Vulcan XH558

Bummer !!!   it was about 1 mile east from the flight path. 

Got a pic OK,  but too far off.  

This one is from last weekend on its way home after Bournemouth 

The first and last time I saw a Vulcan was a static display at Finningley air show about 30 years ago.

Never saw it in flight (wish I had), but off topic, did see an English Electric Lightning that day doing a vertical climb. Nearly shook me to bits. Wow! the sheer power!

I saw her earlier this year at Weston Super Mud.

At the end of the display she opened up and went into a steep climb, rolled and pulled out inverted all perfectly stable - wonderful for a craft of that size.

As a child I went on holiday to Rhosnigr I still remember standing on the road at the end of the Valley runway and watching the Vulcans pass overhead at about 200ft. The noise and vibration were quite an experience, and with a 100ft+ wingspan they cast a big shadow as well.  I've loved this aeroplane ever since.

It's a shame they fly XV588 with a Hunter; pairing her with a Lightning would be even more spectacular.

The service ceiling for the Vulcan's airframe was never determined (or at least never officially released!), the official 56,000ft normal limit was the safe altitude limit of the pressurisation and oxygen system for the crew.  The service ceiling for the Lightning has also never been officially released, but more recently has been revealed as over 66,000ft, and one (an F.53) aborted an altitude run at 87,300ft even though it was still climbing!

Huge,

I would love to see the Vulcan paired with a couple of Javelins, a delta wing fighter. My dad was a Javalin pilot.

I don't recall ever seeing that combo flying together ......... surprising as I went to all the Farnbro' shows from 1956 thru 1968

Anyhow,  will this one do ...........

Mike B,

thanks for the photo.

you might be right about the Vulcan and Javelin flying together but I remember them both being present operationality at various RAF bases we were stationed at.

i will check with my dad.

Richard

I was at Belton House (a NT property near Grantham) watching a game of cricket a couple of years ago when she went over at about 2000 feet. Everything that is wonderful about living here in ten seconds. 

One of my favourite Vulcan pictures:

And some original shots ( not mine!) of the Javelin showing off her delta wings

Richard

A cine clip (video to you kids) of a Javelin practice scramble chasing a Vulkan .... But no shot of the Vulkan.

Mission 66 -lovely stuff. My daughter suggested I  put a plane location  app into my iPad. It is great .But I wonder why my neighbours shake their heads when I tell them that the noise we hear is the 12.20 from Rome to San Francisco. 

First and only time I've seen a Vulcan in flight was when I was a small boy (around seven, I'd guess).

I was playing football with some mates in a park in Portsmouth and one flew low directly overhead.  Because it was low there wasn't much warning it was coming. The thunderous roar arrived almost instantly as this enormous delta-shaped beast loomed into view.  We were all awe-stuck at the presence, defeaning noise and obvious power of the thing. I'll never forget it.

Lucky enough to have it fly over my house 3 times in the last couple of years. Came over a couple of weeks ago when it was at Elvington for a display. Just love that noise!!!

Sign the petition if you haven't already. Please.

steve

Saw one at Leuchars when I was a kid. Massive yet soaringly elegant...and the noise was visceral.

G

As regards the Vulcan with Javelins my dad just got back to me saying:

"....An interesting...and quite demanding practices were night In Flight refuelling trials, all aircraft lights out at 45,000 Feet by No 72 Squadron during my time. these terminated with the Vulcan trying to outmanoeuvre the Javelin closing in from behind. Incredibly, the Vulcan could turn as tightly as the Javelin....quite amazing for a big aircraft. all in complete blackout conditions.
On reflection, the Vulcan was similar in design shape as the Javelin so compatible turning performance is understandable."

Richard

Hi Steve,

Where can I find the petition?

Richard

p.s. i also saw it a few weeks ago when it was at Elvington as i heard it and just caught a view from our garden.

We were based at RAF Leuchars for a spell  when I was a kid and remember seeing them there as well.

Richard

As one of our last training rides prior to the Prudential London-Surrey 100 sportive, we cycled an 85 mile circuit taking in Fairford on the day of what was meant to be its penultimate flight. We were passed three times by the Vulcan escorted by the Red Arrows. Of course we hadn't quite planned for the traffic congestion at Fairford on the weekend of the air tattoo, which slowed down our average speed to well less than 20mph, but it was great to see the Vulcan so close. We were also deafened by the demonstration by the F-14 and F-18!!

Last week near Dawlish Warren I was coming out of work and nearly had an accident in my car, what caused it was a Vulcan making a slow turning in the sky quite low to the ground.  Like you all know it has a very specific shape and because of the short distance it looked very large. For me it gave me the impression of a cross between a mythical flying creature or some future war plane from a American future science fiction film.  (It was on the day of the Dawlish Air Show).