Last Vulcan flight
Originally Posted by SSD
Anyone know what this aeroplane actually did on its last flight?
As shown on a different video posted on the VTTS forum website.
Last edited by spekesoftly; 29th Oct 2015 at 11:30. Reason: To add youtube video
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Well done speak. A far better effort than what was produced from the other side of the runway.
Anyone is free to add their own thoughts to what they were seeing and add it to their memories of past involvements (mine at Finningley in 65/66 working on 558 and others) or what they saw over the last 8 years or more.
Anyone is free to add their own thoughts to what they were seeing and add it to their memories of past involvements (mine at Finningley in 65/66 working on 558 and others) or what they saw over the last 8 years or more.
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What a brilliant and well done video, it seems strange to me that an aircraft my Uncle Les was connected with at 617 was relevant through out my early and teenage years has just stopped flying in the skies around the UK, what a design crew that must have had, not only is it a serious salute to the RAF, but also the AVRO company and Roy Chadwick with his skilled engineers, I doubt any of us will ever see such ability again.
Thank you Spekesoftly for such a good and embracing final flight record, just wonderful.
Peter R-B
Thank you Spekesoftly for such a good and embracing final flight record, just wonderful.
Peter R-B
SSD, f12 and P-RB
Kind words and thank you, but just to put the record straight, the video was not made by me, and if I inadvertently gave that impression, my apologies. I simply found it on the VTTS website.
Kind words and thank you, but just to put the record straight, the video was not made by me, and if I inadvertently gave that impression, my apologies. I simply found it on the VTTS website.
We call it the Avro Vulcan, never the BAe Vulcan. So why is (sorry, was) it powered by RR Olympus, not Bristol Olympus?
Or to put it another way, why is Avro given the recognition it richly deserves but Bristol ignored?
Or to put it another way, why is Avro given the recognition it richly deserves but Bristol ignored?
A superb machine (despite the "military" cockpit). It looks right and probably flew right too. I've only known a couple of people that flew it and they loved it (despite THAT smell) It's a pity the RAF crashed the first one, at Heathrow of all places too. Some sort of Air Marshall in the cockpit, A PAR "talkdown", they didn't get it right (all those medals and they still couldn't land.....) both pilots ejected and left their colleagues to fry....
Apparently the Air Marshall's brother was an interesting case also.
Apparently the Air Marshall's brother was an interesting case also.
Why??? Are you serious?
OK, I'll bite.
You think a "military cockpit" detracted from the machine's quality? Why? How? What was wrong with it? What other type of cockpit do you suggest a military aircraft should have? I take it you think there a civilian alternative that would have been more suitable?
The smell of a Vulcan put people off loving it? First I've heard of that. I'd always been told everyone loved the characteristic smell...
"The" first Vulcan, was it? No prototypes made beforehand then? Perhaps you meant "their" first one which isn't the same thing. Your unnecessarily sarcastic point is rather undermined by inaccuracy. Sloppy.
God, they've gone and had an accident at Heathrow (roll eyes). Bah! Whatever will the fools do next. And your point is...?
You seem to have a grudge against Air Marshals, and/or the RAF. Superiority complex?
btw, the spelling is Marshal with one "l".
That's just nasty, spiteful and infantile. What is your problem with the RAF?
That, Sir, is beyond the pale. A foul and inappropriate slur on the good character of two senior officers, men the likes of whom you'll never be fit to wipe the boots of.
They didn't specify the ejector seat fit. The Sec. of State for Air told Parliament it was their "duty" to eject. Are you really so arrogant you feel qualified to overrule his view? Or just so qualified in 1950s military morals and ethics to know that one just doesn't eject if anyone else is going to be hurt? What would you have done? Poignantly failed to eject and die with the others in the most futile of futile gestures I suppose. Yeah right.
And a final nasty personal swipe at his brother for offences apparently upsetting to Private Jet of an unspecified nature. That's shameful too.
So, you se, there's scarcely a word of your post that isn't unpleasant, inaccurate, spiteful or just downright nasty.
A mean, spiteful, little futile gesture is what you are, that's for sure, and that's being very polite indeed.
OK, I'll bite.
despite the "military" cockpit
despite THAT smell
It's a pity the RAF crashed the first one
at Heathrow of all places too
Some sort of Air Marshall
btw, the spelling is Marshal with one "l".
all those medals and they still couldn't land.....)
both pilots ejected and left their colleagues to fry
They didn't specify the ejector seat fit. The Sec. of State for Air told Parliament it was their "duty" to eject. Are you really so arrogant you feel qualified to overrule his view? Or just so qualified in 1950s military morals and ethics to know that one just doesn't eject if anyone else is going to be hurt? What would you have done? Poignantly failed to eject and die with the others in the most futile of futile gestures I suppose. Yeah right.
