Vulcan Minimum Aircrew?
This got me thinking, just why did we need anyone in the rear cabin in the circuit other than to read the checklist? Whilst as mentioned previously, the electrical system was complex but it was also cleverly designed, had a number of self protection features and was operated in a manner that ensured the appropriate immediate protections would be in place depending on the phase of flight. This is the list I have come up with, feel free to add any others if you remember them:
1. The AAPP was kept running in the circuit. The fire warning and extinguishing button was on the AEO’s panel and there was no indication in the front.
2. There was only one radio control on the flight deck. The other was at the AEO’s station.
3. The navaids were all located at the navigation stations, no control on the flight deck.
4. Other than the Alternator Failure Light there were no other electrical system indicators on the flight deck.
5. The SSR was located in the rear cabin.
So, the answer is that the Vulcan was just not configured to be flown without crew in the rear cabin.
YS
1. The AAPP was kept running in the circuit. The fire warning and extinguishing button was on the AEO’s panel and there was no indication in the front.
2. There was only one radio control on the flight deck. The other was at the AEO’s station.
3. The navaids were all located at the navigation stations, no control on the flight deck.
4. Other than the Alternator Failure Light there were no other electrical system indicators on the flight deck.
5. The SSR was located in the rear cabin.
So, the answer is that the Vulcan was just not configured to be flown without crew in the rear cabin.
YS
Irrespective of what systems were only operable fro the rear crew positions the aircraft, once electrically charged for starting could be operated by one crewmember in the captains seat. My experience is based on the last of the V bombers, the Valiant, but that could be operated single pilot.
Butterworth to Gan: Heavy night before we left. Two hours to go I am the only one awake. I carried on with the last heading when the NBS nav function started wobbling and was in the descent almost at the stage of lowering the undercarriage when the rest of the crew woke up.
Butterworth to Gan: Heavy night before we left. Two hours to go I am the only one awake. I carried on with the last heading when the NBS nav function started wobbling and was in the descent almost at the stage of lowering the undercarriage when the rest of the crew woke up.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Irrespective of what systems were only operable fro the rear crew positions the aircraft, once electrically charged for starting could be operated by one crewmember in the back!
Butterworth to Gan: Heavy night before we left. Two hours to go I am the only one awake. I carried on with the last heading when the NBS nav function started wobbling and was in the descent almost at the stage of lowering the undercarriage when the rest of the crew woke up.
Butterworth to Gan: Heavy night before we left. Two hours to go I am the only one awake. I carried on with the last heading when the NBS nav function started wobbling and was in the descent almost at the stage of lowering the undercarriage when the rest of the crew woke up.
It was a sad day when they removed the R88 camera over the H2S screen from the Victor tankers, as it was no longer required. The rubber head rest was ideal for nav radars when grabbing forty winks during uneventful parts of the sortie 
TTN
It was not neccessary for my Nav Rad. He had the inner liner from a wine box, which when inflated gave him a comfortable pillow. This enabled him to sleep for up to 7 hours of a 9 hour Op Corporate sortie. Only signs of life were when woken (grumpily) to shoot Astro or actually refuel the receiver.
It was not neccessary for my Nav Rad. He had the inner liner from a wine box, which when inflated gave him a comfortable pillow. This enabled him to sleep for up to 7 hours of a 9 hour Op Corporate sortie. Only signs of life were when woken (grumpily) to shoot Astro or actually refuel the receiver.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Even after a good night's sleep and a mid morning sortie I found myself yawning before getting into the aircraft. I realised my body was preparing for a mid day siesta once safely airborne.
During a session of CT ('pilot playtime') at Scampton, we rolled off an ILS, with the next approach to be an Internal Aids approach. We turned onto the outbound leg and told ATC that we'd advised turning inbound.
"All yours then, Radar" quoth the Captain.
And we waited for the inbound turn call...and waited...and waited
Falditz went past on the right... "I'll bet the bugger's asleep" muttered the Captain. "He is indeed!" responded the AEO
Market Rasen loomed up on the right...
Finally the Captain had had enough "ARE YOU GOING TO TURN US IN SOON, OR DO WE NEED TO CALL BINBROOK??!!"
"Wha...oh, umm, Roger. Turn right 140. Where the f..k??"
"Check the bloody TACAN and you'll find out" came the sympathetic reply.
"Scampton Approach, nnnnn turning inbound"
"Roger - we were beginning to wonder. As indeed were Binbrook!"
