Telling the V Force story at the home of Vulcan XL319
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Telling the V Force story at the home of Vulcan XL319
XL319 - Telling the V Force Story
At the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum the team have worked away on returning XL319 to display standard. In order to develop the V force story the museum trustees are looking at the next stage of how to tell the story. It is a bit of a trek across the grass to visit XL319. This is difficult for those who struggle with walking and those in wheelchairs or pushchairs. Over the winter period a new footpath has been laid from the rear of the main display building to the Vulcan. A new door is in the process of being installed in the back corner of the hangar which will provide a safe route to XL319.
It is the ambition to then install a new steel antivandal office next to the Vulcan with power. This will allow the public to share the V Force story. The cost of a suitable unit is approximately £3,000. The museum is looking for support from the Vulcan community to make this happen. All it will take is 60 supporters to pledge £50 each and in return your support will be acknowledged in the new display building. You will also receive a special coin marking 35 years of preserving XL319. These coins normally retail at £100 and are all individually numbered and only available from the home of XL319.
The front of the coin shows XL319 in her final scheme. The reverse shows the aircraft in the original ant flash white. They come in a presentation box
Pledge your support by emailing the museum on [email protected]
At the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum the team have worked away on returning XL319 to display standard. In order to develop the V force story the museum trustees are looking at the next stage of how to tell the story. It is a bit of a trek across the grass to visit XL319. This is difficult for those who struggle with walking and those in wheelchairs or pushchairs. Over the winter period a new footpath has been laid from the rear of the main display building to the Vulcan. A new door is in the process of being installed in the back corner of the hangar which will provide a safe route to XL319.
It is the ambition to then install a new steel antivandal office next to the Vulcan with power. This will allow the public to share the V Force story. The cost of a suitable unit is approximately £3,000. The museum is looking for support from the Vulcan community to make this happen. All it will take is 60 supporters to pledge £50 each and in return your support will be acknowledged in the new display building. You will also receive a special coin marking 35 years of preserving XL319. These coins normally retail at £100 and are all individually numbered and only available from the home of XL319.
The front of the coin shows XL319 in her final scheme. The reverse shows the aircraft in the original ant flash white. They come in a presentation box
Pledge your support by emailing the museum on [email protected]
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We have now received our first pledge from a member of pprune.
At this point in time we are not taking the money only the pledge and reserving the coins.
We believe this will be a fairly unique display marking the important contribution of the V Force and welcome any support
At this point in time we are not taking the money only the pledge and reserving the coins.
We believe this will be a fairly unique display marking the important contribution of the V Force and welcome any support
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The crowd funding page is now up and running
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vulcan...Dqu3cIf3oQoXeg
If you can gift aid it would be ideal
Regards
David Charles
Museum Chair
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vulcan...Dqu3cIf3oQoXeg
If you can gift aid it would be ideal
Regards
David Charles
Museum Chair
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The crowd funder has been running for just over a week and we are at £1060. This is 21% of the target and thanks to those that have helped
In August 2021 we will be holding an event to mark the 60th Anniversary of the birth of XL319. Although it did not take wing until October 1961 we are going for August as it should be better weather
The plan is to unveil the V Force display at this event
If you worked on, flew XL319 or just like Vulcans it would be good to see you there
In August 2021 we will be holding an event to mark the 60th Anniversary of the birth of XL319. Although it did not take wing until October 1961 we are going for August as it should be better weather
The plan is to unveil the V Force display at this event
If you worked on, flew XL319 or just like Vulcans it would be good to see you there
Last edited by Thunderbird167; 11th Jun 2020 at 15:24.
XL319 was the first Vulcan I ever flew when it was on the strength of 230 OCU.
But we also got ourselves into trouble with XL319 about 42 years ago following a static display at RAF Honington when I was on 35 Sqn. The resident Bucc mates didn't have a high regard for the V-force, so we decided to show them something of the aircraft's actual potential. I was the co-pilot and was asked to ring the Duty Pilot to check that it would be OK to fly 'a visual circuit' on departure following the air show. The 'Duty Pilot' was actually Wg Cdr Ops and he gave us the OK....
