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Vulcan flies again

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

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After the Cold War, the British Avro Vulcan bomber gradually disappeared from the skies.

Now after a 15 year restoration, the last Vulcan has been declared airworthy again.

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7491129.stm

Early in its career, one Vulcan had some less-than-stellar adventures ...

XH557's delivery to Filton for engine re-fitting made headline news. Approaching from the west in poor weather, it touched down halfway down the runway. The brake parachute was deployed, but promptly failed. Left with no option but to go to full power and get airborne again, the pilot successfully began to climb away but hit a concrete lamp post on the A38. And the four Olympus 201 engines at takeoff thrust demolished a gas (petrol) station as the plane went by.

180px-Raf-600.jpg
 
Isn't that the plane (type) that appeared in James Bond, Thunderball?
 
The RAF used to fly those all the time at "the Goose". Beautiful plane to watch land from the FPN-16.
 
Many years ago (too many), I was at an airshow at the Biggin Hill airfield (famous Battle of Britain airfield). We were watching some Phantoms and as they broke away to form up for their final fly-by, the announcer mentioned that the next aircraft was the Vulcan and it could be seen over the black hangar. We didn't care because we were waiting for the Phantom finale. They did their thing with lots of noise and headed away.

We now looked for the Vulcan, but it had disappeared. Biggin Hill is obviously on a hill, which means that there is a valley next to it. What we didn't know was that the Vulcan had sneaked down into the valley and flew just above the roof tops of the many houses down there. The first we knew about it was when it came up over the end of the runway at full power about 50 feet off the deck and did a climbing barrel roll; scared the bejebus out of everyone - excellent.
 
Finest example of British engineering?? They said that like that's something to be proud of! How much oil does THAT leak?? Seriously though, awesome when something of that magnitude is brought back to life!

And it took 15 years....Dale, you're on a much better pace than THAT!!! :laugh:
 
Silverghost said:
Finest example of British engineering?? They said that like that's something to be proud of! How much oil does THAT leak?? Seriously though, awesome when something of that magnitude is brought back to life!

And it took 15 years....Dale, you're on a much better pace than THAT!!! :laugh:
Click to expand...

Seein' as I'm a Brit, I can't let that go past without reply.

While not seeking to defend British Motor Car production engineering in the post-war years, which was bedevilled by "Cost Engineering" and Trade Unions, British Engineering has a lot to be proud of, both historically like the "Queen" liners (pace Titanic), the Spitfire & Hurricane and of course the Merlin engine, the world's fastest steam train, railway construction all over the world, radar, the jet engine, Concorde, etc. etc., and today is the undoubted heart of the high-tech racing car and holder of the World Land Speed record.

And while Americans still wallowed in barges, we drove cars that would brake and go round corners.
 
Roger - in addition to the magnificent liners, planes, engines, radar, etc., don't forget Television. J.L.Baird back in the mid 1920s.

Altho' the American Jenkins started broadcasting "radio movies" of 16mm films in 1928, the Scot Baird demonstrated live television to the public in 1925. Before 1930 he had developed color tv, infra-red tv, 3d (stereo) tv, and high def (for the time ...) tv.

Tom
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]British Engineering has a lot to be proud of, both historically like the "Queen" liners ... [/QUOTE]
Hmmm, let's see, the QE2 was built in Scotland, whereas the QM2 was built in France... :jester:

The British have a lot to be proud of and hold their heads high for.
 
Of course, my comment was total in jest and said with humour! :smile: And I did end it with acknowledging the accomplishment and the magnificence.!
 
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