[Leica] [IMG] AIRCRAFT - Last flying Vulcan XH558

[mark at whitedogs.co.uk (Mark Pope)]

My favourite aeroplane.
I remember when I was in the Air Training Corps, we went to RAF 
Waddington, where these aircraft were based.  You can't appreciate the 
size of these aircraft until you get close.  The bomb bay is absolutely 
massive.

There is a book about the attack on the Falklands called 'Vulcan 607', 
by Rowland White.  It's a terrific read, describing the build up to the 
mission and giving a fascinating insight into jus what was involved in 
staging these raids.  One of the biggest challenges was having enough 
bombs to do the job!
The pilot who flew the Vulcan on this attack, is I believe the same chap 
who now flies this one.  His name is Martin Withers.

Thanks for sharing the pictures Peter.

All the best


Mark Pope,
Swindon, Wilts
UK

Homepage               http://www.monomagic.co.uk
Blog                   http://www.monomagic.co.uk/blog
Picture a week (2009)  http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2009
                (2008) 
http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2008


Peter Dzwig wrote:
> Some shots of the last flying Vulcan taken at Goodwood this year. Thought 
> some
> of you might be interested :-)
> 
> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/album83/Aircraft/29570025_Vulcanedited-1.tif.html>
> 
> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/album83/Aircraft/29570026_Vulcanedited-1.tif.html>
> 
> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/album83/Aircraft/29570027_Vulcanedited-1.tif.html>
> 
> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/album83/Aircraft/29570020_editedVulcan.tif.html>
> 
> The Avro Vulcan was one of the mainstays of the British V-Bomber nuclear 
> strike
> force in the 1960s. They were operational with the RAF from 1953 to 1984. 
> The
> trio of Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and Vickers Valiant were designed 
> to
> carry nuclear bombs far into the heart of the old Soviet Union.
> 
> The Vulcan last saw action carrying conventional weapons in the Falklands 
> War
> when a force of them flew non-stop from Ascension to the Falklands (and 
> back!)
> refuelling from Victor tankers with which they rendez-vous'd over the South
> Atlantic. The mission was to deny the Argentinians the use of the Falklands
> airstrip at Stamley.
> 
> The Vulcan was also used as a flying testbed for the RR Olympus engines 
> that
> were used to power Concorde.
> 
> see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Vulcan#Flying
> 
> Your comments and constructive criticisms are as always welcome,
> 
> Thanks for taking the time to look.
> 
> Peter Dzwig
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information