Vulcan bomber info
Discussion
Tony1963 said:
srob said:
I remember seeing them at Marham when I was a kid, they always towered over the old wooden fencing where the Victors usually stood I remember. I used to go on the base in the school holidays with my dad who was a contractor on there and I used to merrily drive his old Escort van all around the airbase. It's where I learned to drive when I was about 10.
The joys of 1980s parenting, "just don't drive into any aeroplanes"
Vulcans at Marham? Maybe on a short detachment while runway repairs were carried out at Scampton/Waddington? I was there 1982 to 1987, and don’t remember having more than one on the airfield, usually 558 doing display practice. The joys of 1980s parenting, "just don't drive into any aeroplanes"
Used to love it
If you're a Vulcan fan, I strongly recommend you visit the Avro Heritage museum, based in the old (new) firestation on the site of Avro / BAe Woodford in Cheshire, where the Vulcan was assembled. It's a small museum, but they have XM603 in excellent condition, I believe the only preserved Vulcan in anti-flash white. They also have the cockpit section of XM602 indoors, where for a few quid (literally, not the £40 some museums charge), a knowledgeable volunteer will give you a 20 minute tour - or more, if you keep them talking and it isn't busy!
I returned recently for the first time since I left as a graduate in the 90s, and the cockpit tours were a highlight. A lovely chap called Trevor Jackson spent about half an hour giving my son and I a compressed course in how to start, fly, and if necessary, evaculate a Vulcan B2. I have honestly never heard such a dense quantity of information packed into a short time, while being tailored carefully to the audience; my son was rapt with attention from his position in the LH ejector seat. Trevor is an ex-RAF Vulcan pilot, so had plenty of anecdotes to enliven explaining what the various instruments and controls do, including the roles of the rear navigator, electronic warfare and bombing crew. He mentioned that he runs occasional longer tours and talks around XM603 as well, so worth giving the museum a call to find out more details. I had been lucky enough to have a good poke around inside 603 when she was parked outside the factory "back in the day", and there was a dedicated team of volunteers keeping on top of maintenance even back then, but she looks even smarter now.
Obligatory car / Vulcan content:
I returned recently for the first time since I left as a graduate in the 90s, and the cockpit tours were a highlight. A lovely chap called Trevor Jackson spent about half an hour giving my son and I a compressed course in how to start, fly, and if necessary, evaculate a Vulcan B2. I have honestly never heard such a dense quantity of information packed into a short time, while being tailored carefully to the audience; my son was rapt with attention from his position in the LH ejector seat. Trevor is an ex-RAF Vulcan pilot, so had plenty of anecdotes to enliven explaining what the various instruments and controls do, including the roles of the rear navigator, electronic warfare and bombing crew. He mentioned that he runs occasional longer tours and talks around XM603 as well, so worth giving the museum a call to find out more details. I had been lucky enough to have a good poke around inside 603 when she was parked outside the factory "back in the day", and there was a dedicated team of volunteers keeping on top of maintenance even back then, but she looks even smarter now.
Obligatory car / Vulcan content:
pete said:
If you're a Vulcan fan, I strongly recommend you visit the Avro Heritage museum, based in the old (new) firestation on the site of Avro / BAe Woodford in Cheshire, where the Vulcan was assembled. It's a small museum, but they have XM603 in excellent condition, I believe the only preserved Vulcan in anti-flash white. They also have the cockpit section of XM602 indoors, where for a few quid (literally, not the £40 some museums charge), a knowledgeable volunteer will give you a 20 minute tour - or more, if you keep them talking and it isn't busy!
I returned recently for the first time since I left as a graduate in the 90s, and the cockpit tours were a highlight. A lovely chap called Trevor Jackson spent about half an hour giving my son and I a compressed course in how to start, fly, and if necessary, evaculate a Vulcan B2. I have honestly never heard such a dense quantity of information packed into a short time, while being tailored carefully to the audience; my son was rapt with attention from his position in the LH ejector seat. Trevor is an ex-RAF Vulcan pilot, so had plenty of anecdotes to enliven explaining what the various instruments and controls do, including the roles of the rear navigator, electronic warfare and bombing crew. He mentioned that he runs occasional longer tours and talks around XM603 as well, so worth giving the museum a call to find out more details. I had been lucky enough to have a good poke around inside 603 when she was parked outside the factory "back in the day", and there was a dedicated team of volunteers keeping on top of maintenance even back then, but she looks even smarter now.
