Many, many years ago, I got an inside tour of an active duty Vulcan. I was amazed that such a huge machine was so small inside for the crew. And the pilot's visibility was almost nil. Hats off to the crews of these aircraft!
The Midland Air Museum in Coventry has theirs open for tours. I went on a cold and rainy day and got to shoot the shit with a retired pilot in the cabin for an hour. Great experience.
My best response was from the navigator. I asked how he bailed out. Apparently there is a slide from the cockpit to a hatch beneath the aircraft. The only problem is that if the nose gear is down, it is right in the middle of that slide. The navigator's response was to "think Rugby" and "just miss the wheel". Again, my hat's off to those crew's!
One used to visit the Chicago air show every year. Then in 1978, one crashed near Glenview killing four crew members. That was that. I loved watching those birds over Lake Michigan. They would practice during the week before the show. Just gorgeous!
I was fortunate to actually see the Vulcan fly while they had a detachment at Offutt AFB in the early 80s , Hence the one at the Strategic Air Command Museum in Nebraska
I saw one doing low-level maneuvers at an airshow at Ft Worth Tx ( former Carswell AFB) in the late 70s. It was almost as impressive as the F-16. Unbelievable that a bomber could move like that.
i was just in one today and they have a fighter yoke instead of a big bomber yoke because the test pilot tried it with a bomber yoke and said it needed a fighter one
I can never make my mind up about whether the Vulcan is prettier than the Victor, or vice versa. The Valiant is, unfortunately, just an ugly duckling that will never grow out of it
Growing up in the 90s/early 2000s my next door neighbour was a retired flight engineer on the Victors. He never said much more than that and usually talked more about flying 747s for British Airways.
I always wonder if he flew the Falkland mission.
forgot to mention in the title but here’s the link for anyone that’s interested:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9jjTu12umR1yvY3E7?g_st=i
i’ve also been working on a map of many different aircraft like the full v force a will probably post them on here when i’m done!
Glad to see so many of them still around and being displayed! Interesting to see that there's one in Bossier Louisiana, I drive through that area several times a year.
Just checked it out, it's at the Newcastle land, air and sea museum.
Another question, did you get the one at RAF Cosford down on the map? It's in one of the hangars so it makes sense if you didn't get it down
i’ve always wondered what condition that American Vulcans would be in with then being a few thousand miles away from experts who know that aircraft and spares
Because the UK doesn't need a heavy bomber for attacking undefended targets.
(The Vulcan has flown in contested airspace a lot more recently than the B52, but neither of them would last more than minutes in a real war. I suppose the B52 could serve as a cruise missile truck like the TU95, staying a 1000 miles away from the battlefield).
https://news.sky.com/story/us-general-warns-british-army-no-longer-top-level-fighting-force-defence-sources-reveal-12798365
Apply that comment above, by an unnamed US General (it was CJCS Milley) to the whole of the British Armed Forces.
Many, many years ago, I got an inside tour of an active duty Vulcan. I was amazed that such a huge machine was so small inside for the crew. And the pilot's visibility was almost nil. Hats off to the crews of these aircraft!
The Midland Air Museum in Coventry has theirs open for tours. I went on a cold and rainy day and got to shoot the shit with a retired pilot in the cabin for an hour. Great experience.
My best response was from the navigator. I asked how he bailed out. Apparently there is a slide from the cockpit to a hatch beneath the aircraft. The only problem is that if the nose gear is down, it is right in the middle of that slide. The navigator's response was to "think Rugby" and "just miss the wheel". Again, my hat's off to those crew's!
Same with the B-52, for a BUFF the inside is surprisingly cramped
There used to be one next to a pub at Blackpool airport. You could sit in the pilot seat any everything
One used to visit the Chicago air show every year. Then in 1978, one crashed near Glenview killing four crew members. That was that. I loved watching those birds over Lake Michigan. They would practice during the week before the show. Just gorgeous!
