Were you ever on Victors (Merged - various)
Annie's hatch I'll leave to RFCC - it was an unpressurised compartment well aft on the port side of the fuselage and gave access to various bits of equipment that crew chiefs understood - all I know is it was handy for putting all your kit in when going overseas!
.....the Green Satin was unreliable over water. On those occasions the crew chief must have slid his seat well forward to allow access to the periscopic sextant but I just can't picture it?
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Victor back hatch
Annie's hatch, a.k.a. the Back Hatch / No4 Freight Bay. Used for carrying spare brake 'chutes, spares, APs etc.
Well it might not have any kit in it as a tanker but when I was servicing them on 55/57 Sqn at Honington circa 1961/2 when they were still being used as bombers, this compartment contained all the ECM (electronic counter measures) and the Green Satin doppler navigator!
Well it might not have any kit in it as a tanker but when I was servicing them on 55/57 Sqn at Honington circa 1961/2 when they were still being used as bombers, this compartment contained all the ECM (electronic counter measures) and the Green Satin doppler navigator!
Was the lower bomb aimer position ever used for anything other than duty-free storage?
We turned off the heat to the bomb aimer's window so it froze over and then he used the ration box -lined with a number of topos- to evacuate the remainder of his problem.
Said ration box and contents then placed in the Bomb Aimer's position so the whole lot froze and then we opened the crew door and chucked it out on the side of the taxyway in Gan eventually [having told the Tower].
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Thanks again for all this info guys, much appreciated even if some of it was a bit too graphic. Suffice to say I'll be mostly ignoring the internal aspects of the bomb aimers position for now. Real life has taken over and the Victor project has to take a back seat for a week or two but your input has been most helpful.
I'll be back later with more questions and screenshots of progress as it happens.
Cheers :-)
I'll be back later with more questions and screenshots of progress as it happens.
Cheers :-)
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Victor Gear Retraction sequence and timing
Hello again folks, time to pick your collective brains again. One of the FlightGear developers has requested information on the gear retraction and extension sequence. At the moment on our version it is modelled rather simplistically and is frankly incomplete and we'd like to get it more accurate.
How long did it take from pressing the gear up button until the final thunk and the gear safe indication?
Was the extension time the same as retraction?
What moved where and when? We think we know what the actual sequence was but I'd love to hear it described by some of the ground crew who must have done tests while the aircraft was jacked up.
Thanks in advance :-)
How long did it take from pressing the gear up button until the final thunk and the gear safe indication?
Was the extension time the same as retraction?
What moved where and when? We think we know what the actual sequence was but I'd love to hear it described by some of the ground crew who must have done tests while the aircraft was jacked up.
Thanks in advance :-)
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If my memory serves me well, it was a piece of engineering art to watch. To fit the whole of the U/C in a hole that was only just bigger than the bogey itself.
Once the aircraft was jacked up fully, 4 inch clearance under the trailing wheels, the bogey being forced to tip by a dash pot (nitrogen charged ram) which also acted as a damper during take off. With the bogey fully tilted, two rollers mounted at the front of the bogey entered, what we called, the tip hooks, these were sprung loaded and mounted on the fore stay. With the rollers in the hooks, microswitches were 'made' and the undercarriage would retract on selection, it needed all four hooks to be made for the retraction to commence.
As the actuator (connected between fore stay and mainleg) retracts, the leg moves forward, at the same time the down locks are hydraulically unlocked, these locks are positioned at the top of the mainleg casting at the point the leg was attached to a large hinged plate (cannot remember its proper name). As the leg was pulled forward the tip hooks pulled the bogey over and the top of the leg moved slightly downwards and backwards until the bogey was on top of the leg with the leg parallel to the ground, once it was fully up the door would shut which was also the up lock if hydraulics were switched off or failed.
If you go to 'Thunder and Lightnings' on the Victor 'walkround' pages they have some fairly detailed pictures of the undercarriage. To see it would be the best, ask the people at Bruntingthorpe to see if they ever do retraction tests.
