XH558...

[Stuck In A Lift]

Absolutely STUNNING passes at Beachy Head today, missed the first one as she came over the cliff by the Bomber Command Memorial, then banked around for a pass of the light house before showing her wing to the crowd then going off towards the town.

Here's a quick edit from earlier-

[ATTAK Z]

We got a touch and go at DSA on her return today

[Dave2P]

She made our day today... thought we'd cycle up and grab a distant view from the cliff between Southbourne and Hengistbury Head.

Spotted her lurking in the gloom over the Isle of Wight before turning our way on her run in... over Christchurch Harbour and straight over us at about, oh, arms length...





Not sure who made more noise; the Vulcan or my wife! "Oh my God, Oh my God! It's a space ship!"



Thank you so much to all those who fund, fettle and fly her.

We'll be back tomorrow.

[Mr E]

She's just flown over west swindon at fairly low level. Off somewhere for a display?

Edit: or more likely returning?

Edited by Mr E on Sunday 31st August 16:21

[CarlT]

Mr E said:

She's just flown over west swindon at fairly low level. Off somewhere for a display?

Edit: or more likely returning?

Edited by Mr E on Sunday 31st August 16:21

On way back from Bournemouth!

[paulw123]

Brilliant display at Bournemouth today. One of her climbs gave a beautiful howl. superb.

[Bbunter]

It makes me smile how she can make the fillings shake out of your head, or sneak up like the engines are not running. What a fabulous machine.

[Richjam]

We were spoilt today nice low pass over oakham on the way down and then again on the way back up looked very nice in the sunshine.

[MartG]

Sorry, not 558, but I thought it worth sharing...

[Bbunter]

MartG said:

Sorry, not 558, but I thought it worth sharing...

Nuclear flash white, scary stuff.

[paolow]

Stuck In A Lift said:

Absolutely STUNNING passes at Beachy Head today, missed the first one as she came over the cliff by the Bomber Command Memorial, then banked around for a pass of the light house before showing her wing to the crowd then going off towards the town.

Here's a quick edit from earlier-

I was astounded when I looked out of my window to see the Vulcan fly by - unmistakable - I wondered why it had missed Airbourne? beautiful to see though - one of the advantages of living with a view I suppose. I did think it to be 'not at full chat' though so that explains it - but better to see it in the sky while we can even if they are saving the engines.

[RizzoTheRat]

What's with the orange paint job on the BUFF? Some sort of development aircraft?

[MartG]

RizzoTheRat said:

What's with the orange paint job on the BUFF? Some sort of development aircraft?

Probably, given that they appear to be flying over Edwards AFB

[Eric Mc]

Looks like one of the NASA aircraft - perhaps "003" or "008" - which were used for carrying aloft the X-15 rocket research aircraft and later the various lifting bodies.

[yellowjack]

Eric Mc said:

Looks like one of the NASA aircraft - perhaps "003" or "008" - which were used for carrying aloft the X-15 rocket research aircraft and later the various lifting bodies.

I thought that, but I found this image for the X-15 motherships...



...and I reckon the one pictured with the Vulcan, above, has too much orange on it. I'm puzzled now and my interest has been piqued. "Balls Eight" was retired in 2004, after 45 years of service, most of it on secondment of permanent loan to NASA, and was the oldest B-52B still flying when it was retired.

[Eric Mc]

They were both very early B-52s and soldiered on well after even later versions such as the D and F models had been retired from USAF service.

[yellowjack]

MartG said:

Sorry, not 558, but I thought it worth sharing...

Best I can find suggests that the photo was taken during the trials for the AGM-48 Skybolt missile system. Douglas Aircraft were contracted in 1959 The UK joined the program in 1960, and cancelled development of Blue Steel II and Blue Streak. They'd put all of their eggs into the Skybolt basket, but a series of unsuccessful launches of the 'air launched ballistic missile' led to Britain leaving the program and cancellation followed in 1962, when 'submarine launched ballistic missiles' were seen to be the future. It's what led to Polaris and the Resolution Class submarines, and the role change for the V Bomber fleet to tactical nuclear strike with the WE.177 freefall nuclear bomb.

This would all point to the date of the photo being sometime in early 1961, when a modified Vulcan was sent to Santa Monica (Douglas factory) to ensure electrical compatibility with the new missile.

A bit of youtube footage here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSaVsJnetW4

...which also (if you can stomach repeated mention of "nuculer" missiles ) contains some images of Vulcans in various stages of assembly.

Edit to add:
In 1964, the Vulcan B2 in that photograph, XH535, was sadly lost, with 4 crew killed, and one of the pilots seriously injured during ejection, when it crashed during a low speed approach to Boscombe Down during a test flight... http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55... ...although the fact that the aircraft crashed is a matter of fact, I'm not sure about the 'fact' that there were 4 rear crew on board? Three seats at the bulkhead, surely, but multiple sources state 4 rear crew: XH535, 11/05/1964, Flt Lt J Dingly, Flt Lt F Young, Flt Lt Chilton, MSig Christian AFM (Pilots ejected and survived - co-pilot Flt Lt R Beeson, and captain Mr. O. J. Hawkins, Avro Company Test Pilot)

Edited by yellowjack on Tuesday 2nd September 00:07

[MartG]

There are also photos of the NASA ones with orange fins, but none with the wings & engines orange too

[Eric Mc]

Some Vulcan B2s had their wings strengthened to carry hard points for the Skybolt. Some of this strengthening came in handy when they slung some unusual pieces of kit under the Vulcans during the Black Buck raids.

[knight]

Shoreham on Saturday