Anyone want a Victor bomber, FREE to a good home
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,856
Received 2,814 Likes
on
1,200 Posts
Anyone want a Victor bomber, FREE to a good home
The only problem is they won't post it, so you will need to dismantle and collect it.
See
https://aviationheritageuk.org/news/...aft-available/
See
https://aviationheritageuk.org/news/...aft-available/
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,808
Received 135 Likes
on
63 Posts
History is now so ‘yesterday’?
I assume this is a Gate Guardian airframe? I don’t know Marham.
I assume this is a Gate Guardian airframe? I don’t know Marham.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,856
Received 2,814 Likes
on
1,200 Posts
Yes.....the other one now at risk as well is the LAST Beverley that is sitting at Fort Paul that has sadly closed due to a death.
The RAF Museum ought to bid for the Beverley having allowed the last one at Hendon to virtually disintegrate before saving a chunk of the flight deck - which is at Newark.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 419 Likes
on
221 Posts
Dismantle it? Can't they just hop it over the fence, like the one that almost did at Bruntingthorpe?
IIRC, stations are only entitled to maintain one ‘gate guardian’ at public expense. Marham has three, and (like all military establishments these days) has a plethora of issues to address with its domestic infrastructure. A lot of time and energy has been put into keeping the Victor presentable over many years but there is only so far that voluntary effort can take preservation without the injection of cash. And the arrival of F-35 has (rightly) made access to the Station much harder, with enthusiasts mostly limited to the excellent off-camp Heritage Centre. If, as I suspect, it is a question of money then it’s an easy decision to get rid. People first.
Last edited by Easy Street; 5th Feb 2020 at 23:11.
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Dundee
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IIRC, stations are only entitled to maintain one ‘gate guardian’ at public expense. Marham has three, and (like all military establishments these days) has a plethora of issues to address with its domestic infrastructure. A lot of time and energy has been put into keeping the Victor presentable over many years but there is only so far that voluntary effort can take preservation without the injection of cash. And the arrival of F-35 has (rightly) made access to the Station much harder, with enthusiasts mostly limited to the excellent off-camp Heritage Centre. If, as I suspect, it is a question of money then it’s an easy decision to get rid. People first.
Of all the things to say,...I am gobsmacked.
People first.
is just another of those worthless platitudes.
Meanwhile all the air marshals’ grand plans for growing the RAF truly are worthless unless more people can be trained and retained, as no less a figure than the Secretary of State has recognised. Fixing leaking roofs and unreliable heating and hot water systems in on-base accommodation is rightly being seen as a part of that effort.
Last edited by Easy Street; 6th Feb 2020 at 00:02.
This has been much discussed on the "Victor, Valiant and Vulcan" page on Facebook. The aircraft is a K2 and is apparently in poor condition. I know the former chief tech who was in charge of dismantling the aircraft and moving it to its current position in front of SHQ on the old parade square back in the 80s and he is of the opinion that moving it again would be impractical. It's not even much use as a display cockpit as the interior was gutted at the time of the move. Andre Tempest who own one of the two taxiable K2s (at Elvington) has come up with a few figures for crane hire etc which any purchaser would have to come up with, and they are considerable.
To call the aircraft a "gate guardian" is a bit of a misnomer, as it is not visible to the public from outside of the base - a couple of years ago I had to get the MOD guard at the barrier to promise not to shoot me before he allowed me to walk a few yards onto the base before I could get a half decent photo!
As stated there are already two excellent survivors which do "fast taxis" (and in the case of the one at Bruntingthorpe a very short flight on one memorable occasion!) In addition there is a static display K2 at Cosford, and the IWM at Duxford are currently doing a very through restoration of the only surviving Victor Mk I which is in fact technically a B1K2P (two point tanker conversion). Frankly I don't see that getting rid of this heap of scrap would be any great loss - any money which would need to be spent would be far better going to the upkeep of the other survivors.
To call the aircraft a "gate guardian" is a bit of a misnomer, as it is not visible to the public from outside of the base - a couple of years ago I had to get the MOD guard at the barrier to promise not to shoot me before he allowed me to walk a few yards onto the base before I could get a half decent photo!
As stated there are already two excellent survivors which do "fast taxis" (and in the case of the one at Bruntingthorpe a very short flight on one memorable occasion!) In addition there is a static display K2 at Cosford, and the IWM at Duxford are currently doing a very through restoration of the only surviving Victor Mk I which is in fact technically a B1K2P (two point tanker conversion). Frankly I don't see that getting rid of this heap of scrap would be any great loss - any money which would need to be spent would be far better going to the upkeep of the other survivors.
TTN, "had to get the MOD guard at the barrier to promise not to shoot me before he allowed me to walk a few yards onto the base before I could get a half decent photo!"
Pretty please, with rare sugar on it.
Pretty please, with rare sugar on it.
When it was moved there in 1986, the Victor only had a short projected life. However, as with most types at the time, the in service life was extended and after a while it became apparent that the aircraft with the lowest Fatigue Index was the gate guardian! Plans were made to get it back on line, but these came to naught when it was realised how difficult a task this was. A couple of buildings had been erected since and these would need to be demolished. But it was a useful source of spares and frequently it was seen with some component or other missing.
Does anyone have any information on ownership of the airframe. It has previously been noted as 'privately owned' on loan to RAF Marham. Has the owner passed away leaving Marham with the responsibility ?
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,615
Received 291 Likes
on
159 Posts
I have a recollection of what is presumably now the RAF Museum's Valiant being visible close to the Downham Market/Swaffham Road first time I went past about 40 years ago.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,856
Received 2,814 Likes
on
1,200 Posts
IIRC, stations are only entitled to maintain one ‘gate guardian’ at public expense. Marham has three, and (like all military establishments these days) has a plethora of issues to address with its domestic infrastructure. A lot of time and energy has been put into keeping the Victor presentable over many years but there is only so far that voluntary effort can take preservation without the injection of cash. And the arrival of F-35 has (rightly) made access to the Station much harder, with enthusiasts mostly limited to the excellent off-camp Heritage Centre. If, as I suspect, it is a question of money then it’s an easy decision to get rid. People first.
Flogging off ones history and aircraft is not the solution to piss poor management and piss poor funding in getting the infrastructure right in the first place...
You watch the services budget squandering billions on failed projects such as Nimrod through piss poor management and contracting when a small proportion of that funding would have brought the RAF infrastructure up to a standard the 21st century demands.
Selling off the married quarters etc was a classic example of a cash generating scheme that proved to have been flawed in so many ways.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,856
Received 2,814 Likes
on
1,200 Posts
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IIRC, stations are only entitled to maintain one ‘gate guardian’ at public expense. Marham has three, and (like all military establishments these days) has a plethora of issues to address with its domestic infrastructure. A lot of time and energy has been put into keeping the Victor presentable over many years but there is only so far that voluntary effort can take preservation without the injection of cash. And the arrival of F-35 has (rightly) made access to the Station much harder, with enthusiasts mostly limited to the excellent off-camp Heritage Centre. If, as I suspect, it is a question of money then it’s an easy decision to get rid. People first.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,856
Received 2,814 Likes
on
1,200 Posts
Cut the grass around it.