Vulcan in USA
I am hearing a story from a USAF friend, that the Vulcan given to the USAF, may move to the USAFM at Wright Patterson.
A photo I saw sees the aircraft in a hanger, appearing to be complete, but with very bleached paint. However presuming the aircraft was flown in, does it mean it could be flown just once. I presume there would be plenty of volunteers to crew the aircraft. Regards Col |
The one at [former] Castle AFB in CA? That's been there for a long long time, given the difficulties getting XH558 airworthy ..... sorry, can't see it happening.
Would be nice thought, don't get me wrong. |
Not a chance; if it moves (I assume it's the one at Offut?), it will have to be dismantled and moved by road, and even that's no simple task with an aircraft that doesn't break-down all that much, but I guess it would be easier on American roads and with American haulage.
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Any redneck with a Ford F350 dualie and a boat trailer...
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"Any redneck with a Ford F350 dualie and a boat trailer"
I'll submit my bid by noon. |
"Any redneck with a Ford F350 dualie and a boat trailer" I'll submit my bid by noon. Today 15:35 Want me to hold your beer :):):):) |
would it be possible to attempt a "piggyback" similar to Space Shuttle, atop 747?
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Akin to the last words on the redneck airlines CVR:
"Hold my beer and watch this" |
Vulcan XM605 was flown to Castle AFB, near Merced, California.
When Castle AFB closed in 1994, the aircraft collection remained, now incorporated as a non-profit organization called the Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc. In addition to XM605, there is an RB-36H (largest prop-driven bomber ever), a B-47, a B-52, a B-25, a B-29, and much more. w. w. w. c a s t l e a i r m u s e u m . o r g Others in North America: XM606 - Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, Louisiana XM573 - Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha Nebraska and XL361 -Goose Bay RAF Base, Canada As for moving one to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum in Ohio, my quick Google only found M61 Vulcan 20mm "gatling" cannon, Vulcan materials Company, and Vulcan software connected with Wright-Patterson, not an AVRO Vulcan bomber. As that move would be ~300 miles across Iowa, ~170 miles across Illinois, ~230 miles across Indiana, and 55 miles in Ohio... about 755 miles by road. I don't think so... unless they bring in the Lego specialists. |
It's not about the distance - obviously that just requires more time. It's more about the way that the Vulcan breaks-down into smaller components. The main centre section is a one-piece "chunk" although you can break it down into smaller components (as they did with the machine in Hendon) but then you effectively end-up with a pile of scrap metal to re-assemble, which is a bit of a shame to say the least! However I guess that if they do move the Offut machine to Wright Patterson, that'll be how they do it. Can't help wondering why they'd want to though, as it's patently not a USAF machine, so it's more appropriately-placed with SAC's history (they did work together after all). Likewise, I believe the aircraft is indoors now so it's not like it even needs to be moved...
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Is the Castle Air Museum the one with a Blackbird at the front gate? If so, it's the same one my family and I stumbled over a few years ago. A fantastic collection and it was strange to shelter under a Vulcan wing from the 100F + sun! Eventually I was dragged away by the wife and kids who could only keep up the pretence of interest for a couple of hours!!
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Barksdale Air museum example is under threat!!!:mad:
Just seen this local paper report posted on another forum, not looking hopefull http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/ima...lies/frown.gif Quote: British bomber may soon be relic of the past Historic Vulcan not on list to keep at base By John Andrew Prime • [email protected] • January 24, 2009 2:00 am A bat-winged British Vulcan bomber, a rare display at the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base, could be destroyed if efforts to improve the museum fall short. The bomber, a gift from Her Majesty's Government to the Air Force in 1983, is not among those slated to be kept if the local museum, now in its 30th year, fails to pass a pending review. The museum failed an initial accreditation by the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, its parent body, in 2007 and will face a repeat inspection, possibly later this year. "We're not going to lose them," said Lt. Col. Bob Fournier, 2nd Bomb Wing Director of Staff, who has attended 8th Air Force Museum Association meetings, closely overseeing work to improve the facility. He noted improvement to the building and airplanes at its air park. "They just get better and better." Col. Robert Wheeler, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, stressed the important lessons the museum can convey. "This part of history that 8th Air Force (Museum) provides is a huge piece of what we teach our young folks, and our folks that are even older, to not make the same mistakes of the past," he said. And, he added, it is "an opportunity for those young kids ... to see through (veterans') eyes, to get that twinkle going, for their dreams for the future," The British Mark II Vulcan bomber was one of a trio of "V Class" bombers that ruled the skies over the United Kingdom for close to 30 years. With its sibling airplanes the Valiant and the Victor, and with its U.S. cousins, the B-47, B-52 and B-58 bombers, the Vulcan helped form a protective nuclear shield throughout the Cold War. In May 1982, several of the aircraft flew an epic 13,000-mile mission to bomb the Port Stanley runway on the Falkland Islands, which had been occupied by Argentina earlier that year. It was the longest aerial combat mission in history until January 1991, when seven B-52s from Barksdale