Anyway, we took off, levelled at about 500 ft and turned downwind. Then a descending turn as we accelerated to around 350KIAS and descended...to about 80ft agl according to the rad alt. We flew over the ASP between the hangars and the control tower, then climbed up into a wingover and set off for Sunny Scampton.
However, we'd borrowed 319 from the OCU and they were rather puzzled by the fatigue meter readings. Because what our gallant captain hadn't bothered to tell the rest of us was that 319 hadn't had some undercarriage indication snag cleared, so was lim'd for gear down transits only, with the landing gear only to be raised if necessary for rear crew escape. That would have been below the IAS at which the fatigue meter would have operated - hence the OCU engineers' puzzlement.
It was the failure to observe the F700 lim which got us into the dwang, rather than the fly past. The captain had his ar$e kicked, but the rest of us were considered blameless. Nevertheless, a bit of crew shuffling then took place.
But that flypast must have looked good!
But we also got ourselves into trouble with XL319 about 42 years ago following a static display at RAF Honington when I was on 35 Sqn. The resident Bucc mates didn't have a high regard for the V-force, so we decided to show them something of the aircraft's actual potential. I was the co-pilot and was asked to ring the Duty Pilot to check that it would be OK to fly 'a visual circuit' on departure following the air show. The 'Duty Pilot' was actually Wg Cdr Ops and he gave us the OK....
Anyway, we took off, levelled at about 500 ft and turned downwind. Then a descending turn as we accelerated to around 350KIAS and descended...to about 80ft agl according to the rad alt. We flew over the ASP between the hangars and the control tower, then climbed up into a wingover and set off for Sunny Scampton.
However, we'd borrowed 319 from the OCU and they were rather puzzled by the fatigue meter readings. Because what our gallant captain hadn't bothered to tell the rest of us was that 319 hadn't had some undercarriage indication snag cleared, so was lim'd for gear down transits only, with the landing gear only to be raised if necessary for rear crew escape. That would have been below the IAS at which the fatigue meter would have operated - hence the OCU engineers' puzzlement.
It was the failure to observe the F700 lim which got us into the dwang, rather than the fly past. The captain had his ar$e kicked, but the rest of us were considered blameless. Nevertheless, a bit of crew shuffling then took place.
But that flypast must have looked good!
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Crowd Funder Update
Well with just under 3 weeks to go we are 2/3 the way there
Thanks to 71 supporters we have now raised £3,320.00 out of the £5,000
This is almost enough to commit to the purchase of the new cabin
It would be fantastic if we could raise the remaining £1,680.00 as this may allow the museum to gain matched funding
Repairs to the fin are due to start after the 21st of July once the museum is back open and a local company is making the 230 OCU markings for the fin
The trustees decided on 230 OCU rather than the bomber squadrons in recognition of where the crews learned their skills
XL319 was the last Vulcan to take off from Offutt in Nebraska on the 13th June 1982 after the last Western Ranger exercise and the first to fly in to an independent museum.
As the largest aircraft to land at Sunderland Airport it is still the biggest draw at the museum
Thanks to 71 supporters we have now raised £3,320.00 out of the £5,000
This is almost enough to commit to the purchase of the new cabin
It would be fantastic if we could raise the remaining £1,680.00 as this may allow the museum to gain matched funding
Repairs to the fin are due to start after the 21st of July once the museum is back open and a local company is making the 230 OCU markings for the fin
The trustees decided on 230 OCU rather than the bomber squadrons in recognition of where the crews learned their skills
XL319 was the last Vulcan to take off from Offutt in Nebraska on the 13th June 1982 after the last Western Ranger exercise and the first to fly in to an independent museum.
As the largest aircraft to land at Sunderland Airport it is still the biggest draw at the museum
Sorry - in those days the logbook showed the names of the whole crew. I cannot therefore send you a scan as I would need permission from the rest of the crew and that would be an impossible undertaking.
Agree with Beagle (that is almost a first!), but I flew XL319 on many occasions and would be happy to redact log-book entries if you are interested.
