The four most memorable aircraft events in my life: 1. 1st flight in anything ever, was as a cadet in the RAAF ATC, in an RAAF DC3. 2. Seeing an Avro Vulcan cook a tunnel in the clouds, as it flew in low over the airfield then just went straight up and out of sight. Un-be-bloody-lievable! 3. Low flyover of a Spitfire at an airshow in Norway 4. Harrier, doing it's stuff, then stopping and hovering perhaps 40ft above the ground, barely 50m away, facing me dead on, and tips his nose, taking a bow. That's all folks. I'm satisfied. 😀
Thank you for that, It made me smile and prompted me to compile my own list, and it does include a Lightning! 1. As a child hearing the bang as two Hawk T1's collided in mid air, and then watching the sun repeatedly flashing on the wings as one spun down to crash over the horizon (crew ejected okay). 2. Still a child, going to an airshow (Chivenor) where the cloud was so low that little flew except an EE Lightning that did a low level pass, towing a huge doughnut of cloud along behind it. 3. Hearing Brian Hanrahan say "I counted them all out and I counted them all back." 4. Sat in the back of a Black-Hawk while the crew passed back there sandwich boxes for me to hold, before they stood it on its rotor-head in a 'split S'. 5. Driving an MG down Ribblesdale with the Red Arrows coming in from the left (They were going a lot faster than me!), and realising that we were heading for the same point; so did they and, as they went over us they gave a short burst of coloured smoke. If you were flying that day, thank you!
I forgot the obvious one: 6. Being at school when three Vulcans flew over, I think it would have been their fairwell tour upon withdrawal in the early 1980's. Would that be right?
@@jonathansimmons5353 as not a leftie i do think that, partly because of our inability to coprehend the importance of soft power over hard power. We had by far the most powerful military in Europe but this meant nothing in suez because of our economic dependence on the USA and it meant nothing in the cod wars because we werent able to garner the sympathy of other European nations and our leaders were unwilling to fight for the industry. Also pretty sure this isn't a leftie opinion as one big reason we were the sick man of Europe was due to our heavily nationalised economy.
The Vulcan was so effective. 1974, I’m walking down Whitburn High street and it’s dark. A V wing comes over us about 100 to 250 feet above the road, it’s engine roar is unmistakeable. It’s only light is it’s flashing anti collision light on the underside. Impressive. With its 360 radar, it was flying night low-level before Terrain Following radar was invented. That night ended up with a UFO Society wanting to send an investigator to our town. He was very disappointed when I told him it was, unmistakeably, a Vulcan bomber.
Back in 1967, I was on holiday in Anglesey and was walking across Holyhead mountain when through the clouds I could hear jet engines. As I looked, 3 Vulcans popped out of the clouds before disappearing again as they homed in on RAF Valley. Quite a sight - and sound.
@@Wombat1916 That would have been part of a “Dispersal” excercise. Where, if there was a chance of an attack by the Soviets, aircraft were dispersed around the country. Unfortunately, now, most of our eggs are in the one basket !!!!
If it was dark it would be impossible to properly judge the height above ground, especially if the anti-coll was your only light reference; Vulcan would be at a minimum of 500-1000 feet at night using the overland low-level corridor - even Tornado could only safely operate down to 200 feet day/500 feet night agl (IIRC) on Auto-TFR and onboard, that certainly concentrated the mind... Still, it was probably the most exciting thing to happen in Whitburn for a while! 😀
As a former American Airman (USAF) I truly appreciate and admire all that the RAF has done and the aircraft that they flew, especially the Avro Vulcan. What an amazing and beautiful aircraft is it!
My great grandfather was an air electrics officer in this plane. Sadly, he passed roughly a year before I was born. I am twelve now and the plane is so significant to me. My great grandfather was actually on TV for a meeting with the rest of his crew. I saw it recently and I really wish I could've met him. 😔
I first saw this plane in the James Bond movie, “Thunderball” in 1965 when I was a kid. Since that first viewing, I became fascinated with it to this day. A very cool and unique aircraft.
