The Vulcan

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi all. I think your prayers are answered Paul as I believe the Vulcan is at Waddington on Sat, today, and tomorow. I am going on Sunday to see the Vulcan plus all the other planes. I got my ticket via my son who is based on the air base at Digby.
Regards Geoff.

[Paul Creasey]

Yes Geoff, excellent isn't it?
My eldest Son was there today, and reports an (intentional) "missed approach" with a high-powered climb-out making LOVELY Olympussy(?) sounds. She didn't do the "Bombing Run", but word is that she'll do it tomorrow - so we'll BOTH be able to see it. '558 did such a run at the Cosby (Leicester) airshow last year and it was MOST impressive, complete with pyrotechnics and LOTS of black smoke! - just like the "Old (early 1950's) Days" Battle of Britain RAF Station displays - but no Vulcans back then!!
My Daughter-in-Law (eldest Son's wife) is a former RAF Sergeant who now fixes avionics on the E3 Sentry (AWACS) as a civvy, and has a job tomorrow ferrying the display pilots around the Waddington area - hence my "freebies".
Can't wait....................
Regards
Paul

[petercreasey]

Yes Geoff, excellent isn't it?
My eldest Son was there today, and reports an (intentional) "missed approach" with a high-powered climb-out making LOVELY Olympussy(?) sounds. She didn't do the "Bombing Run", but word is that she'll do it tomorrow - so we'll BOTH be able to see it. '558 did such a run at the Cosby (Leicester) airshow last year and it was MOST impressive, complete with pyrotechnics and LOTS of black smoke! - just like the "Old (early 1950's) Days" Battle of Britain RAF Station displays - but no Vulcans back then!!
My Daughter-in-Law (eldest Son's wife) is a former RAF Sergeant who now fixes avionics on the E3 Sentry (AWACS) as a civvy, and has a job tomorrow ferrying the display pilots around the Waddington area - hence my "freebies".
Can't wait....................
Regards
Paul

ENJOY!!!

[Paul Creasey]

Just back from Waddo - average airshow, but very easy to get in and out. Really appreciated the passes for the Families Enclosure, where we were able to have a sit down prior to the arrival of the Vulcan - after which NO ONE was sitting!
Only one word to describe the Vulcan - AWESOME!!
Would I have paid £22 and risked traffic chaos? - probably not!
Regards
Paul

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi, Great day out. Very hot, very noisy, very big crowd and very expensive but worth every penny.
The Vulcan demo was to me the highlight of the day(apart from my grandson jumping of the top of a seventy foot tower to earn a Parra tee shirt and a certificate) and I just cant believe the government wont put a few million in the kitty to keep it flying. If they stoped the payment to Europe, £40 mill per day, and all the monies sent out of the country for overseas aid, dont know how mutch that is, for a day, it would keep the Vulcan flying for a long long time.
Better get off my soapbox.
Regards Geoff.

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi again. I forgot to include a picture of the star of the show. Here it is.
Regards Geoff.

[Twang46]

Hi All

One of the young lads at work is starting a project as part of his photography degree. Obviously having at least some good taste the lad is basing this around the V bombers, briefly consisting of a large image (about 2m wide) of each of the "V's" arranged as a display with below a "waterline" model of the Blue Steel.
This model to be around 3m long, not to exact scale but needs to be as realistic looking as poss.

Has anybody got (or have access to) some tech info/details/pictures of the B Steel to enable Ben to build a correctly proportioned model ?

Also any info as to the Concorde connection ? (this is mainly for my own curiousity, but could develop into part of Ben's project if we can find enough details to make it feasible)

Thanks in advance

Dick.

[Paul Creasey]

Hello Dick,
I'll trawl through my Vulcan "stuff" to see if there's anything useful about Blue Steel, and let you know.
As for "The Concorde Connection" - I'm not convinced that there is one (although I may be wrong!). Yes, Concorde DOES have a (very) developed delta-planform wing, and Olympus engines, but both are VERY different animals to those fitted to Vulcans! I guess that it's entirely likely there was some consultation at the design stage, but can't say that I've ever read anything to that effect.
One thing that both aircraft share is the strong impression of power and grace - both in the air and on the ground. It's good to hear that one of the remaining French Concorde airframes is being restored to "taxiing" condition - pity WE can't do that to one of ours!
Good luck to your work colleague - as you say, he clearly displays good taste in his choice of project!
Regards
Paul

[Twang46]

Thanks Paul

Many rumours about Concorde & Blue Steel as well as the short lived succesors to BS

1968 50th RAF book shows Concorde as a military version
The B2 model supposedly designed as a military version (didn't make it into production)
2 Concordes in RAF Transport Command livery (there are photos)
The vastly over engineered fuselage bracing for a civil aircraft etc.......

There's enough here for several conspiracy theorys I'm sure

As well as the well documented engine etc.. testing on Vulcans

I really must get out more

Dick

[Paul Creasey]

Another good day for '558!
Took-off as planned from Yeovilton, transitted to Farnborough for a "validation" display prior to appearing there later, then to Fairford ready for this weekend's airshow.
Should quieten those who complain about "that unreliable Vulcan"!!
Regards
Paul