opened Operation Desert Storm with a nonstop mission to and from the Middle East, a mission now known as Operation SECRET SQUIRREL. The plane at Barksdale was delivered by then Vice Air Marshal Michael Knight and a select crew on June 9, 1982, just a few months after the Falklands mission. Knight later became the British equivalent of the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. The gift to Barksdale marked the close association between the U.S. 8th Air Force and the Royal Air Force, which dates back to World War II and continues to this day with a British liaison officer resident at the local base, which is home to 8th Air Force headquarters. Fans of the James Bond movies may remember the Vulcan as the British bomber that was hijacked in "Thunderball." "I think it's a travesty and I think (the British) would consider it a travesty," said local historian and military author Gary Joiner, an Anglophile who received doctorates from Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, at St. Martin's College, Lancaster University. The Vulcan at the museum took part in several "Bomb Comp" events at Barksdale and also flew in air shows. "I was at the base when it flew in and did its aerial demonstration and made every eye pop," Joiner said. Its wanton destruction "would be an affront to the crown and the people of Great Britain." That was echoed by a Briton, John D. Richards, 61. "I personally think it is sad that the United Kingdom, having given the USA a present of the Vulcan, that they ... are now planning to destroy it," he wrote. "I personally feel this to be a slur on our country. The fact that, of all the Vulcan B2s built, this one is the only one I never saw flying has nothing to do with it. " However, its destruction is not a given. The 2nd Bomb Wing must request the review after it has had a chance to revamp the museum, and it is working hard to do so. The museum's physical plant has been cleaned, a workshop has been added, a fenced yard is now available for refurbishment of airplanes and volunteers have been cleaning and restoring the Vulcan, B-52s and other aircraft. "Here at the Air Combat Command History Office, we still have hopes that the Barksdale museum will be able to pull it together and give their static display aircraft proper care," said David Bragg, staff curator with ACC headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va. "I am not aware of any immediate plans to take any of their aircraft away, although I can see it happening unless the aircraft get proper care real soon. The National Museum will not let the aircraft rot away when there is a better solution." As for the fate of the Vulcan, he said, "the British Government probably would not be consulted. When they gave the aircraft to the Barksdale museum, in actuality they were giving an unconditional gift to the U.S. Air Force. But again, if the aircraft is being properly cared for there will be no justification for moving it." Spokesmen for the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, also say the loss is not a given, although the Vulcan is on their 2007 report as one of about half the display aircraft at Barksdale to be deactivated. That "was one recommendation but the final decisions will be made by the ACC historian," wrote National Museum spokesman Rob Bardua. |
They sound almost as stupid as our museums. Seems that preserving history only depends on the whims and personal tastes of the people in charge at any given time. Nice to know that there are so many self-appointed people and bodies around who decide for us what is worth preserving and what isn't, ain't it?!
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Indeed.
Imagine the Yanks having nearly as many, or more, Vulcans on display as the UK does. Then deciding that they know best on how to allocate their resources. And that they might choose, given a finite budget to highlight their own history over Britain's. Ungrateful sods. How much US tax do you pay Tim? edit: tongue in cheek, BEagle, tongue in cheek. The previous correspondent is having a go at the Yanks from his perch on high. |
There's an urban myth that a Vulcan on exercise made a low pass over the Pentagon after masking it's presence on radar by shadowing a scheduled airliner.
Is there a grain of truth in the story ? |
so, as we have seen, vulcan is as popular in the states as in the uk.
given the current situation regarding future flying in this country, is there any chance one of the big airworthy groups in america could take her on? i for one would be sad to see her go but surely she belongs in the air!!! the airworthy one i mean:O |
Ungrateful sods. "Any redneck with a Ford F350 dualie and a boat trailer" I'll submit my bid by noon. Have you got the 'Full Redneck' option pack on yours, Westy? 108" CB aerial, roof spots, shotgun rack, one-eyed 'bird dawg' - and a giggling half-witted 'good 'ole boy' called Billie-Bo Bob clutching a jam jar of 100 proof 'shine? mr fish, there is no earthly way that '558 could be flown to the USA. |
B Fraser
There is a fiction book around a similar story to this, it is called "The penetrators" by Anthony Grey, or Gray. It was not very exciting to read, but at least was published back in the days when it would have been possible to do it. If you are interested, I could dig it out and pass on the ISBN number
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B Fraser, the story probably stems from the Skyshield exercises of the early 1960s.
I doubt whether the Vulcan would have mixed with civilian traffic as all civilian flying was grounded for the exercises. Perhaps someone was thinking of the 27 Sqn aircraft which landed at Plattsburgh AFB, New York, after giving NORAD's defending F-102s the slip? See http://www.pprune.org/1303092-post422.html http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...rnet/zxzxz.jpg |
Been to Wright Pat. twice. I don't recall seeing any aircraft at all there that didn't serve with the American Forces, so the relevance of a Vulcan there makes no sense at all. Not going to happen IMHO
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