-Victor content- Ticked something off the list recently!
Discussion
Went to the Cold War Jets day at Bruntingthorpe a couple of Sundays ago. Ended up having an amazing day and a bit of a once in a lifetime experience!
On arrival. Parked just behind a Comet, as you do...
First thing I saw upon getting out of my car was a PAIR(!) of F40s. Not a combination you see every day. Definitely right up there on my list of dream cars.
Although these were quickly eclipsed by a trio of English Electric Lightnings
Business end of the Avons:
First thing I saw do a fast taxi run was a pair of Buccaneers. Now I've never really seen military jets at takeoff power (closest I've got is sitting on the embankment round the back of Manchester Airport watching commercial stuff take off) Apart from the obvious airshows where the aircraft are a bit more than 100ft away!
I thought these were pretty damn impressive, as were the Hunters that followed:
The main reason I went was to see a Victor move under its own power for the first time in my life. I'm pretty obsessed with the V Force bombers/tankers and now XH558 won't fly again I thought it was time to start going to events where Vulcans and Victors could still make the ground shake.
So here she is:
Don't know if pretty is the right word, but this must be one of the most menacingly beautiful things man has ever made.
No pics of the fast taxi but I might stick a video on YT. Amazing sight, too see something of that size and bulk to accelerate like that! And then there was the noise. She made the Buccaneers seem like Vauxhalls.
She came quite close to taking the roof off a Ford Kuga with her wingtip
That tail
Reversing into her spot at the Museum:
It was then time for the Lightning to do its fast taxi. I can honestly say I've never, ever experienced anything remotely close to that. I knew it was going to be the loudest thing I'd ever heard but nothing could prepare me for it. What a beast!
I can't remember what was on next (possibly Iskra/Jet Provost) but I went for a wander around the trade stands. Was blown away by the level of detail on the F4 Phantoms! I can't see how they can make any money on them to be honest, the man hours that go into these models must be insane. They'll make anything you want too, so I think I'll be requesting a Vulcan and Victor when I have a spare bit of cash.
Slightly bigger scale, and armed to the teeth:
Plenty of Lightnings too, amongst others!
It was at this point that I wandered into the XM715 Victor tent and spent about 20 minutes deciding which prints to buy (ended up buying 5 which look ace on my wall in my room!). I never really enter raffles or anything but I thought b
ks to it, why not! And bought a strip of 5.
About half an hour later and the VC10 is preparing for its fast taxi....
Which by the way, is BLOODY LOUD. Probably not far off the Lightning to be honest.
Then over the tannoy comes the Victor raffle announcement. 4th place, 2 tickets to August's Cold War Jets day. 3rd place, a print of a Victor over Ascension Island. 2nd, a copy of the book 'Contact' signed by Bob Tuxford.
And first place, to pink ticket 113, a cockpit tour of XM715 with Glyn Rees (who I believe was co-pilot on the last Victor, XL189, to refuel XM607 during Black Buck 1). I'd bought pink strip 111 to 115, couldn't believe my luck!
So I watched (and heard!) the VC10 taxi and wandered over to the Victor tent. They then took me over to her and introduced me to Glyn.
He then sat me in the co-pilot's seat and talked me through the instruments and switches
The cockpit was tight, but really airy due to the amount of glass present! Getting in and out of it quickly during QRA must've been 'interesting'...
AEO's view:
Radar and rear-facing periscope:
The only enemy I could engage with was sadly a Peugeot 206!
I can only imagine what the crews felt sat here taking off from Ascension back in '82.
To the right of the co-pilot:
This picture shows how much light is let into the cockpit:
The central panel which is flipped up in this picture, controls fuel distribution throughout the various tanks in the aircraft. You can see it flipped down in the picture of me sat in the co-pilot's seat.
It was all a bit much to take in, being given a cockpit tour by someone who served in these aircraft in anger (only a handful of people actually went to war in a V Force aircraft) so I can't remember all of what Glyn (and Mike Beer, AEO) told me! Wish I'd recorded it on my phone, I was in there for probably 30-40 minutes.
A few pics of her in her spot at the Museum:
Such an elegant, but menacing design. Not the Picasso.
Can't imagine what it must've been like trying to plug a Vulcan (or another Victor) into here in pitch black with the threat of enemy air defences during Black Buck.
Glyn is seated in the middle here.
Just behind the Victor were an F-104 Starfighter (not pictured) and and half a Phantom. Really annoys me, this practice of cutting an amazing aircraft in half. JUST LEAVE IT INTACT FFS.
I've said for a while to one of my mates that I need to get a picture of my car in front of a Victor, and while it's not an amazing picture, nobody was saying I couldn't drive up the taxiway, although I didn't risk the bking of driving right up to her
On the way out I couldn't resist a couple of pictures with the Lightning.
Absolutely amazing day and the Victor experience was a dream come true! Although I feel in some ways like I wasted it - there's so much I would've loved to have asked but being put on the spot like that caused a bit of a mental block! One thing I do remember was Glyn telling me they could outrun an F4 Phantom to 5000 feet, but after that they'd be left for dead.
