V Bomber Program on More4 at 10:00pm tonight
Discussion
It was a great program.
Imagine flying beyond the safe point of return, in the dark, relying on a flare to guide you, over a big cold unfriendly sea certain in the knowledge that you'd be a goner, especially if sat in the back, should you miss it. Balls of steel IMO
Erics points about blended wing engines were proven on Victors when, on the piano keys at Marham, a K2 launched a first stage turbine into the fuel tank resulting in the loss of the AC within 3 minutes (crew bailed out and left the thing slowly trundling down the runway in a blaze of glory.
Wing embedded engines also meant removing all 4 to do mainspar inspections......we became quite profficient at it
Imagine flying beyond the safe point of return, in the dark, relying on a flare to guide you, over a big cold unfriendly sea certain in the knowledge that you'd be a goner, especially if sat in the back, should you miss it. Balls of steel IMO
Erics points about blended wing engines were proven on Victors when, on the piano keys at Marham, a K2 launched a first stage turbine into the fuel tank resulting in the loss of the AC within 3 minutes (crew bailed out and left the thing slowly trundling down the runway in a blaze of glory.
Wing embedded engines also meant removing all 4 to do mainspar inspections......we became quite profficient at it
Thank heavens for 4OD on Virgin. 
About halfway through it now, but as hinted at in programme, makes you wonder where we'd been today if we hadn't stuck with the ultimately futile attempt at remaining a world superpower and concentrated instead on developing commercial interests (such as Airliners or computers).
About halfway through it now, but as hinted at in programme, makes you wonder where we'd been today if we hadn't stuck with the ultimately futile attempt at remaining a world superpower and concentrated instead on developing commercial interests (such as Airliners or computers).
Managed to watch the second half now.
Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
t, missed it. Anyone know when it's likely to be repeated? 
Dunk76 said:
Managed to watch the second half now.
Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
Multiple refueling I suppose. And of course, none of Britains remaining far flung territories will ever be threatened ever agin.Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
Eric Mc said:
As the 50s progressed, jet engines grew in size and weight and by the 60s large diameter turbofans were beginning to come into use, which rendered buried engines even more impractical.
Absolutely.. Also, modern turbofan engines are of the High-Bypass variety which is why they look larger still than most from the 60's. For those that aren't aware, high bypass means that most of the propulsive force is from air that has passed through the big fan on the front but not gone through the hot core of the engine (i.e. bypassed it)...Steve
Eric Mc said:
Dunk76 said:
Managed to watch the second half now.
Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
Multiple refueling I suppose. And of course, none of Britains remaining far flung territories will ever be threatened ever agin.Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
All 3 programmes are repeated again on Saturday at 9pm (More 4) & an hour later on More 4+1.
There was a chap on R4 last Saturday (9am slot) who witnessed the bombs from Christmas Island - interesting to hear another perspective.
And those intakes on the Valiant - they did look so right
There was a chap on R4 last Saturday (9am slot) who witnessed the bombs from Christmas Island - interesting to hear another perspective.
And those intakes on the Valiant - they did look so right
Probbaly not a lot. The countries that were really keen on developing their own space launchers had their own programmes (particularly the US, the USSR and, to a lesser extent, the French). British scientists WERE keen to develop a space capable launcher and did, in fact, do so. However, the UK governments of the 60s and 70s had no real knowledge, desire or enthusiasm for science and/or technology (particularly anyting to do with space) and cancelled all the programmes by 1971.
Many British technicians did end up transferring to NASA or, eventually, ESA. ESA, although ostensibly a European effort, is primarilly French driven.
Many British technicians did end up transferring to NASA or, eventually, ESA. ESA, although ostensibly a European effort, is primarilly French driven.
Eric Mc said:
Probably not a lot. The countries that were really keen on developing their own space launchers had their own programmes (particularly the US, the USSR and, to a lesser extent, the French). British scientists WERE keen to develop a space capable launcher and did, in fact, do so. However, the UK governments of the 60s and 70s had no real knowledge, desire or enthusiasm for science and/or technology (particularly anything to do with space) and cancelled all the programmes by 1971.
http://www.spaceuk.org/htp/htp.htmI recall an article from somewhere..in which the post WW2 engineers who were so used to huge V12 aero engines intially were having a hard time getting their heads around the huge thrusts & power available from something the size of a dinner plate. A good few points the British used in the duration of the programme included the relatively stable propellant & the simple use of the silver plated nickel gauze as the catalyst.
thanks for that. Missed the second one and thought I'd have to watch sitting in front of the PCEric Mc said:
Dunk76 said:
Managed to watch the second half now.
Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
Multiple refueling I suppose. And of course, none of Britains remaining far flung territories will ever be threatened ever agin.Excellent program, and I'm not surprised - Channel 4 normally has very good documentaries, although not necessarily about subjects which are any good.
With the retirement of the Victor, it begs the question now though - how can we carry out at any long-range bombing now?
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