Obligatory car / Vulcan content:
Lovely. I wish I lived closer!I returned recently for the first time since I left as a graduate in the 90s, and the cockpit tours were a highlight. A lovely chap called Trevor Jackson spent about half an hour giving my son and I a compressed course in how to start, fly, and if necessary, evaculate a Vulcan B2. I have honestly never heard such a dense quantity of information packed into a short time, while being tailored carefully to the audience; my son was rapt with attention from his position in the LH ejector seat. Trevor is an ex-RAF Vulcan pilot, so had plenty of anecdotes to enliven explaining what the various instruments and controls do, including the roles of the rear navigator, electronic warfare and bombing crew. He mentioned that he runs occasional longer tours and talks around XM603 as well, so worth giving the museum a call to find out more details. I had been lucky enough to have a good poke around inside 603 when she was parked outside the factory "back in the day", and there was a dedicated team of volunteers keeping on top of maintenance even back then, but she looks even smarter now.
Obligatory car / Vulcan content:
For anyone over in East Anglia, the City of Norwich Aviation Museum also does Vulcan cockpit tours, and again only a high street coffee’s cost. Very very good value, just make sure you’re confident and capable with climbing ladders.
In regards to crashed Vulcans, XH477 crashed into the hillside in the Scottish highlands which backed on to the hill ground my dad used to farm. He took me up to the site in what must have been about 2006 and I've stayed fascinated with it ever since.
XH477 had crashed on a foggy night in 1963 my grandfather and a gamekeeper friend of his were some of the first on the scene after notifying the authorities. There is still a delta wing shaped scar in the hillside scattered with debris to this day.
XH477 had crashed on a foggy night in 1963 my grandfather and a gamekeeper friend of his were some of the first on the scene after notifying the authorities. There is still a delta wing shaped scar in the hillside scattered with debris to this day.
There’s a chap on BritModeller called Adam Poultney.
He has compiled a spreadsheet of all Vulcans as a Modelling resource.
Incredible piece of work.
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/top...
He has compiled a spreadsheet of all Vulcans as a Modelling resource.
Incredible piece of work.
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/top...
pete said:
If you're a Vulcan fan, I strongly recommend you visit the Avro Heritage museum, based in the old (new) firestation on the site of Avro / BAe Woodford in Cheshire, where the Vulcan was assembled. It's a small museum, but they have XM603 in excellent condition, I believe the only preserved Vulcan in anti-flash white. They also have the cockpit section of XM602 indoors, where for a few quid (literally, not the £40 some museums charge), a knowledgeable volunteer will give you a 20 minute tour - or more, if you keep them talking and it isn't busy!
I returned recently for the first time since I left as a graduate in the 90s, and the cockpit tours were a highlight. A lovely chap called Trevor Jackson spent about half an hour giving my son and I a compressed course in how to start, fly, and if necessary, evaculate a Vulcan B2. I have honestly never heard such a dense quantity of information packed into a short time, while being tailored carefully to the audience; my son was rapt with attention from his position in the LH ejector seat. Trevor is an ex-RAF Vulcan pilot, so had plenty of anecdotes to enliven explaining what the various instruments and controls do, including the roles of the rear navigator, electronic warfare and bombing crew. He mentioned that he runs occasional longer tours and talks around XM603 as well, so worth giving the museum a call to find out more details. I had been lucky enough to have a good poke around inside 603 when she was parked outside the factory "back in the day", and there was a dedicated team of volunteers keeping on top of maintenance even back then, but she looks even smarter now.
Obligatory car / Vulcan content:
That's my Dad I returned recently for the first time since I left as a graduate in the 90s, and the cockpit tours were a highlight. A lovely chap called Trevor Jackson spent about half an hour giving my son and I a compressed course in how to start, fly, and if necessary, evaculate a Vulcan B2. I have honestly never heard such a dense quantity of information packed into a short time, while being tailored carefully to the audience; my son was rapt with attention from his position in the LH ejector seat. Trevor is an ex-RAF Vulcan pilot, so had plenty of anecdotes to enliven explaining what the various instruments and controls do, including the roles of the rear navigator, electronic warfare and bombing crew. He mentioned that he runs occasional longer tours and talks around XM603 as well, so worth giving the museum a call to find out more details. I had been lucky enough to have a good poke around inside 603 when she was parked outside the factory "back in the day", and there was a dedicated team of volunteers keeping on top of maintenance even back then, but she looks even smarter now.
Obligatory car / Vulcan content:
Will pass on your kind comments. He really loves the museum and sharing stories about his time in the RAF. Tam_Mullen said:
In regards to crashed Vulcans, XH477 crashed into the hillside in the Scottish highlands which backed on to the hill ground my dad used to farm. He took me up to the site in what must have been about 2006 and I've stayed fascinated with it ever since.
XH477 had crashed on a foggy night in 1963 my grandfather and a gamekeeper friend of his were some of the first on the scene after notifying the authorities. There is still a delta wing shaped scar in the hillside scattered with debris to this day.