@@sletzer, There is a Vulcan bomber on static display at the Castle Air Museum (Former Castle Air Force Base) in Atwater/Merced, California, USA. It was stated as “On loan by Her Majesty’s Government.” After being there for many years, it is apparent that it is now a permanent possession of the Castle Air Museum.
Do you have the model? I understand the revamped AirFix Vulcan is either out or just about to come out. My Vulcan fell of the wall(!) but will be replaced.
In 1979, as a U.S. tourist, I was standing outside the St. Andrews clubhouse when a Vulcan bomber flew over at a fairly low altitude -- probably 500 feet or less. I was shocked at how large and extremely loud the aircraft was(he only made one pass and headed out to sea.) The green camouflage gave it a surreal appearance I'll never forget.
The Vulcan had something very few aircrafts possess: charisma. Many planes are bigger. Many planes are faster. But very few have such an impact on you when you see them
It's the sound more than anything for me, nothing else sounds like a Vulcan at full throttle. That whistle from the air intakes was apparently accidental, but I bet it sounded absolutely terrifying to the Argentines at the airfield, almost like the modern version of the Stuka dive siren
Outclassed American bombers and fifteen of the sixteen aircraft in the two exercises out foxed American fighters. Yet the Americans did not purchase any.
The American top brass were less than impressed with there defences after 3 of the 4 Vulcans got through twice, one would use its electrical counter measures to fool any interceptors while the others just flew in a nuked America twice! Its no wonder the Americans tried to cover up the results at the time, Mark Feltons channel tells the whole story, take a look its some good history, one of the last times us Brits could be proud of a plane we designed and built on our own, the Harrier also fits that bill, it reminds all the recent generations us Brits did make some good stuff.
Took my wife and her sister to an airshow at the Airforce base (at the time) in Fort Worth, Texas. We took a picnic lunch and set up under a shade tree when one of these Vulcan bombers took off. Have to admit, quite a thundering sound as full throttles were fed in. Kinda shook the ground too, as I recall. My SIL made some comment about it causing “the big O”… took a second or two for that meaning to register with me. So yeah, you Brits had an impressive aircraft as far as my SIL was concerned! 😉😂
I remember walking my dog in the fields by my old house a few years back and spotting a bizarre outline on the horizon coming in low level directly at me and thinking to myself that can't be what I think it is surely... I didn't think at the time any were still airworthy but sure enough, a Vulcan flying low level screamed right over my head. It was an incredible sight, to think if I'd taken my dog out just 10 minutes earlier or 10 minutes later I would have missed it. Turns out it was the final flight tour, they must have been on their way to St Athens. Beautiful sight!
Whenever I am in the United Kingdom and have the time, I go to Duxford. It is such an amazing collection and military museum. I am delighted they are sharing so much material online.
Fifty years ago I was stationed at SAC Hq in Omaha. There was an RAF detachment assigned to the Underground Command Post. Vulcans flew into Offutt AFB on a regular basis. They sure looked a lot sexier than the RC-135s we had. Today, there is a Vulcan on display at the SAC Museum located just outside of Omaha.
At air shows I attended in the 60's the Vulcan would make a low, slow pass and climb out at full power. Hearing & feeling the sound that would drown out any rock concert.
A few Vulcans were stationed at Offutt AFB Omaha in the late 70s, impressive aircraft among the RC-135s, EC-135s, B-52s & AWACs stationed there at the time... I was an RC-135 airborne recon tech.... but the strongest memory retained is of a British airman who must've been part of this outpost assignment at Offutt, on one spring day, alone, in full Kilt playing the pipes on a distant taxiway at the southern end of the main runways. I wish I had gone up to him & introduced myself. Love the pipes.
Another Offutt RC-135 guy here - loved watching the Vulcan fly. I would swear it could do it's full air show demonstration without leaving the perimeter of the base.
