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Vulcan Access Ladders?
Hello All
In the Operational days when the Vulcans were flying, I understand that the crew lower entry ladder was folded up and was put in the bomb aimers position if going abroad or stowed on base if flying in the UK and returning to it's homebase. What if say for example it was flying from Waddington and for some unforeseen reason had to land somewhere else in the UK. How would the crew get out and back into the aircraft without the lower section of the ladder. Glider 90 |
Originally Posted by chevvron
(Post 10139171)
Only ladder I've seen was attached to the door and extended when the door opened.
Given that the "bomb aimer" position in the Vulcan was redundant, it was used to stow a ladder to be used on detachments. It may well be that one was kept there permanently. On departure from base, whether returning or not, the ladder used to enter the aircraft would be removed and retained by the ground crew - you can see that here at about 1:20 |
Blimey...thanks Dave ..bit busy ATM so I’ll catch catch that video later but at first glance that looks like my old uni/UAS mate AD on the left of that “thumbnail” in your post. |
The ladder just hooked onto the door, nothing complicated. I don’t ever recall flying without it on board. I do know that rather than bother stowing it once the door was closed, some crews merely unhooked it and left it on the door. It was a bigger gotcha if the rear crew didn’t move the flight deck ladder back to the central position and you didn’t check before descending. It was a long way to the ground as a few pilots found out. YS |
Originally Posted by Yellow Sun
(Post 10139295)
I do know that rather than bother stowing it once the door was closed, some crews merely unhooked it and left it on the door.
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Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
(Post 10139431)
Yes, I've read a reference to taking the pip pins out and turning the ladder over. That way if worst happened and the door needed to be opened in flight, the ladder would fall away and so not get in the way of the crew baling out (which I believe only happened once).
YS |
Losing the rations box should have scuppered any nav rad's career prospects. Was it an RCDS visit or a farewell CinC SAC?
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RCDS 28 Sep 70, we were watching from the A15. The next day we were sent to Scampton to collect the aircraft and return it to Waddington. Happy days! YS |
Hello All
Thanks all for your replies. |
I don’t recall ever removing the ladder on a “starter crew” as we called it when assigned to getting one away. The crew would need it wherever they landed - even back at base. We certainly didn’t have a stack of removed ladders back in the line huts. We didn’t have SMG toting guards wandering about near the aircraft either, not even on QRA. Just the odd plod with his dog and the ammunition for his Browning Hi-Power pistol wrapped up in grease proof paper. |
Originally Posted by Blacksheep
(Post 10145452)
I don’t recall ever removing the ladder on a “starter crew” as we called it when assigned to getting one away. The crew would need it wherever they landed - even back at base. We certainly didn’t have a stack of removed ladders back in the line huts.
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Normally removed from the door latchings by the Nav. Rad. once the door was closed and either turned "up-side down" on the door, or "stowed" (for want of a better word!) in the old nose visual bombing position or where the Captain directed. We never left it mounted on the entrance door for obvious reasons!!
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