While I was taking pictures of my car with the Lightning I learned of the death of my ex's Dad. Just a couple of weeks after the death of my 18 year old mate. Both road accidents. Both not their fault. Fly high and have fun up there Josh and Phil.
On arrival. Parked just behind a Comet, as you do...
First thing I saw upon getting out of my car was a PAIR(!) of F40s. Not a combination you see every day. Definitely right up there on my list of dream cars.
Although these were quickly eclipsed by a trio of English Electric Lightnings
Business end of the Avons:
First thing I saw do a fast taxi run was a pair of Buccaneers. Now I've never really seen military jets at takeoff power (closest I've got is sitting on the embankment round the back of Manchester Airport watching commercial stuff take off) Apart from the obvious airshows where the aircraft are a bit more than 100ft away!
I thought these were pretty damn impressive, as were the Hunters that followed:
The main reason I went was to see a Victor move under its own power for the first time in my life. I'm pretty obsessed with the V Force bombers/tankers and now XH558 won't fly again I thought it was time to start going to events where Vulcans and Victors could still make the ground shake.
So here she is:
Don't know if pretty is the right word, but this must be one of the most menacingly beautiful things man has ever made.
No pics of the fast taxi but I might stick a video on YT. Amazing sight, too see something of that size and bulk to accelerate like that! And then there was the noise. She made the Buccaneers seem like Vauxhalls.
She came quite close to taking the roof off a Ford Kuga with her wingtip
That tail
Reversing into her spot at the Museum:
It was then time for the Lightning to do its fast taxi. I can honestly say I've never, ever experienced anything remotely close to that. I knew it was going to be the loudest thing I'd ever heard but nothing could prepare me for it. What a beast!
I can't remember what was on next (possibly Iskra/Jet Provost) but I went for a wander around the trade stands. Was blown away by the level of detail on the F4 Phantoms! I can't see how they can make any money on them to be honest, the man hours that go into these models must be insane. They'll make anything you want too, so I think I'll be requesting a Vulcan and Victor when I have a spare bit of cash.
Slightly bigger scale, and armed to the teeth:
Plenty of Lightnings too, amongst others!
It was at this point that I wandered into the XM715 Victor tent and spent about 20 minutes deciding which prints to buy (ended up buying 5 which look ace on my wall in my room!). I never really enter raffles or anything but I thought b
ks to it, why not! And bought a strip of 5. About half an hour later and the VC10 is preparing for its fast taxi....
Which by the way, is BLOODY LOUD. Probably not far off the Lightning to be honest.
Then over the tannoy comes the Victor raffle announcement. 4th place, 2 tickets to August's Cold War Jets day. 3rd place, a print of a Victor over Ascension Island. 2nd, a copy of the book 'Contact' signed by Bob Tuxford.
And first place, to pink ticket 113, a cockpit tour of XM715 with Glyn Rees (who I believe was co-pilot on the last Victor, XL189, to refuel XM607 during Black Buck 1). I'd bought pink strip 111 to 115, couldn't believe my luck!
So I watched (and heard!) the VC10 taxi and wandered over to the Victor tent. They then took me over to her and introduced me to Glyn.
He then sat me in the co-pilot's seat and talked me through the instruments and switches
The cockpit was tight, but really airy due to the amount of glass present! Getting in and out of it quickly during QRA must've been 'interesting'...
AEO's view:
Radar and rear-facing periscope:
The only enemy I could engage with was sadly a Peugeot 206!
I can only imagine what the crews felt sat here taking off from Ascension back in '82.
To the right of the co-pilot:
This picture shows how much light is let into the cockpit:
The central panel which is flipped up in this picture, controls fuel distribution throughout the various tanks in the aircraft. You can see it flipped down in the picture of me sat in the co-pilot's seat.
It was all a bit much to take in, being given a cockpit tour by someone who served in these aircraft in anger (only a handful of people actually went to war in a V Force aircraft) so I can't remember all of what Glyn (and Mike Beer, AEO) told me! Wish I'd recorded it on my phone, I was in there for probably 30-40 minutes.
A few pics of her in her spot at the Museum:
Such an elegant, but menacing design. Not the Picasso.
Can't imagine what it must've been like trying to plug a Vulcan (or another Victor) into here in pitch black with the threat of enemy air defences during Black Buck.
Glyn is seated in the middle here.
Just behind the Victor were an F-104 Starfighter (not pictured) and and half a Phantom. Really annoys me, this practice of cutting an amazing aircraft in half. JUST LEAVE IT INTACT FFS.
I've said for a while to one of my mates that I need to get a picture of my car in front of a Victor, and while it's not an amazing picture, nobody was saying I couldn't drive up the taxiway, although I didn't risk the b
king of driving right up to her 
On the way out I couldn't resist a couple of pictures with the Lightning.
Absolutely amazing day and the Victor experience was a dream come true! Although I feel in some ways like I wasted it - there's so much I would've loved to have asked but being put on the spot like that caused a bit of a mental block! One thing I do remember was Glyn telling me they could outrun an F4 Phantom to 5000 feet, but after that they'd be left for dead.