I was stationed at Offutt AFB from Jan 1979 to Oct 1981, one of my stand out memories of that time was watching a Vulcan flying low level directly overhead with the engines roaring an awesome site and sound.
I had the immense pleasure of seeing a Vulcan fly over at low altitude during an air show in Canada in the late 1970s. It was a cloudy, rainy day. It was the closest I'll ever get to a rocket launch, the power of the engines was so great.
If you can get a chance to see a rocket launch, do so. I've been to a couple (including a Shuttle mission), and the sound energy is extraordinary, even from miles away. The only thing close to it is being right next to the cars at a Top Fuel drag race.
I went to an airshow at Boscombe Down, must have been 1987 or thereabouts, and the thing I still remember from that was the Vulcan. The noise was not merely loud, it was physical - I could feel my ribs being shaken, and the (then fairly new) car alarms were going off all over. It might be nice to see one in a museum, but it's a poor substitute for witnessing one fly - I went to see the spitfires and lancaster fly, but, more than three decades later, the Vulcan is the thing that I remember the most clearly because it literally shook me to the core.
When my dad's regiment returned from BAOR to the UK in mid 70's, we flew VC10 to RAF Scampton, arriving late at night, and I remember well the silhouettes of Vulcans as we walked from our aircraft
In the late 70's I think, I was cycling around the back of the old De Havilland company factory in Hatfield, when a Vulcan came into land just over tree height, for a flight show the next day, It blotted the sky, the sun, and scared the bejabbers out of me. An unforgettable moment.
As an RAF cadet in the late 1970s I went to Brize Norton for 2 weeks. We had to sleep in these big, old four man tents near to the runway. The first time when we heard one of these Vulcans taking off it was literally the loudest thing that I have ever heard. You thought the sky and all its contents were collapsing in on top of you. Incredible!
derin111 ... You thought the sky and all its contents were collapsing in on top of you. Incredible! Explain how YOU appear to know that the ---sky and all its contents were collapsing in on top of Me or anyone else? Do you actually know the meaning of the word YOU? Look it up in a dictionary Don't use the word YOU unless YOU are referring to some'one' specific. You have a very limited vocabulary ( through lack of reading) and your knowledge of the English language is only average. Undertake an extensive reading program to better educate yourself and good luck. NO point in anyone replying as I am far too busy with other matters - write home to your mother and tell her you love her - It will be better for you - and read some books instead. Goodbye and good luck
When the MOD decided to mount the Black Buck raid on the Falklands, they called Duxford and said," we delivered a Vulcan to you a few weeks ago", I said "Do you want it back", the answer was no but we do want the Refuelling probe which was removed shortly afterwards. We got one back after the conflict was over.
@@joestrummer4106 no they delivered a vulcan to the duxford museum as they were being phased out at the time and requested components from the museum for the vulcan still being used
I just saw a Vulcan once in my lifetime, on final to Lisbon Airport around 1979. I was 13 and started screaming in the middle of the street "A VULCAN! A VULCAN!" I can assure you that everyone in a 300 meter radius raised their head to the sky! Unforgettable sight indeed...
I saw this plane at the Bristol airshow. They did a touch and go landing right in front of us. The sound of it!!! Didn't know whether to block my ears or try to hold my stomach from vibrating. Amazing aircraft. Great memory.
Back in the 70s/early 80s the Vulcan was a favorite visitor to our local airshow in Canada. "THE ALUMINIUM OVERCAST" was a thrill to watch fly low over the flight line, before deafening us with its vertical climb.
My dad was a Navigator in the RAF. He left when his squadron was moving over to the Vulcan due to the fact the Navigator was going to have a real issue getting out. Now I see why. :-( Thanks for the video.
As an ATC Cadet in the early sixties, our summer camp was on a Vulcan Bomber station. The sound as they took off was astonishing as was the sight as we lined up for our flights in a Chipmunk. Have had a soft spot for them ever since.
