and detonation of Grapple X, the UK's first H-bomb. The 'sniffer' Canberras that entered the cloud to collect samples appear to be coated with what looks like the grease that channel swimmers daub on themselves.

I assume this coating was something that could be easily be washed off as part of the decontamination process once they returned to Christmas Island.

Any thoughts as to what this coating is or was for?

[Blacksheep]

Wouldn't have been allowed for the last couple of years of the Vulcans' life at Waddo. Too much fear of FOD being kicked up by the aircraft ahead.

B1As had electric start and required a "Simstart Trolley" for QRA & demo scrambles etc. When doing a B1A demo scramble from the Waddington ORP in '66 I was on the No.3 aircraft and was forced to bail out of the 'wheel dancing' when the aircraft began to move while I was still pulling the port Simstart cables out. The aircraft dragged the trolley out onto the runway and made a complete balls-up of the demo. Those demo scrambles with the white overalls and polished tyres were a bit of nonsense anyway; ORP scrambling from dispersed airfields on a Micky Finn was more like the real thing and just like a normal, measured, everyday QRA "Zero-two"

[VictorPilot]

Please note

New thread "Were you ever on Victors" open now.