Vulcan flies again! Pics inside...

[68Wooley]

If memory serves, its about 100 feet long with a similar wingspan. Truely amazing aircraft - I had the privilege of seeing them display at the RAF Leuchars airshows in the 80's.

If anyone's interested, Vulcan 607 by Rowland White is a great account of the first Vulcan bombing raid on Port Stanley during the Falklands War.

[angelsandair]

If memory serves, its about 100 feet long with a similar wingspan. Truely amazing aircraft - I had the privilege of seeing them display at the RAF Leuchars airshows in the 80's.

If anyone's interested, Vulcan 607 by Rowland White is a great account of the first Vulcan bombing raid on Port Stanley during the Falklands War.

When did the Vulcan get commisioned out of service?

[68Wooley]

When did the Vulcan get commisioned out of service?

Mid eighties - either '84 or '86 I think. Wikipedia would be your friend.

It was a 1950's aircraft built to 1940's specifications. Its role was roughly similar to the contemporary B52 - deliver nukes deep into the heart of Soviet Russia. Along with the Victor and Valiant, it formed Britain's independent nuclear deterrent. However, after the Polaris submarine fleet came online in the 70's, its role was diminished and the aging airframes were starting to show signs of fatigue.

[deSelys]

If memory serves, its about 100 feet long with a similar wingspan. Truely amazing aircraft - I had the privilege of seeing them display at the RAF Leuchars airshows in the 80's.

If anyone's interested, Vulcan 607 by Rowland White is a great account of the first Vulcan bombing raid on Port Stanley during the Falklands War.

It is a really nice looking plane. The pics with the Vulcan and the Lanc flying in formation are awesome. I'd gladly make them my desktop if they were 1280x1024...

OTOH, the Vulcan raids on Port Stanley was one of the most retarded (read expensive AND useless) ops ever (I'm not criticizing the crews who flew them but the "big brass" behind the planning). Read Sharkey Ward's book "Sea Harrier over the Falkland", it is enlightening...

[Furball]

Just out of curiousity, how big is that Vulcan? I've seen pics and models of it, and I cant compare it to a Lancaster since I've never seen that either... 

Big!!  This should give you an idea on scale.  The delta design makes it seem much bigger when you are standing under it too - a really impressive aircraft.

OTOH, the Vulcan raids on Port Stanley was one of the most retarded (read expensive AND useless) ops ever (I'm not criticizing the crews who flew them but the "big brass" behind the planning). Read Sharkey Ward's book "Sea Harrier over the Falkland", it is enlightening...

What is your justification for that?  Being most "expensive and useless"?  The main runway at Stanley was cratered, and although it was probably repaired pretty quickly it showed the Argies that the RAF were capable of hitting mainland Agentina if necessary with bombers and 'meant business'.  You could compare it to the Doolittle raid, which surely is both 'more expensive' (losing 16 or so aircraft and requiring a CV to steam half way across the Pacific and back just so they can take off) and more 'useless' militarily (not succeeding in really doing much but being a nuisance)?.

[deSelys]

Doolittle's raid was important because the USA had been on the receiving end for some time and some action was needed to help the morale of the nation (and to show the Japanese that they weren't untouchable).

The Vulcan raids:
- didn't destroy the runway. All bombs but two missed the target. I should say 1.5 bombs hit the runway since the second only clipped it.



Damage was repaired in 24 hours. IIC, Sharkey Ward didn't agree with the evaluation that the runway was not usable by fast jets after the attack. According to him, the argentines knew that their jets were totally CAPped by the Sea Harriers and didn't want to lose them for nothing.

Damage to the radars were also quickly repaired.

- they used up a lot of tanker resources for this poor results (11 tankers for 2 Vulcans!) while the runway could have been attacked by the Harriers and Sea Harriers of the Task Force (probably with much better results).

- were described as a PR move by the RAF, afraid to be left out of the conflict and facing budget cuts.

Wikipedia info here.

Other Wikipedia info here.

[Dowding]

SD67 - that would be great mate! I'll get them to you somehow - they are big files. <S>

It is a really nice looking plane. The pics with the Vulcan and the Lanc flying in formation are awesome. I'd gladly make them my desktop if they were 1280x1024...

DeSelys - I have all the images at 3000+ by 2000+ in JPEG and RAW format. I'll figure out a way to get them on my FTP account and PM you the details if you like.

[deSelys]

DeSelys - I have all the images at 3000+ by 2000+ in JPEG and RAW format. I'll figure out a way to get them on my FTP account and PM you the details if you like.

Oh yes thanks, I'd appreciate it!

[moot]

Why is there so little glass in the canopy?

[angelsandair]

Why is there so little glass in the canopy?

British people dont need to see... 

[Rolex]

Why is there so little glass in the canopy?

Flash protection from its nuclear payload.

[Toad]

Primarily, you had to worry about flash blindness from other people's weapons. We had cool little eyepatches so you'd only go blind in one eye while taking off or landing and we had expensive window shields that plugged in to the window frames for cruise.

[Cthulhu]

I always thought the Vulcan's stand-off weapon kicked ass. Designed for use on the trio of V-bombers, the Blue Steel (1.1 Megatons.. ) seemed most at home hanging under the Vulcan. Inevitably, the missile, and the V-bombers themselves were rendered largely obsolete by Polaris and subsequent SLBM's. The Victor and Valiant were retired after relatively short service lives, leaving the Vulcan, relegated to conventional bombing and tanker duties, to soldier on. I saw the plane and the missile once @ RAF Duxford. Very Cool!

Flash protection from its nuclear payload.

Yep, same reason the planes were initially painted white overall. Same reason why B-47's and early B-52's were white on the bottom.

It always seemed odd to me that, although the Vulcan was a contemporary of the B-47, the B-52, and, to some extent, the B-58, that it had no tail gun. Especially given the lousy rear visibility.

[moot]

Shoulda thought of that, thanks

[Rich46yo]

Just out of curiousity, how big is that Vulcan? I've seen pics and models of it, and I cant compare it to a Lancaster since I've never seen that either... 

Bloody big. As long as a B-29 but with a shorter wingspan. It could deliver about the same bombload only it could do it far faster and higher. The Vulcan was quite a successful design. The Vulcan was a very important part of NATOs nuclear deterrent.