Very interesting video, my Dad served at RAF Marham in the late 50's which had three squadrons of Vickers Valiant ‘V’ bombers, together with the Vulcan and Victor. Always loved seeing the Vulcan at air shows, particularly at Duxford.
I’ve had the privilege of conversation with a former Vulcan pilot, a senior RAF officer, formerly quick reaction with nuclear bombs. Ha told me that the Vulcan handled like a fighter jet. I loved to see them roaring over the airfield during shows in my childhood.
I’m just over 6ft and tried to get into the cockpit of a Vulcan and tapped out after just being able to squeeze into the crew compartment. How they managed to sit in there for hours is mind boggling!
@@SAHBfan My grandfather is 6'1" and he was a squadron leader in 617 and 12 squadrons flying the Vulcan. We checked his log book and he flew some famous ones like XH558 and XL426. I will ask him about how cramped it was when I see him next. I have been inside the cockpit of XL360 and it was so small lol.
The Bournmouth aviation museum has (had ?) the nose section of a Vulcan you could go inside which allows you to get a good view of the 5 seats. I don't think you are allowed to sit in them though unlike other aircraft in the museum. You need to check access before you make a special trip due to anti-virus precautions.
I remember being at an airshow in Yeovilton back in 2015, where they flew a Vulcan bomber. They announced that it was the last public flight for that one in particular. I was around the age of 9 and all I remember were the engines roaring as the aircraft flew at low alttitude over our heads!
I saw it too on the same day but in East Devon before it headed towards Yeovilton. It flew over us at low level . . . an awe inspiring experience. It has been flown since after it was bought by a private customer. It is now permanently grounded.
I was born 1954 so as a child I would see these fly over occasionally, it wasn't until however I was in my teens that I realised what a magnificent aircraft this was. Ever since then I have been to many airshows in the hopes that the Vulcan would be there. Beautiful design, powerful and at the same time so graceful, she was meant to be in her element, in the air. I saw the last display flight of XH558 before she retired and I will admit I had to keep wiping my eyes. Iconic lady I certainly will never forget.
I saw one of these fly a few years ago at an airshow, they said it was one of two airworthy Vulcans in the world, and they had a donation basket as the engines needed overhauling. I just remember the vibrations through the ground as it flew overhead at a glide speed, and then even moreso with throttle on. Beautiful plane.
I can't remember the year. 1980? Living in Sumas WA and going to the Abbottsford Air Show in Canada and the Vulcan flew there. I was VERY impressed. Bomb bay doors open and doing a fly by. Wow. Great memories.
I remember seeing this awesome aircraft occasionally at the Shoreham Air Show, it never landed but would do a few low-level fly-bys, as it flew over and past the ground literally shook and the noise of those engines was phenomenal, it was always the highlight of the air show. The Vulcan wouldn't have passed any noise abatement limits today, but neither would a 707 or any jets from the sixties and seventies.
Saw three of these beauties all on active duty in the USA near Chicago, il.: Sadly witnessed XL-390's last flight in 1978; next came XL-443 in 1980; lastly XM-565 in 1981 which the crew was nice enough to give a few of us the "dime tour" inside and out, along with the Nimrod that accompanied the Vulcan this trip.
Thanks, the Vulcan is one of my favorites. At one point in the Cold War Khrushchev told someone that the American B-52s did not scare him. They were easily seen on radar and could be shot down. It was the Vulcan that worried him because it was far harder to see on radar. That was probably due to the V-wing and the embedded engines. You might say the the Vulcan was the first production stealth plane.
At Woodford starting all four engines together, was referred to as " A Mass Start." The Vulcan had to be taken apart and strengthened in order to take the strain. I was fortunate enough to be present when the last Vulcan to be modified in this way had it's engines tested. The blasting pens had been removed to accommodate the 801 [Nimrod] blasting pens. The Vulcan was chocked up on the edge of the apron at the Woodford flight sheds just outside hanger five. We all trouped out to watch, I will never forget it. All four engines burst into action, the blast blew a ruddy great hole in the airfield the size of an Olympic swimming pool. You could see the turf being rolled up and flung into the far distance. The hole was massive and there was no evidence of soil to be seen, it had been scattered across the airfield. I have never seen or heard such a demonstration of power either before or since, the noise was incredible. All of a sudden my body was being pounded by the shock wave, I couldn't hear myself think. One of my enduring memories.