"All yours then, Radar" quoth the Captain.
And we waited for the inbound turn call...and waited...and waited
Falditz went past on the right... "I'll bet the bugger's asleep" muttered the Captain. "He is indeed!" responded the AEO
Market Rasen loomed up on the right...
Finally the Captain had had enough "ARE YOU GOING TO TURN US IN SOON, OR DO WE NEED TO CALL BINBROOK??!!"
"Wha...oh, umm, Roger. Turn right 140. Where the f..k??"
"Check the bloody TACAN and you'll find out" came the sympathetic reply.
"Scampton Approach, nnnnn turning inbound"
"Roger - we were beginning to wonder. As indeed were Binbrook!"
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Alternatively: in the pre-low level days the crew did a PD to Yeovilton, one of their dispersals. The plotter was a bit grumbly but they did a circuit and departed.
"What heading Plotter?"
Silence.
After some promoting the Radar said the plotter was sitting down by the door, bag packed and Hat on.
?????
"He says he only does one climb and descent per sortie"
So, 4 man crew and one pax on return to Coningsby.
"What heading Plotter?"
Silence.
After some promoting the Radar said the plotter was sitting down by the door, bag packed and Hat on.
?????
"He says he only does one climb and descent per sortie"
So, 4 man crew and one pax on return to Coningsby.
Never knew you were on tin triangles Pontifex, or was that at Boscombe?I know a few navs who would have liked to have escaped from your famous stints of circuit bashing when you were putting some poor co-pilot through his paces at the end of a sortie, but as I recall you always had the door firmly locked! 
pontifex,
You must have delivered a Mk1/1A Victor to either Fred’s Sheds at Radlett or to St Athan for servicing with a four man crew.
I recall once having to return to Marham by train - immersionn suit and all- when the aircraft we four crew were due to pick up went sick. Also, on a separate occasion Marham had the good grace to send a couple of Canberras to pick us (4) up.
You must have delivered a Mk1/1A Victor to either Fred’s Sheds at Radlett or to St Athan for servicing with a four man crew.
I recall once having to return to Marham by train - immersionn suit and all- when the aircraft we four crew were due to pick up went sick. Also, on a separate occasion Marham had the good grace to send a couple of Canberras to pick us (4) up.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
pontifex,
You must have delivered a Mk1/1A Victor to either Fred’s Sheds at Radlett or to St Athan for servicing with a four man crew.
I recall once having to return to Marham by train - immersionn suit and all- when the aircraft we four crew were due to pick up went sick. Also, on a separate occasion Marham had the good grace to send a couple of Canberras to pick us (4) up.
You must have delivered a Mk1/1A Victor to either Fred’s Sheds at Radlett or to St Athan for servicing with a four man crew.
I recall once having to return to Marham by train - immersionn suit and all- when the aircraft we four crew were due to pick up went sick. Also, on a separate occasion Marham had the good grace to send a couple of Canberras to pick us (4) up.
We insisted on 1st as we were in uniform and armed. However we were on a Groupex the following date. No sooner than PSF at St A had written out the warrants than a Hastings was diverted in for us.
However I don’t think our fellow travellers had seen Kierki played before !
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3 man crew
I agree that in RAF service the minimum crew was 4, 2 pilots, AEO and a Nav. However at Boscombe in 1982 I flew the tanker conversion with just 3 crew, 2 pilots and myself as AEO on high risk trials (heavyweight rollers at 205K AUW to determine how quickly the aircraft slowed, as we couldn’t aerodynamic brake due to the HDU on the back). We also delivered XH558 to Waddo at the end of the trials with a 3 man crew, just because we didn’t have a Nav available - under A&AEE rules!! After she was restored we flew XH558 with a 3 man crew, 2 pilots and an AEO, as the CAA insisted minimum crew for air displays, and we didn’t need a Nav as XH558 had GPS fitted when she was restored. We did occasionally fly with a Nav on transit sorties which didn’t include a public display! Happy days 😊
When I flew the Prince of Wales in a Vulcan in July 1971 (he was finishing his training at Cranwell and the RAF decided to let him experience front line aircraft - Phantom, Nimrod and Vulcan), he flew in the co-pilot's seat. The sixth crew member (Pete Perry), other than serving sandwiches and drinks, could reach from behind the co-pilot's seat and operate some switches (pressurisation, air-conditioning and anti-icing). The rest of the crew was standard with two navigators and an AEO.