Bill
Bill
Well with just under 3 weeks to go we are 2/3 the way there
Thanks to 71 supporters we have now raised £3,320.00 out of the £5,000
This is almost enough to commit to the purchase of the new cabin
It would be fantastic if we could raise the remaining £1,680.00 as this may allow the museum to gain matched funding
Repairs to the fin are due to start after the 21st of July once the museum is back open and a local company is making the 230 OCU markings for the fin
The trustees decided on 230 OCU rather than the bomber squadrons in recognition of where the crews learned their skills
XL319 was the last Vulcan to take off from Offutt in Nebraska on the 13th June 1982 after the last Western Ranger exercise and the first to fly in to an independent museum.
As the largest aircraft to land at Sunderland Airport it is still the biggest draw at the museum
Thanks to 71 supporters we have now raised £3,320.00 out of the £5,000
This is almost enough to commit to the purchase of the new cabin
It would be fantastic if we could raise the remaining £1,680.00 as this may allow the museum to gain matched funding
Repairs to the fin are due to start after the 21st of July once the museum is back open and a local company is making the 230 OCU markings for the fin
The trustees decided on 230 OCU rather than the bomber squadrons in recognition of where the crews learned their skills
XL319 was the last Vulcan to take off from Offutt in Nebraska on the 13th June 1982 after the last Western Ranger exercise and the first to fly in to an independent museum.
As the largest aircraft to land at Sunderland Airport it is still the biggest draw at the museum
I am still a little confused about the scope and intention of your museum. Your title says "Telling the V Force Story" but all the references have been to Vulcans, the Vulcan community, etc. Will there be any reference to the Valiant and Victor? I ask this because as a member of the Vulcans Victors and Valiants group I get the impression that a lot of younger members, whose only experience of the V Force is seeing XH 558 at air displays, think that the V Force comprised only Vulcans. I have seen questions such as "Did Victor crews ever do QRA?" and "I never knew the Victors carried Blue Steel" etc. Fair enough if you are setting up an exhibition dealing solely with Vulcan 319, but in that case perhaps giving the exhibition a more appropriate name might be a good idea.
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Time is running out for you to join the other 88 generous supports who have raised over £4,000 towards the £5,000 total.
Only 12 days to go to get your exclusive numbered medal. One of only 319 minted
Support the V force memory with XL319
XL319 flew with Blue Steel and dropped live bombs
However due to its extensive time on 230 OCU it also set many pilots off on their V Force career
Only 12 days to go to get your exclusive numbered medal. One of only 319 minted
Support the V force memory with XL319
XL319 flew with Blue Steel and dropped live bombs
However due to its extensive time on 230 OCU it also set many pilots off on their V Force career
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Target Achieved
Final update with a few days to go the fundraiser stands at £5,115.
A fantastic achievement by 108 supporters
Thanks for all the logbook entries
Now know that XL319 dropped live bombs on an Australian range, flew like a buccaneer on departure from a Honnington airshow, carried live Blue Steel at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and was the last Vulcan to take off from Offut airbase at the end of ops in 1982.
Not bad for an airframe that spent most of its time on 230OCU teaching crews their craft
A fantastic achievement by 108 supporters
Thanks for all the logbook entries
Now know that XL319 dropped live bombs on an Australian range, flew like a buccaneer on departure from a Honnington airshow, carried live Blue Steel at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and was the last Vulcan to take off from Offut airbase at the end of ops in 1982.
Not bad for an airframe that spent most of its time on 230OCU teaching crews their craft
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Fascinating article in Britain at War re the Blue Steel.
It was estimated only 45% would successfully launch the missile and of those 75% would hit the intended target.
It was estimated only 45% would successfully launch the missile and of those 75% would hit the intended target.
Wow! If those numbers are anywhere near accurate then that makes Blue Steel pretty useless as a deterrent of any kind seeing as the RAF only ever had 40 aircraft equipped to launch it.
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Yes it’s an interesting read, indeed the whole article is, reliability was an issue with them, some of it you couldn’t make up, the lead design company for the missile ( who hadn’t built one before ) were not given the weight and size of the weapons payload initially. Something that would be pretty handy to know when building the delivery system.
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The mag is this one, I never realised the reason the nuclear capability was passed to the Navy was due to the planned replacement of Blue Steel with the SkyBolt from the USA but Kennedy cancelled that meaning they had to shift to Polaris.
https://shop.keypublishing.com/issue...ar-august-2020
https://shop.keypublishing.com/issue...ar-august-2020