I really enjoyed this, thank you. Excellent footage and a very high production quality. Hopefully this is the start of something very successful for the museum, similar to what the Tank Museum has achieved.
@@DAGO58 TSR2 had the same fate as Canada's Avro Arrow - Forced out by USA bullying, TSR2 via IMF when GB was in financial difficulty, and the Arrow when Canada & USA were negotiating the Columbia river treaty.
As a child In the early 60's my Dad took us to a Battle of Britain Day display at RAF Finningley. The highlight was a Vulcan squadron scramble. Still one of my most vivid, impressive, memories.
@@ruairifrance5204 I remember four. They made it a proper scramble, with the siren and crews running to their aircraft. It was a great day. My little brother - he would have been 7 years old - was able to have his photograph taken in the cockpit of a Lightning in return for a small donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Thank you, a great video of a superb aircraft. I joined the RAF in '86, so I was never privileged to work on them as an engine fitter, although I would have dearly loved to have done so. I recall them from news reports on the Falklands war as I was studying for my O Levels in '82. I will never forget standing at the open doors of "Twin peaks" at St. Athan (carrying out major servicings on VC10s as a JT) as the last Flying RAF Vulcan did a low fly-by with its bomb bay doors open and a "farewell" sign strung up inside. One of many occasions that made me truly proud to serve my country and to be a member of the best Airforce in the world. A happy and peaceful new year to every single person on this planet.
I worked at Hawker Siddeley Woodford in the early 70s while doing a "sandwich" course in Aeronautical Engineering. The fatigue test airframe sample was still undergoing fatigue test simulations in one of the hangars at the flight test end of the facility. We used to visit the airframe while it was undergoing fatigue testing, which ran for many hours each day. It was possible to climb up into the bomb bay and listen to the creaking noises made by the airframe during the most extreme cycles of the testing. While I was still there, it was decided that sufficient testing had been conducted to allow the fatigue cycling to be discontinued. I was one of a small crowd of people who got to witness the final cycle of the fatigue testing being performed. I recall quite clearly that they play Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries over the PA system as the cycle came to an end. A very vivid and pleasant memory.
Thanks for that, very informative. I had the privilege to see the last Vulcan occasionally flying right over my house between Duxford & Sywell (Northants). You could hear it coming long before it came into view, then for a moment the sky would go dark as it was so big. It came over low & slow, so sorry I didn't have a camera handy.
Back when I was a child,my father who worked for Avro at Bracebridge heath..Lincoln, took us all my sister and mum ,to Waddington for the Airshow.. the highlight of the day was a QRA of a flight of 6 Vulcans..the memory and sound is still an emotional one as they howled down the runway and into the sky..!
I remember the three small prototype's the A,B and C flying out of Woodford. In 1953 Coronation Year the Scouting Counties of East Cheshire, South-East Lancashire and the City of Manchester held a jamboree in August at Lyme Park which is immediately above Avro's Woodford Air Base and one of the joys of the jamboree was having one of the full size prototypes fly across this Jamboree. Such a superb Aircraft. Very Proud to come from the City of its birth.
Interesting video, thanks. My Dad used to fly Vulcans and in fact, had actually flown the one that is kept at Duxford. (Also, XH558 was his assigned aircraft). He flew Canberras and Lancasters too!
I saw these when young flying over our back garden in Hayes Kent, coming into land at Bigging Hill Airport display. Also many times in the 1970s at Farnborough Airshow . When they climbed vertical the ground shook beneath y ones feet. One year one was equipped with a Concorde Engine fixed beneath as a testbed and ejected a long diamond shaped flame behind. Wonderful memories.
