Vulcan at Eastbourne

[Mark Partington 2989]

I wanted to put this in Dave's Vulcan thread, but thought it might get more viewers here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UkWO5zVPz4g

enjoy it

Mark.

[Keith Mitchell]

Wow!!!! What a photographer's dream ......!

..... and what a display - low flying, almost inverted and a full power climb with classic Vulcan organ-pipe resonance. I've seen Vulcans displayed many times in earlier years, but that was something different. Thanks for posting, Mark.

(Note for Dave P. - might it be appropriate to have a general thread 'Vulcan XH558')?

[Dave Parry]

(Note for Dave P. - might it be appropriate to have a general thread 'Vulcan XH558')?

Lets see how many agree with you Keith.

[Keith Mitchell]

OK, Dave.

Following-on from this, I sent the link to our VP, AVM Dave Hurrell, and his comment on learning that the pilot, Kev' Rumen is - like him - an ex. Victor tanker driver was ...... 'Ah! I just knew there was something right about it!'

[Keith Mitchell]

..... apologies for getting a little bit involved in this (we retiree's have nowt else to do!) but I don't think we'll see XH558 subjected to this - in my view the most remarkable display debut of any modern aircraft ......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4r0Kk-xX4o

Now that's a pilot - and he did it dressed in a flying helmet and pin-striped suit!!

[Mark Partington 2989]

Keith,

Back in 1979 I was up at Waddington as part of a team re-skinning/rebuilding the intakes and the anti-ice ducting. The week before the annual airshow all sorts of aircraft were flying in and practicing their displays. On the Thursday, we had taken the scenic route back from lunch, and as we arrived back at the hangar all the aircrew for 101sqn were piling outside, and mentioned to us the Vulcan Scramble display practice was just about to start.

When it started, this 'yellow-peril' hooned off across the airfield towards 4 Vulcans sat on the QRA pan, and disgorged the crew at each aircraft in turn. By the time the fourth crew was running to the steps, the first was taxying - and streamed off in a 4 ship trail take off. The first three went right, and the last went left, so jokingly I said "he's gone the wrong way", which was corrected by a Nav off of 101sqn as "he's the solo display, and watch carefully as this isn't the display the public will see on Saturday". Anyhoo, off he went on a long circuit and then barrel rolled it the length of the runway before doing some very low passes and climb outs.

The three ship low pass wasn't to be sneezed at either

Just one of my happy memories from my time in the RAF

Mark.

[Keith Mitchell]

...... you lucky man! Would've given my right hand to see that .........
K.

[Phil Clark]

...and my left

[Bob Thompson1894]

I was working at Coningsby in 82 on the hardened personnel shelters, we had three Vulcans lined up on the end of the runway (they were due to be scrapped) and all went off together in the loudest scream I have ever heard, took off and all three went vertical out of sight. Utterly amazing sight, at the time, I was convinced they had reheat! At the time I was there, we had some amazing displays, best was from a Phantom Instructor who was retiring, it was his last flight, he threw that beast around like an Extra. I thought the wings were coming off at times! And all with no public watching.....

[Keith Mitchell]

My cherished memory of Vulcans was in 1961 at the height of the Cold War. I was staying at my Gran's in Worksop (Notts) which was 10 miles or so from RAF Finningley. Squadron 'scrambles' were not infrequent and I remember one such when 12 took-off in rapid succession and climbed steeply to 40,000ft or so. Even at that distance it was a spectacular sight, the ground shaking and a stream of black smoke growing ever denser as they climbed line astern.

Our late and much-missed President, ACM Sir John Willis, had some grand tales from when he was flying the aircraft. Departing from Finningley - I think he was CO at the time - he and his crew proceeded into the Yorkshire Dales to give a display at some local ATC/RAFA function, or whatever. Flying VFR, they were having difficulty locating the site but eventually came across a gathering, marquees, etc. on a village green. 'That's it' someone cried so he proceeded to give his full, low-level display.

Returning to Finningley, a call came through from the ATC ' Where's our Vulcan display?'. 'You've had it!' was the reply. 'No we haven't' they countered.

It transpired that one humble Garden Fete in Upper Swaledale had been subjected to the unannounced spectacle of Britain's frontline bomber going through its paces just above their heads.....

John always wondered just what they thought of it all... (bet the china stalls took a bashing!).

[Keith Mitchell]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSqvVIkNltc

The 'organ-pipe' resonance can be heard in the cockpit..... suspect it's airframe generated ....

[Dave Berry 2911]

Beautiful
Talking of resonances,I seem to remember that one of the Olympus marks didn't like to sit at a particular power setting too long or the H.P. turbine blades got annoyed.
Problem was that the power setting involved was the approach setting! To overcome the problem a strategy of "two up and two down " was employed, thus keeping the total thrust the same.