While I was taking pictures of my car with the Lightning I learned of the death of my ex's Dad. Just a couple of weeks after the death of my 18 year old mate. Both road accidents. Both not their fault. Fly high and have fun up there Josh and Phil.
Enjoyed reading that and a special day. We went in 2008 and it was a surprise at how close to the runway they let you. It was extremely loud and broke someones video camera. I think the Lightning that did the high speed run was having its engines rebuilt when we were there so good to see it back to flying condition. Coupe of pics:
Giving it some beans:
Had just returned from a few high speed runs and couldn't resist the opportunity:
FFG
Giving it some beans:
Had just returned from a few high speed runs and couldn't resist the opportunity:
FFG
Good write up and photos. I grew up in North Norfolk in the 1970s and the road from the town where we lived to Norwich ran parallel to the runway at RAF Coltishall. Seeing (and hearing!) the Lightnings take off was awesome - belt down the runway, lift off, wheels up, point nose at sky on full reheat! I then rowed with a guy who flew Jaguars out of Coltishall, and one day we asked him which RAF plane he would most like to have flown. We expected "Spitfire", but it was the Lightning - "2 bloody great engines with a chair strapped to the front".
Great post. And nice Civic!
As a child of the 80s I do miss our old air power ability.
Attending the Finningley Air Show every year (my dad was stationed there and we lived there, actually I still do) my favourite was always the Lightning. So damned loud and purposeful.
Always plenty of Victor and Vulcan action too.
Really brought it home to me when I went to the Waddington show a few years ago. Barely any decent RAF jets, and a display by Cobham, a bloody MOD contractor in a Dassault Falcon! Pathetic really and really made me quite sad.
As a child of the 80s I do miss our old air power ability.
Attending the Finningley Air Show every year (my dad was stationed there and we lived there, actually I still do) my favourite was always the Lightning. So damned loud and purposeful.
Always plenty of Victor and Vulcan action too.
Really brought it home to me when I went to the Waddington show a few years ago. Barely any decent RAF jets, and a display by Cobham, a bloody MOD contractor in a Dassault Falcon! Pathetic really and really made me quite sad.
When I used to go to air shows as a kid in the 60s, I can remember seeing the awesome Vulcan and Victor displays and I seem to remember a multi-lightning display team too - a bit like the red arrows but more silver. 
I can remember the racket they made, especially when after a burst a couple of singletons would run up the valley and over your heads with no warning - just a blast of noise as they appeared. Lots of underwear changes in the crowd... Many of the static displays would be open for a walk through, but nothing like your day.
Great days. Great aircraft. Great story OP. I am not jealous of your day at all, no really... not at all he lied
I can remember the racket they made, especially when after a burst a couple of singletons would run up the valley and over your heads with no warning - just a blast of noise as they appeared. Lots of underwear changes in the crowd... Many of the static displays would be open for a walk through, but nothing like your day.
Great days. Great aircraft. Great story OP. I am not jealous of your day at all, no really... not at all he lied
I popped back to the UK in February to help my lad do some prop and location scouting for a film he was going to shoot. Having a day to kill in York meant I popped down to the York Air Museum, where they have one of these on display. When I left home it was 30C, 7 hours later and it was 0C, a bit of a shock to the system.
Just love the Victor, probably my favourite aircraft of all time. Just seems to be no rhyme or reason for the shape of it. It's almost like they got Gerry Anderson in as an aerodynamics consultant, right after he'd dropped some acid and watched Flash Gordon.
I just have visions of a few people sat round the drawing board going "hmmm...tail dihedral...go on, fk it, a few more degrees won't hurt!" Such a cool aircraft.
Great writeup OP, I have never been to this event and have no excuses as I am literally 25 minutes away. No excuse...I always just seem to miss it!
I just have visions of a few people sat round the drawing board going "hmmm...tail dihedral...go on, f
k it, a few more degrees won't hurt!" Such a cool aircraft.Great writeup OP, I have never been to this event and have no excuses as I am literally 25 minutes away. No excuse...I always just seem to miss it!
SeeFive said:
When I used to go to air shows as a kid in the 60s, I can remember seeing the awesome Vulcan and Victor displays and I seem to remember a multi-lightning display team too - a bit like the red arrows but more silver.
I remember them too, from 74 Squadron and called The Tigers. I don't think they lasted long - pity.
The Victor cockpit looks spacious when compared to the Vulcan cockpit I was sat in yesterday morning.
What a god-awful place that was.
Baking hot, even in a thunderstorm & torrential rain. Cramped. Uncomfortable. Claustrophobic. And the climb up to the cockpit must have been extremely difficult in a flying/survival suit.
All in all an extremely unpleasant place to be.
What a god-awful place that was.
Baking hot, even in a thunderstorm & torrential rain. Cramped. Uncomfortable. Claustrophobic. And the climb up to the cockpit must have been extremely difficult in a flying/survival suit.
All in all an extremely unpleasant place to be.
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