I must be some kind of aviation heretic as seeing the Vulcan take off at Farnborough a number of years ago gave me bigger goosebumps than seeing a Lancaster fly-past.
I’ve seen just about everything I’d ever want to see fly at one airshow or another. Nothing has ever equaled or blown my mind as much as that Vulcan did when I saw its performance in the 80s.
They used to fly over my house as a child in the early 80s. We knew they didn't have long left in service then and used to take a little while longer watching them before they disappeared for good. Saying that, you never forget a Vulcan in flight!
My grandfather was a nav plotter on one of these and when one set on fire in January '77 I believe it was one of two where the whole crew bailed and survived
The three men in the back would have had little chance of escaping from the cockpit at low level. Even Lancaster crews had only a tiny nose-hatch as their 'official' emergency exit.
I love the Vulcan. I studied in Lincoln in the late eighties and i had the pleasure of a vulcan bomber fly over some red arrow guys we were talking to on a static hawk jet outside lincoln castle. It tipped its wings to them. It still makes me cry when i remember So lucky to see it in its habitat above howling through the air.
I Saw This Aircraft Fly In An Airshow At BAFB In The Mid-Sixties As A Child & Loved It. The Documentary On The Falkland's Mission Is Great As Well. Thank You.
What an incredible machine, when Britain was ahead of the rest. It proved its worth in the Falklands attacks, but thank god it was not used for the task it was designed for, delivering nuclear warheads. Such a pity there isn't one flying today.
When I was young low-flying Vulcans were commonly seen around Lincolnshire and especially where I lived. You didn't really appreciate their size until they disappeared over hills and you realised that the thing that looked low enough to crash on a hill was high enough to fly over them. Their size made them seem much lower than they really were. We had one crash a few miles away. No-one was killed and pilot was decorated for staying with the plane long enough to stop it crashing into Spilsby.
Wow... talk about a blast from the past... and a video that makes me feel OLD! LOL in 1972 I was a senior in high school, near Washington DC. That was the year Transpo 72 came to Dulles airport - a huge multi-week exposition of not just aircraft but all sorts of transportation-related vehicles and technologies. As a certified aircraft geek, I had no choice but to play Hookey from school and hang out at the show for as many days as I could get away with. Even got a job at one of the food stands as a way to get in the show for free. Anyway, all week there was every imaginable sort of flying demonstration - the USAF Thunderbirds, USN Blue Angels, the RAF Red Arrows, and all kinds of individual aircraft demonstrations... an F-111, a C-5A... all the latest stuff of the day. But the one aircraft that really wowed me... that I instantly fell in love with... was the Vulcan. Definitely the coolest aircraft I've ever seen - before or since. As for the "feeling old" part - that was 50 years ago. Where has the time gone? But at any rate - thanks for the memories!
Very interesting mini doco, there was one did a tour to New Zealand and apparently while doing a low fly past scraped a wingtip on the ground. Surprised they retired them so soon after the Falklands conflict tho
I saw this aircraft fly a demo in 1972 at Dulles Intl. Beautiful aircraft so large it looked like it was flying in slow motion until it flew overhead. WOW!
Visited IWM Duxford in 2020. I always liked the Vulcan and have seen a lot of Aircraft but standing right next to it was a distinct experience. This aircraft has presence: elegant with its aerodynamic lines giving off pure authority and truely menacing - especially with the mock-up nukes (I remember a Blue Steel and a WE.177) at the display. Great video and also great display job at the exhibition. The B-52 in the america hall on the other hand impressed me only by its size.
I used to see one flying over my house whenever we had an Air Show as we were half a mile from the runaway. Amazingly beautiful aircraft to see in the air, and completely awe inspiring. Even the Red Arrows were not as impressive.
