vulcan
 

A chap I have been chatting to tells me he returned from Acension in the bomb bay of a vulcan following a radio fit on the QE2.

Is this possible? I had imagined that the bomb bay would not be pressurised.

T18

I'm not saying that this gentleman "mis-spoke" about this tale ;), but it would help to make some of our budget airlines look positively luxurious.

T18, you misheard or misunderstood. He may have said Bomb Aimer' s couch, position or compartment. Only in Thunderball could he have gone in the bomb bay.

Known a few radio techs in the 60's who came close - me included. The STR18 aerial coupler, with a reputation for sticking gears, was embedded in the roof at the rear of the bomb bay. As HF comms was fairly critical for any Vulcan mission, it wasn't unusual for a tech to climb up unscrew the fasterners on the coupler cover panel and give the unit a belt with a calibrated hammer.

If the aircrew were convinced that Ivan was on his way, then with the engines straining at the leash, they weren't keen on hanging about for the tech to exit the bomb bay. I've seen one Crew Chief flatly refuse to remove the chocks until the guy was out. Thankfully.

Vulcan
 

Hi Pontious

Not mistaken, I questioned him at length, he said they put seats in the bomb bay!
He worked for a large electronics company fitting out the QE2 which is believable but the trip back does'nt ring true for me.

I did ask about pressurisation but he was adamant, detailing the size of the bombs that could be carried in the bay.

T18

The words "plonker" and "pulling" come to mind ;)

Bomb bay seats
 

There was a plan during confrontation (Singers) to get our groundcrew out in the Victor bomb bay but it was never used. Your friend may have heard of this

I think it unlikely this episode, if true, could have gone unreported for so long

The bomb bays of all the V's were not pressurised and so 10,0000 would be max altitude without oxygen. This would limit the aircraft range.

With regret I think your friend your errs or simply mistakes the scheme for the fact. Many are apt to collect to themselves events hear happened to others

As an old chum of mine often says:

The bomb bay could have been heated comfortably but a mod to provide oxygen, as a quick bodge would have been tricky. Worse however was the sound proofing.

Did your friend shout at you, have two hearing aids, and couldn't hear you?

Alison, a friend was in the bomb bay when the disperse order was given. The captain started engines - he came out tout suite.

Vulcan
 

Hi guys

The chap I spoke with has a liking for the hard stuff so may have confused the memory a little, I hope to chat with him again soon, so I can perhaps revisit the story.

Many thanks for the information.

T18

I was on ASI from April until late August 1982, primarily looking after Victor Nav. kit but also helping out on Vulcans when requested. It never happened, confused or "walt" springs to mind.

Vulcan
 

Hi Oberon

My thoughts precisely, I just didn't use the "W" word, he also doesn't realize that I have a PPL, although on the other hand he speaks very loudly as if perhaps a little deaf !

T18

It must be true, after all, the one in Cosford has a TV mounted in the front of the bay playing endless vulcan documentaries, I cannot think what else it could have been used for except as in flight entertainment for the passengers. :8

Delete: Vulcan

Insert: Hercules


:rolleyes:

Hercules BC Mk 1?

The TV thingy (at Cosford) is in the Belfast - or it was last time I was there

Pontius,
the Hercules could be used as a bomber (Vietnam etc) or as a minelayer, as it was cleared to do so during Op Corporate. Not much it could not be used for really, the ultimate MRCA.

After 17 hours in the back of a C130 wandering around the South Atlantic it could have been the bomb bay of Vulcan or the wing of a Beverley. I really didn't care, I just wanted out. ......and then we arrived back at ASI!

OC Phandet's Herc was turned back twice. When he arrived on the 3rd try, he reckoned he had more hours on the Albert than someone who'd completed the OCU....