Vulcan to the sky

[sprintman]

Anybody been watching this the restoration that everybody said couldn't possibly happen. Close to flying now. As Vulcans performed at air shows in the U.S there must be a few here who have seen and more amazingly heard this plane. U.S govt gave US$662,000 towards restoration on the grounds they get it for flight testing.
They have received £437,500 from the American government towards the total restoration cost, put at £2.2 million, in exchange for the right to use the Vulcan for flight testing. The appeal was launched yesterday at Bruntingthorpe
aerodrome in Leicestershire, where Vulcan XH558 was put on display.

http://www.tvoc.co.uk/#

 

[Jim Allen]

Don't know much about the Vulcan, so forgive my question. Why would anyone want to test it so many years down the road? What is so special about it's old tech? I'm all for vintage aircraft restoration, especially if that means putting them back into the sky where they belong. I just would like to understand why the U.S. government would want to flight test it?

 

[MarkC]

Wasn't the Vulcan used to bomb the airfield at Stanley during the Falklands War, from extremely long range?

 

[BrianWC]

There's a Vulcan parked in the museum at Barksdale AFB (home of the B-52) here in Bossier City. Beautiful plane.

 

[sprintman]

Correct Mark Black Buck raids longest ever bombing run. Not so old tech. The U.S never had a bomber that flew as high although B58 Hustler was very close. Documented service ceiling 65,000 ft but real ceiling still classified. There has never been any plane made that sounds like a Vulcan at takeoff. It's not a roar like say U.S teen or Russian fighters but a deep guttural howling sound that makes grown men cry. Engines later became the Concorde engines. Once you have heard this you will never forget it. If XH558 gets back to the U.S seriously go out of your way to see/hear it. Then you will understand. Look for DVD Vulcan - Farewell to Arms. Oh and test pilot Roly Falk barrel rolled one which nearly cost him his career.

 

[MarkC]

I wonder how long it took to do a barrel roll with that big wing?

 

[sprintman]

Barrel rolled immediately after takeoff at Farnborough Air Show. One of the monents in air show history.

Avro test pilot Wing Commander (retired) Roly Falk demonstrated the aircraft's high performance in the second production Vulcan, XA890, by performing a barrel-roll immediately after takeoff at the 1955 Farnborough Air Show. Supreme airmanship rarely equalled. I'll search for video..s

 

[sprintman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in4Pmp84BWM. You gotta understand the size of a Vulcan. You don't barrel roll nuclear bombers in a near vertical climb. Good or what?

 

[MarkC]

Deadly.

 

[sprintman]

There was one stationed at Offutt AFB. I just read a post from USAAF guy that said they were louder than a bunch of Phantons. Hoping XH558 visits Oz but unlikely. U.S Govt made the donation that kicked it all off so I guess they get first access.

 

[MarkC]

If it's louder than a few F-4's, that's loud indeed.

 

[Shannow]

UK to Sydney non stop is an achievement...did they have aerial refueling when they did that ?

 

[sprintman]

No aerial refueling just a few ground stops. It isn't loud in the conventional way. It isn't the exhaust roar which is loud enough but a resonance in the intake tracts. It's a primeval bellow that you can't believe is a man made sound. First time I heard it on takeoff at RAAF Williamtown in the 70's I thought all four engines had exploded and I nearly peed my pants. A few with me knew what to expect and just laughed. Once heard never forgotten, one of the few life changing experiences IMO