I didn't know about this, seeing as I'm not far from there I'll make a trip up to see if I can find it this summer.XH477 had crashed on a foggy night in 1963 my grandfather and a gamekeeper friend of his were some of the first on the scene after notifying the authorities. There is still a delta wing shaped scar in the hillside scattered with debris to this day.
davidexige said:
I didn't know about this, seeing as I'm not far from there I'll make a trip up to see if I can find it this summer.
This is a great informative write up on a route and some historic pictures added in.http://www.wtdwhd.co.uk/Vulcan%20XH477.html
Tam_Mullen said:
In regards to crashed Vulcans, XH477 crashed into the hillside in the Scottish highlands which backed on to the hill ground my dad used to farm. He took me up to the site in what must have been about 2006 and I've stayed fascinated with it ever since.
XH477 had crashed on a foggy night in 1963 my grandfather and a gamekeeper friend of his were some of the first on the scene after notifying the authorities. There is still a delta wing shaped scar in the hillside scattered with debris to this day.
An interesting article, including photos of the site then and in 2016XH477 had crashed on a foggy night in 1963 my grandfather and a gamekeeper friend of his were some of the first on the scene after notifying the authorities. There is still a delta wing shaped scar in the hillside scattered with debris to this day.
http://www.wtdwhd.co.uk/Vulcan%20XH477.html
Tam_Mullen said:
This is a great informative write up on a route and some historic pictures added in.
http://www.wtdwhd.co.uk/Vulcan%20XH477.html
Oops! Snap. http://www.wtdwhd.co.uk/Vulcan%20XH477.html
Tony1963 said:
srob said:
Yep, absolutely positive. Wouldn't hang my hat on the year as I used to go from the late 80s to early 90s but I definitely remember them.
Used to love it
I’m getting a little confused now. Used to love it
How many Vulcans at one time did you see there?
Roughly what year or years?
I said what years it would've been between - late 80s to early 90s would be my best guess. I didn't keep a diary. And I have no idea how many were there, it was a casual comment that I used to like seeing 'them' at Marham, had no idea I'd have to provide serial numbers. Probably best to forget I ever mentioned it
We were lucky in the 70s , for military planes and vehicles , Bovington tank museum was 8 miles away , We would regularly see chieftains operating at Lulworth and Bovington
I remember clearly hearing a very loud noise when we were playing rugby at Wareham middle school , would have been around 1977 , A Vulcan flew low over the playing fields , was the most awe inspiring earth shattering thing for a 10 year old to see this Delta winged plane scream over head , once seen , never forgotten.
The school had acquired a full Meteor cockpit with canopy set on a concrete plinth , you could climb in and close the canopy,
a few of us managed to get a few inspection panels off the side , It got to the stage after a few years it was starting to look worse for wear and was eventually removed .
cant imagine Health and safety allowing an ex military plane full of sharp edges ,a canopy that you could close and lock from the inside , inside a school these days , but we loved messing around in it
I remember clearly hearing a very loud noise when we were playing rugby at Wareham middle school , would have been around 1977 , A Vulcan flew low over the playing fields , was the most awe inspiring earth shattering thing for a 10 year old to see this Delta winged plane scream over head , once seen , never forgotten.
The school had acquired a full Meteor cockpit with canopy set on a concrete plinth , you could climb in and close the canopy,
a few of us managed to get a few inspection panels off the side , It got to the stage after a few years it was starting to look worse for wear and was eventually removed .
cant imagine Health and safety allowing an ex military plane full of sharp edges ,a canopy that you could close and lock from the inside , inside a school these days , but we loved messing around in it
srob said:
Jeez I had no idea I'd have to provide so much detail
I said what years it would've been between - late 80s to early 90s would be my best guess. I didn't keep a diary. And I have no idea how many were there, it was a casual comment that I used to like seeing 'them' at Marham, had no idea I'd have to provide serial numbers. Probably best to forget I ever mentioned it
Lol, fairy snuff, but as far as I know, there weren’t ‘Vulcans’ left anymore in the late 80s, and even if there were a couple doing the airshow circuit, they wouldn’t have been based at Marham at all. 558 was the only flyer from 1986. I said what years it would've been between - late 80s to early 90s would be my best guess. I didn't keep a diary. And I have no idea how many were there, it was a casual comment that I used to like seeing 'them' at Marham, had no idea I'd have to provide serial numbers. Probably best to forget I ever mentioned it
I’m not try to pick holes, honest, just like to know about these little gems. Dates are important to me, as I was there!
I think we've drifted enough from the original post that I can post this picture without feeling guilty now. Took it a couple of years ago at Solway aviation museum, we were lucky on the day we were there you could do the cockpit tour. I also found it interesting that the Mach meter goes up to 1.3.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff