Sud Aviation Vautour
No Vatours went to Sculthorpe to my knowledge. F100, T33 and Mystere funded by the MADP only.
A lot went to UK museums which explains why most small UK museums have a least a couple of these types as I think most went into the care of the USAFM.
The rest went to The USA bases in the UK as decoys (mainly Lakenheath and Upper Heyford) and to the range at Spadeadam. There were at least 3 or 4 Mysteres at Colinski airfield at Spade in the late 80's. I think the stuffed F100 on the pole at LKH is an ex AdA machine.
A lot went to UK museums which explains why most small UK museums have a least a couple of these types as I think most went into the care of the USAFM.
The rest went to The USA bases in the UK as decoys (mainly Lakenheath and Upper Heyford) and to the range at Spadeadam. There were at least 3 or 4 Mysteres at Colinski airfield at Spade in the late 80's. I think the stuffed F100 on the pole at LKH is an ex AdA machine.
A lot went to UK museums which explains why most small UK museums have a least a couple of these types as I think most went into the care of the USAFM.
The rest went to The USA bases in the UK as decoys (mainly Lakenheath and Upper Heyford) and to the range at Spadeadam.
The rest went to The USA bases in the UK as decoys (mainly Lakenheath and Upper Heyford) and to the range at Spadeadam.
It is indeed.
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There was a general overview article & cutaway in Air Enthusiast 42, which occasionally comes up on eBay. One of the few technical histories in Englsh but only 14 pages.
Vautour IINs were deployed to Algeria in 1962 with ECTT 2/6 to interdict nocturnal arms supply flights, including intercepting DC-4 OO-ADK carrying arms from Stockholm. That legendary Swedish 'neutrality' at work again, as would occur frequently in the 1970s supplying southern African rebel groups.
Vautour IINs were deployed to Algeria in 1962 with ECTT 2/6 to interdict nocturnal arms supply flights, including intercepting DC-4 OO-ADK carrying arms from Stockholm. That legendary Swedish 'neutrality' at work again, as would occur frequently in the 1970s supplying southern African rebel groups.
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Google Earth imagery of Spadeadam is nearly 10 years old and shows what I believe are eight Mysteres and four T-33s. There is also something that may be a MiG-21 or similar.
There was also the air defence version the Vautour IIN, which was still in service in the mid/late 1960s. I remember being intercepted more than once by them while trundling across France in a 2- or 4-ship of Hunters at M0.8 around FL420 en route from Norfolk to Malta. The Vautours, always I think in pairs, would do their intercept using the same mil radar UHF channel that we were on, and do a barrel roll around us before departing. Quite entertaining.
Caught a glimpse of a Mig 23 there in Sept 96 in one of the big concrete areas whilst doing an EW sortie in a C130. Think it might have moved on to a museum now though?
[QUOTE=DaveReidUK;10245397]I think some were scrapped in situ at Sculthorpe.
More than likely I guess. Don't know how many were actually delivered there in the first place.
I would expect someone somewhere has records.
Anyway, back to the Vautor, never actually saw one fly. They have always looked very 'french' to me, much like the French cars of the same period.
Interesting to compare the design to equivalents- IL28 and whatever the US design was (XB 51?) plus of course the Canberra. Also, although a bit heavier, the B47.
More than likely I guess. Don't know how many were actually delivered there in the first place.
I would expect someone somewhere has records.
Anyway, back to the Vautor, never actually saw one fly. They have always looked very 'french' to me, much like the French cars of the same period.
Interesting to compare the design to equivalents- IL28 and whatever the US design was (XB 51?) plus of course the Canberra. Also, although a bit heavier, the B47.
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Sorry, need to correct for drift - well it is quite a windy day...
Typically French in choosing unconventional - two main undercarriage members in tandem taking up what could have been load space in the fuselage and weeny balancing outriggers, mounted in the jet pods rather than wingtips. Maybe the undercarriage layout caused the Vautour to look rather plump. With the tail being so close to the runway take-offs would needed to be longer than otherwise necessary?
Judging by the wiki article it was a reasonably effective jet for its time. Performance seems to be on a par with the Canberra (although it does mention needing water injection for the bomber variant to get airborne at max weight) and used for similar roles. Certainly the Israelis got some good use from it. It doesn't give much idea of handling and performance and I guess the A model wouldn't have fared well against single engined fighters.
Interesting that the bomber variant never had a radar which prompted the requirement for what turned out to be the Mirage IV. The weapons being aimed visually by the Nav who sat in the nose, much like the Canberra BI8. Not sure if he had an ejection seat?
It seems to me it was a bit of a compromise design based on what was available at the time that gave useful service until something better came along.
Interesting that the bomber variant never had a radar which prompted the requirement for what turned out to be the Mirage IV. The weapons being aimed visually by the Nav who sat in the nose, much like the Canberra BI8. Not sure if he had an ejection seat?
It seems to me it was a bit of a compromise design based on what was available at the time that gave useful service until something better came along.
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Typically French in choosing unconventional - two main undercarriage members in tandem taking up what could have been load space in the fuselage and weeny balancing outriggers, mounted in the jet pods rather than wingtips. Maybe the undercarriage layout caused the Vautour to look rather plump. With the tail being so close to the runway take-offs would needed to be longer than otherwise necessary?
IIRC quite a few late 40's early 50's designs went for main undercarriage in the fuselage - both the B-47 and the U-2 depended on outriggers and a few of the Russians went the same way
Performance wise, it ran, or should that be flew, rings around the Canberra. Top speed 687mph at sea level and an initial climb rate of 11820 feet/sec. One Israeli Vautour even had an air-to-air kill against an Iraqi Hunter. I've only flown micro-lights but I know which aeroplane I would have chosen to go to war in. Interesting to read a previous post about some French ones visiting Rhodesia, because the one I previously mentioned seeing at Entebbe must have part of this visit. I wonder why it was a singleton I saw at Entebbe though.
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I was in Libya during the Arab Isreali war and the Vautours were used to precision bomb Arab runways leaving them useless for fighter takeoffs but ok for Herc !!
I was there with 2 learjets and the Israelis took one of them out in Damascus
I was there with 2 learjets and the Israelis took one of them out in Damascus
Performance wise, it ran, or should that be flew, rings around the Canberra. Top speed 687mph at sea level and an initial climb rate of 11820 feet/sec. One Israeli Vautour even had an air-to-air kill against an Iraqi Hunter. I've only flown micro-lights but I know which aeroplane I would have chosen to go to war in. Interesting to read a previous post about some French ones visiting Rhodesia, because the one I previously mentioned seeing at Entebbe must have part of this visit. I wonder why it was a singleton I saw at Entebbe though.
Obviously had a bit of grunt though, presumably in a straight line. One does wonder what it was like at turning and g limits?
The more I read about it, the more I'm thinking it was quite an effective jet for it's time.
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This has been a very informative set of posts - thanks everyone
It does seem to have been a useful aircraft with decent performance - good job the French hadn't perfected (as they did later) their sales technique!!! Might not have seen so many Canberra rebuilds if they had
It does seem to have been a useful aircraft with decent performance - good job the French hadn't perfected (as they did later) their sales technique!!! Might not have seen so many Canberra rebuilds if they had
