Guy martin Vulcan bomber

[WilsonWilson]

I enjoyed it but I think they made the same mistake as the Spitfire program making it 90mins. Both could have been improved with an hour on Channel 4 for casual viewers then another hour on More4 with more in-depth explanations and interviews. I don't know what the viewing figures were but if, say, 20% of the audience switched over wouldn't that be good for a Sunday night on More4?

[droopsnoot]

chrisgtx said:

Although I was shocked to hear the pilot who said it should be retired after the nose wheel failure. Surely that happens on modern aircraft too?

I took that as him saying that the nosewheel incident just showed that it was an appropriate time for it to end flying, rather than suggesting it should stop just because of that one problem.

It wasn't a bad programme, not as annoying as I thought it would be. Am I correct in thinking that some of the interviews with previous crew were from something else? I've heard the chap talking about how he told his wife that if she heard them take off, she should get the kids in the car and drive towards the Isle of Skye in something else - the recent BBC 2-parter perhaps. Or maybe it's a new film of the same chap, and the kind of anecdote that sticks in the mind. That pilot with the fast-taxiing plane sounded an awful lot like David Mitchell.

Sadly I missed the C4 programme about the Black Buck raid, and am hoping they show it again at some point as my internet isn't anywhere near good enough to watch it on youtube. I could have stood a bit more footage from the farewell trip, as well - though I believe there's a DVD coming out soon from VTTS.

Edited by droopsnoot on Monday 30th November 11:54

[gareth_r]

Simes205 said:

moanthebairns said:

Was about to give up on this, as interesting as it was, not really anything gripping for TV. Was however saved with the Falklands story.

If you like that then watch this, C4 made it a couple of years back.

http://youtu.be/X2Yl8ntVS-4

Although it may be a load of RAF propaganda bks.

[Eric Mc]

You are Sharkey Ward AICMFP

[djdest]

Just watched this on catch up, awesome program and awesome machine!
I thought I'd come on here to see if there was an interesting thread about it, as its such a loved thing and a PH favourite in general, yet all I've found is 2 pages, most of which are just moaning and bhing.
Oh well, typical PH I suppose.

[gareth_r]

Eric Mc said:

You are Sharkey Ward AICMFP

He and Sandy Woodward make a good case.

63 bombs, and one hit the edge of the runway. I don't think that's what kept the Argentinian fast jets off the Falklands.

Edited by gareth_r on Monday 30th November 13:04

[RizzoTheRat]

The theory is that it kept a lot of their aircraft on the mainland to defend their airfields as they realised we could hit them if we wanted. No idea if that was really the case though.


I recorded the program and haven't seen it yet, did they mention Operation Skyshield? Getting in to position to bomb the Whitehouse really is something that should be more widely known.

[98elise]

gareth_r said:

Eric Mc said:

You are Sharkey Ward AICMFP

He and Sandy Woodward make a good case.

63 bombs, and one hit the edge of the runway. I don't think that's what kept the Argentinian fast jets off the Falklands.

Edited by gareth_r on Monday 30th November 13:04

The only thing Sharkey Ward makes a good case for is his own brilliance and everyone else's limitations

Edited by 98elise on Monday 30th November 20:33

[The Don of Croy]

Enjoyed it - especially the in flight photography etc etc. I understand the need to have a 'celeb' type included to attract viewers, and prefer GM's approach to what James May might have done.

Perhaps they could have had more of the anecdotes (although it's a niche choice) the like of which you get in the opening chapters of the Black Buck book (Red Flag ops and how the Vulcan was adapted from high altitude to hedge hopping), but overall it gave a fair view of an impressive, British, engineering product.

[djdest]

I love GM's genuine excitement and passion for this sort of thing, he is the perfect presenter I think.
I liken him to a modern version of the great Fred Dibnah

[H.....]

KTF said:

Slightly over dramatised as you would expect but an interesting watch all the same.

It's popular to overdramatise things

Eric Mc said:

It's because of aircraft like the Vulcan that we are all still here.

As you say, interesting though.

[Eric Mc]

I do think that nuclear deterrence as a concept has worked. Since 1948 there have been plenty of opportunities for the world powers to get into serious fisticuffs - and it hasn't happened.

The Vulcan played an important part in that deterrence.

[Rogue86]

I thought this was great Tv, having Guy Martin as presenter is a perfect opportunity to hear from groundcrew too which makes a nice change for th3ee sorts of programmes.

The air/air footage of her flying was absolutely stunning. Having been up in that cramped cockpit as well I thought Guy did a great job of showing just how tight it is in there.

[jmorgan]

ash73 said:

Eric Mc said:

I do think that nuclear deterrence as a concept has worked.

I disagree. The closest we've come to WWIII the Cuban missile crisis would never have happened, roll the dice again and see which way that goes. Our own deterrent Polaris didn't stop Argentina invading the Falklands, and now everyone knows we won't use them. Besides, America did more damage to Japan's cities (and population) with incendiaries in the same time period they dropped the bomb. By all means design a way to intercept/defeat them, as I expect the Russians did with the Vulcan, but while they exist it's inevitable at some point there will be a disaster.

I think a common market, the diplomacy of the UN, and the horror of what went before, provided better deterrents personally.

Seems that MAD did play a role in one side not pressing the button during a false alarm. The fellow concerned supposed that the US would have let loose with many overwhelming numbers not just a few as the false alarms indicated.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24280831

[FredericRobinson]

I grew up near Woodford, the air show was an annual highlight when we were kids, particularly the Vulcan and the racket it made. I went out to see the old girl on it's way back from Edinburgh to Woodford on the day featured on the programme last July, didn't think it was the last flying day though?

[RoadRunner220]

FredericRobinson said:

I grew up near Woodford, the air show was an annual highlight when we were kids, particularly the Vulcan and the racket it made.

As did I. The noise it made when it took off was incredible.

I loved Guys comment when talking about the bloke that bought it back in the 90's for twenty five grand - "how do you explain that one to the wife ?"

[FredericRobinson]

We only ever once paid to get into the air show, but we'd always play outside on the day and the couple of days beforehand to see what we could see. On the day itself we'd often go up to the top end of Lyme Park to watch, IIRC the entry fee was per car so there'd be plenty seeing how many could be crammed into an escort or a Renault 5.

[RoadRunner220]

My mates dad and brother used to work at Woodford so we rarely had to pay to get in for the air show. The Vulcan was always the highlight. We saw it a few times but the spectacle of it never diminished, and it was always the plane we wanted to see.

[lukeyman]

FredericRobinson said:

I grew up near Woodford, the air show was an annual highlight when we were kids, particularly the Vulcan and the racket it made. I went out to see the old girl on it's way back from Edinburgh to Woodford on the day featured on the programme last July, didn't think it was the last flying day though?

It flew over Eggborough on the 6th Sept...

Watching the end of the program at the moment. And it's just flashed up being the 10th Oct.

[FredericRobinson]

Thought so, seems unnecessary to over-dramatise things by making out the flight Guy Martin was involved in was the last one, could be he was supposed to be there for the real final one but was still too smashed up after his off at the Ulster.