I hope this helps.
Once the aircraft was jacked up fully, 4 inch clearance under the trailing wheels, the bogey being forced to tip by a dash pot (nitrogen charged ram) which also acted as a damper during take off. With the bogey fully tilted, two rollers mounted at the front of the bogey entered, what we called, the tip hooks, these were sprung loaded and mounted on the fore stay. With the rollers in the hooks, microswitches were 'made' and the undercarriage would retract on selection, it needed all four hooks to be made for the retraction to commence.
As the actuator (connected between fore stay and mainleg) retracts, the leg moves forward, at the same time the down locks are hydraulically unlocked, these locks are positioned at the top of the mainleg casting at the point the leg was attached to a large hinged plate (cannot remember its proper name). As the leg was pulled forward the tip hooks pulled the bogey over and the top of the leg moved slightly downwards and backwards until the bogey was on top of the leg with the leg parallel to the ground, once it was fully up the door would shut which was also the up lock if hydraulics were switched off or failed.
If you go to 'Thunder and Lightnings' on the Victor 'walkround' pages they have some fairly detailed pictures of the undercarriage. To see it would be the best, ask the people at Bruntingthorpe to see if they ever do retraction tests.
I hope this helps.
Sometimes used to watch landings through the rear view periscope - was always fascinating watching the undercarriage come down, and then the moment as the rear pairs of wheels hit the tarmac and the whole assembly slammed forward. Well you had to do something to keep amused during 40 minutes of circuits!
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piesupper, On retraction times, there's an in-cockpit take-off below. You can hear 'gear up' and somewhere in there is 'three greens'.
YouTube - VICTOR TAKE OFF
PS. Disregard. The video is spliced so timings mean nothing.
YouTube - VICTOR TAKE OFF
PS. Disregard. The video is spliced so timings mean nothing.
V Force reunion 2012
The last reunion in April 2010 was generally regarded a great success, and as we are all getting on a bit it was thought that perhaps we better not wait another 6 years before organising another. Newark Air Museum were keen too, so we have decided to go ahead. The next reunion will be held on Saturday 28th April 2012. This is just advance notice, we aren't doing bookings for a while yet, but I will be getting the reunion website up and running fairly shortly. This will have all the info you will need and I will be posting a link to that on here. Just a reminder that the reunion is for all ranks, aircrew or groundcrew, who operated the Valiant, Victor or Vulcan, together with their families, so please help by passing the word on to any of your former comrades who may not otherwise get to hear of it, and make a note of that date now.
V Force Reunion 2012
As promised the reunion website is now up and running again - here's the link V-Force Reunion. Please take a look, all the info we have so far is on the site. We've already had our first booking, so it's never too early to let us know if you'd like to come, even if you can't commit to it yet.
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I'm editing a new book on the Victor and I need a lot of stories suitable for publishing from Victor aircrew Mk1s, Mk2s and K Mk2s. The book will be called The Victor Boys and match the recently issued Lightning Boys which is doing very well. The more photographs the better.If you are interested please let me know. I know I started life as a Vulcan man but i flew lots of K2s and they did a really superb job in the Falklands.
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The Last Victor Pilot
My book about flying and being on Mk 1, 1A, K1(2p), K1a(2p), K1 and K1A, B2, B2(BS), and K2 squadrons is in final revise. Are you interested in collaborating?
V Force reunion
Just to let you know the V-Force Reunion website has just been updated. If you haven't had a look yet, go to the site now and have a browse. We can still do with more photos for the gallery, particularly those with named individuals.
If you were serving on the V Force around the time of the Cuban missile crisis and would like to help Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire with a project they are doing on this, go to entry 108 on the guestbook where there are details of who to get in touch with.
We've had a lot of interest already so let us know if you are hoping to come along by completing the enquiry form on the site - you won't be committing yourself, but it just helps us gauge interest.