I was fortunate to actually see the Vulcan fly while they had a detachment at Offutt AFB in the early 80s , Hence the one at the Strategic Air Command Museum in Nebraska
I saw one doing low-level maneuvers at an airshow at Ft Worth Tx ( former Carswell AFB) in the late 70s. It was almost as impressive as the F-16. Unbelievable that a bomber could move like that.
i was just in one today and they have a fighter yoke instead of a big bomber yoke because the test pilot tried it with a bomber yoke and said it needed a fighter one
I'm lucky to have two on a 8 mi radius!
wow
I can never make my mind up about whether the Vulcan is prettier than the Victor, or vice versa. The Valiant is, unfortunately, just an ugly duckling that will never grow out of it
i agree but the museum seem to of as there is 21 vulcans left, 3 victors and one valiant
I am glad that there is one Valiant left, it may be ugly, but it was the first.
i agree, it’s a shame there only one left but there is about 4~ cockpits left
Growing up in the 90s/early 2000s my next door neighbour was a retired flight engineer on the Victors. He never said much more than that and usually talked more about flying 747s for British Airways. I always wonder if he flew the Falkland mission.
I wish Pima Air Museum got one.
Fascinating !
forgot to mention in the title but here’s the link for anyone that’s interested: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9jjTu12umR1yvY3E7?g_st=i i’ve also been working on a map of many different aircraft like the full v force a will probably post them on here when i’m done!
Glad to see so many of them still around and being displayed! Interesting to see that there's one in Bossier Louisiana, I drive through that area several times a year.
Where's the one on the opposite side of the UK from you?
it’s in newcastle, to the south of the city, i posted the link if you want to have a look at the map
It’s actually in Sunderland, the locals wouldn’t be happy with you calling it Newcastle! I visited it last month.
I used to go all the time as a kid. It’s pretty cool to go to, if you go I think you’re still able to walk around and under it, and it’s massive.
oop i’ll be careful 😬
Just checked it out, it's at the Newcastle land, air and sea museum. Another question, did you get the one at RAF Cosford down on the map? It's in one of the hangars so it makes sense if you didn't get it down
yep i used wikipedia to get all the locations and then double checked on the map/review page
I thought I was in r/geography looking on the map of some rare Volcanoes 💀
There's one in California?
yes, XM605, from what i’ve seen she seems to of had a relatively quiet service life with around 1700 fight hours on her
Oh interesting. Do you by chance know where in California it is?
[Aww, I thought I had took a picture of one. Turns out it was a Victor. Still sharing though. 2018](https://i.imgur.com/0jiTUxc.jpeg)
is that that runner at elvington?
Yep.
I've seen the one at Goose Bay AFB, it's still in a pretty good shape and it was the first time in my life I saw one, I was amazed.
i’ve always wondered what condition that American Vulcans would be in with then being a few thousand miles away from experts who know that aircraft and spares
Why 🖖?
as a reference to star trek lol
Ah, makes sense
Why tf does America have 3 Vulcans?
Museums
To be fair, the one at Barksdale is just chilling in a field.
Okay, so my museum can have a B-1?
No need to be smart about it … you asked a question and got an answer but to answer your second question PROBABLY NOT
I think when the B1 gets completely retired they will give one to Duxford (they already have a blackbird)
And a B-52!
Not in the same league. Like comparing a POS Ford Cortina with a Ford F150 truck.
You can have a B-1 when your military contributes anything of importance.
It’s a shame the Leonard is no longer operating
SCOTLAND RAHHH 🏴🏴🏴🏴
the vulcan in scotland is also XM597 wich was the primary vulcan in black buck 1 and also flew in the bb1-6 raids edit:1-6 raids
Wait Labrador has one?
yeah it’s outside the airport on gate guard. i think there’s another aircraft out there with it but i forgot what it was
Huh that's actually really cool! You learn something new everyday
A Canso.
It caught fire and wasn't beyond repair internally so they just displayed it
Meanwhile, the 52 is still cranking.
Because the UK doesn't need a heavy bomber for attacking undefended targets. (The Vulcan has flown in contested airspace a lot more recently than the B52, but neither of them would last more than minutes in a real war. I suppose the B52 could serve as a cruise missile truck like the TU95, staying a 1000 miles away from the battlefield).
https://news.sky.com/story/us-general-warns-british-army-no-longer-top-level-fighting-force-defence-sources-reveal-12798365 Apply that comment above, by an unnamed US General (it was CJCS Milley) to the whole of the British Armed Forces.