And a final nasty personal swipe at his brother for offences apparently upsetting to Private Jet of an unspecified nature. That's shameful too.
So, you se, there's scarcely a word of your post that isn't unpleasant, inaccurate, spiteful or just downright nasty.
A mean, spiteful, little futile gesture is what you are, that's for sure, and that's being very polite indeed.
Last edited by Wageslave; 31st Oct 2015 at 01:19.
You think a "military cockpit" detracted from the machine's quality? Why? How? What was wrong with it? What other type of cockpit do you suggest a military aircraft should have? I take it you think there a civilian alternative that would have been more suitable?
The smell of a Vulcan put people off loving it? First I've heard of that. I'd always been told everyone loved the characteristic smell...
"The" first Vulcan, was it? No prototypes made beforehand then? Perhaps you meant "their" first one which isn't the same thing. Your unnecessarily sarcastic point is rather undermined by inaccuracy. Sloppy
God, they've gone and had an accident at Heathrow (roll eyes). Bah! Whatever will the fools do next. And your point is...?
You seem to have a grudge against Air Marshals, and/or the RAF. Superiority complex?
That's just nasty, spiteful and infantile. What is your problem with the RAF?
And a final nasty personal swipe at his brother for offences apparently upsetting to Private Jet of an unspecified nature. That's shameful too.
Didn't the RAF Court of Inquiry conclude that the GCA controller's failure to warn the captain that he was going below the glide path was the principal cause of the accident ?
Well, I had the privilege to fly with an ex Vulcan nav when on 39 sqn (Canberra PR9)who attended the infamous Bomber Command Dining In Night for all V force crews at I believe Scampton. He recalled that the same Air Marshal was the guest of honour and was repeatedly shouted down when he attempted to deliver an after dinner speech until he gave up. The calls from the floor were he said "Murderer, murderer" This was before my time in the RAF but I believe my nav completely. I doubt all of Bomber Command could be wrong. This embarrassing spectacle and subsequent mayhem were suppressed with a D Notice.
As regards the cockpit, it was originally designed for 1 pilot, so unsurprisingly cramped for 2.
I assume the GCA at LHR was a PAR, I find it impossible to believe that a controller could fail to advise deviations from the glide slope, such guidance being part and parcel of this type of approach. If it was an SRA he would just have passed advisory heights. Either way, I believe the Vulcan's pressure instruments at that time were not fully calibrated and a diversion would have been prudent. The aircraft captain showed poor command qualities in allowing the approach to continue in poor weather conditions.
I make this contribution fully aware of the Air Marshal's wartime career, but in this instance I believe his actions were responsible for the loss of 4 lives, and if my nav is to be believed, so did the crews of Bomber Command at Scampton that infamous night.
As regards the cockpit, it was originally designed for 1 pilot, so unsurprisingly cramped for 2.
I assume the GCA at LHR was a PAR, I find it impossible to believe that a controller could fail to advise deviations from the glide slope, such guidance being part and parcel of this type of approach. If it was an SRA he would just have passed advisory heights. Either way, I believe the Vulcan's pressure instruments at that time were not fully calibrated and a diversion would have been prudent. The aircraft captain showed poor command qualities in allowing the approach to continue in poor weather conditions.
I make this contribution fully aware of the Air Marshal's wartime career, but in this instance I believe his actions were responsible for the loss of 4 lives, and if my nav is to be believed, so did the crews of Bomber Command at Scampton that infamous night.
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Originally Posted by SSD
Is it true the cockpit was originally designed for 1 pilot? I'd heard this but have been unable to get confirmation. Can anyone point me at a definitive answer?
Originally Posted by Private jet
You mean the mix of "hydraulic fluid and vomit"?
Last edited by sooty655; 31st Oct 2015 at 19:54. Reason: typo
The aircraft captain showed poor command qualities in allowing the approach to continue in poor weather conditions.
I make this contribution fully aware of the Air Marshal's wartime career, but in this instance I believe his actions were responsible for the loss of 4 lives
I make this contribution fully aware of the Air Marshal's wartime career, but in this instance I believe his actions were responsible for the loss of 4 lives
Or is the suggestion that it was pressure from his distinguished co-pilot that led Howard to continue an approach that he should have thrown away?