Just to let you know the V-Force Reunion website has just been updated. If you haven't had a look yet, go to the site now and have a browse. We can still do with more photos for the gallery, particularly those with named individuals.
If you were serving on the V Force around the time of the Cuban missile crisis and would like to help Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire with a project they are doing on this, go to entry 108 on the guestbook where there are details of who to get in touch with.
We've had a lot of interest already so let us know if you are hoping to come along by completing the enquiry form on the site - you won't be committing yourself, but it just helps us gauge interest.
Last edited by Tankertrashnav; 23rd Nov 2011 at 09:10. Reason: correcting typo
No, you aren't seeing double - it's just that no-one has posted on this thread since my last one. Anyway we have got a new update on the website V-Force Reunion. Not a lot new, just a request for people who can man tables to contact us and to let you know that we are having a widows/families table this time, where those whose husbands/fathers etc have passed on can come along and sign in and feel part of the reunion. If you know of anyone in this category who you think would be interested, please help by passing the details of our website to them.
Oh yes and we've changed the nice picture of a Victor for one of some other funny-looking aircraft!
Oh yes and we've changed the nice picture of a Victor for one of some other funny-looking aircraft!
Just to let you all know how the bookings for the V-Force Reunion are going. So far we have had over 300 indicate their intention to come, which I am pretty sure is more than we had at this stage last time, so it looks like the event is going to be very well attended. We will be updating the website in just over a couple of weeks with the latest info on events at the reunion, and with a list of the guys (and girls) who will be manning the signing in tables. At the same time we will give details on how to book for the evening event, but I must stress it's no good emailing about that yet, we won't be ready to take firm bookings until the website update.
I notice that this time we have had a very good uptake from groundcrew, but a noticeable drop in the number of notifications from aircrew. Of course if you are not intending going to the evening function there is nothing to stop you just turning up on the day, but it would help us judge numbers if you could let us know in advance. So come on pilots, navs and AEOs, get on the website and fill in the Enquiry Form and fire it off to us ASAP.
See you there.
I notice that this time we have had a very good uptake from groundcrew, but a noticeable drop in the number of notifications from aircrew. Of course if you are not intending going to the evening function there is nothing to stop you just turning up on the day, but it would help us judge numbers if you could let us know in advance. So come on pilots, navs and AEOs, get on the website and fill in the Enquiry Form and fire it off to us ASAP.
See you there.
Interesting clip on the Military Aircrew section
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...uite-good.html
Some nice shots of 214's remaining K1s and K1a s, some chat from 214 's boss John Lomas and a good shot of a B52 getting airborne - as far as I know the only aircraft which ever used more of Marham's runway to get airborne than a fully laden Victor K1!
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...uite-good.html
Some nice shots of 214's remaining K1s and K1a s, some chat from 214 's boss John Lomas and a good shot of a B52 getting airborne - as far as I know the only aircraft which ever used more of Marham's runway to get airborne than a fully laden Victor K1!
V Force reunion website update
Just to let you know that the V-Force Reunion website has just been updated. For those of you who are coming to the reunion the most important new information is on the Saturday evening reception. If you are planning to go to this function please check out the website as soon as you can and you will find instructions on how to book. Dont delay, as the evening function was fully booked on both previous reunions.
For fans of 558, the new photo on the website was taken by reunion organiser and former Vulcan nav Don Chadwick from a lakeland hillside as she flew over Windermere at low level a while back. Even a dyed in the wool Victor fan like me has to admit it's a super pic!
Just to let you know that the V-Force Reunion website has just been updated. For those of you who are coming to the reunion the most important new information is on the Saturday evening reception. If you are planning to go to this function please check out the website as soon as you can and you will find instructions on how to book. Dont delay, as the evening function was fully booked on both previous reunions.
For fans of 558, the new photo on the website was taken by reunion organiser and former Vulcan nav Don Chadwick from a lakeland hillside as she flew over Windermere at low level a while back. Even a dyed in the wool Victor fan like me has to admit it's a super pic!