A Few Vulcan Pics

[dr_gn]

A group of work colleagues and I were invited to have a look around XH558 recently. Great experience to talk to the people who operate it (both present day and during the cold war). It's a real eye opener to experience just how cramped the flight deck is. And very sobering talking about the realities of a nuclear war. The psychological strength of the crews must have been particularly good.

Similar pics probably been posted 1000x before, but hey ho:

[dr_gn]

Le Mans Visitor said:

Wow, awesome shots.

Any more?

'Fraid those are the best ones.

[dr_gn]

Mr_B said:

Nice pics, looking like she needs a repaint in anti-flash white though.

Yep, looks a bit moth-eaten in places, but once in the air you don't notice, and that's the important thing.

The guys who run it do an amazing job of a monumental task. Even thought he tour was free, I was more than happy to make a dontation and buy a book in order to do my bit! BTW the book was the Haynes Vulcan Manual. I always thought they'd be a bit gimmiky, but it really is very good (IMO)

[dr_gn]

CelicaGT said:

Fantastic shots of a fantastic aircraft. That does look like a cramped cockpit, I wouldn't want to be in there for a who knows how long mission...

16 hours for the first Falklands raid. I'd assume that sitting on the ground, ready to go on a one-way trip during the Cuban missile crisis seemed like longer though!

We weren't allowed to sit in the pilot's seats, (and obviously we were well supervised while inside the aircraft), but even so I was stuggling to figure out how to get into the pilot's seat - the headroom and gap between the seats makes it look impossible to get in there. The look and smell of the interior really reminded me a bit of the inside of the Lancaster. Maybe it's an Avro thing?

Edited by dr_gn on Sunday 20th November 10:02

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Excellent shots - especially for us modellers.

I will second the Haynes books too. I recently bought their books on the Shuttle and the Apollo missions and they are both excellent.

I'm pretty sure that the guys in charge would be very helpful if you wanted to look at any specific areas of the aircraft. I notice that they are doing tours now for £10 per person (not sure if you'd get to go inside without a special request). For that kind of money I'd advise anyone to go while the opportunity is there.

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/appearances.html

[dr_gn]

rhinochopig said:

Did they tell you the story about the blinds and eye patches? Great bit of simple British ingenuity.

Yeah - one eye patch on each pilot so that if flash burned the exposed retinas they still had two eyes to fly.

Brilliant.

[dr_gn]

No probs WW and Shar2 - If anyone's building a serious model of a Vulcan and wanted some specific detail pics I could always ask to nip down and take some pics (could at least ask for nothing!). Having said that I think there are more historically complete Vulcans in various places. Quite a lot of redundant equipment was removed from XH558 because of a rule that required any equipment fitted must work. Obviously the bomb aiming and ECM systems to name but two have therefore been replaced with ballast. For example the console on the rear bulkhead is 75% blank plates, whereas in reality it would have been covered with switches, dials, guages and screens.

[dr_gn]

williamp said:

dr_gn said:

Great shots. But is that rust top left??

I don't think it's rust on aluminium!

Probably some kind of inhibitor?

[dr_gn]

CobolMan said:

Cracking pics there dr_gn, the interior ones will really help me scratchbuild the rear crew station for the Airfix kit.

Hmmm, you'd be better off getting the Haynes book for that: The vast majority of the rear instrument panel equipment has been removed on XH558, since it is redundant in the aircraft's current role.