I've been to the IWM in Duxford, near Cambridge and it is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. Couldn't believe what they had there. RAF Hendon also unbelievable considering where it is. Amazing to see just how damn good this nation was at what needed to be done when it was needed. One of the few things left to feel a sense of national pride for.
As a young lad back in August 1967 I joined up to the RNZAF here in New Zealand. Once I had completed the recruit course at RNZAF Wigram I was posted RNZAF Ohakea ,the place to be as based there was a squadron of Canberas and Vampires. One day I was summoned to the flight office to be told that I was to stand picket duty on the soon to arrive Vulcan. I remember it was a wet chilly night so dully dressed in uniform and my wonderful greatcoat I reported for my duty. I spent my hours wandering around under a very expensive large V bomber that made a great umbrella. I remember I was in aww of its size and beautiful shape. I couldn’t really see much apart from the undercarriage to bide my time. But I was fully aware that I was on duty to prevent anyone from stealing it, I am still very proud no one tried as if so I could have clobbered them with a very large long heavy flash light. Eventually dawn broke and the base started to stir. Soon after the crew of the said Vulcan wandered out, all kitted up in their flying gear. Much to my surprise I was thanked for my time and would I like to have a guided tour. Wow yes please. I climbed up the ladder into lower area where magic things happened. A few questions I asked were politely declined due to it being classified, like speed, altitude range etc. so thank you to the crew ,much appreciated. To carry on my recall of her being at RNZAF base Ohakea she did a few flights ,I remember one that on the that occasion a RNZAF officer went up with his bag pipes to try and claim a world altitude record for playing the pipes. It was rumoured he played a tune at 60,000 ft Sadly the record was not recognised it as a world record due to not having a Guinness representative to witness the feat. Eventually the Vulcan was to depart and head off. The base all turned to to get a place watch her leave. Well to this day December 2022 I can still see in my minds eye the sight of her lifting off turning to starboard and heading straight to the flight line and over a hangar at a very low altitude ,I mean LOW it was so low it can not been far off scraping the paint of the roof of the hangar, baggies mess and theatre. Bloody hell she was low ,the Vulcan howl and the pure noise was a full on body thrill. Never ever ever forget that day Never forget the time I stood guard, the tour over her and the various take offs I witnessed . Wow.
My first and last British aircraft model was the Vulcan. Fifty years later I can't forget it and all the paint that was required for its massive wing area. Beautiful aircraft.
I will always remember, as a kid in the 60’s in Darwin, the ground shaking rumble that would announce one of these huge monster aircraft coming in almost at tree top level during radar evasion exercises to “bomb” Darwin. You could look up and damn near count the rivets, they were that low….and then within seconds there would be a Mirage screaming past on an attack run, trying to take out the Vulcan.
When I was in the RAF in 1971, I stood at the end of the runway and watched a Vulcan coming towards me and taking off over my head, a fantastic sight, and a beautiful aircraft.
As a schoolboy in 1960 we lived quite close to RAF Finningly where AVRO Vulcans were based. I used to take a ride to Finningly on my Bike and site at the end of the Runway with throttles open and brakes holding them still. At the time we got little sleep for two or three years as they did circuits over the local area at around 500 feet, non stop night and day. Finningly had an open day every year for Battle of Britain day and I took my daughter to see a Vulcan take off around 1988. The Thundering noise of the event was so loud that she cried at the event and it took her some time to get over it. They were quite stunning to behold and there will be nothing quite like them ever again
Back in the heyday of the Southern California air show season, early 80s, we would get a couple of Vulcan visits. Edwards AFB being generally the best spot to see them because they had so much airspace to maneuver and show off. Spectacular.
Way back in September 1956 when I was a wee lad of 10, my father took me to the Mallala RAAF base in the mid north of South Australia for an air show. Star attraction was a demonstration by Vulcan XA897, the first Vulcan B1 to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. It came out to Australia on a PR tour, and I have remembered its demonstration runs all my life. Particularly awe-inspiring was its near vertical climb on full power, the four engines facing the crowd below. Unfortunately disaster struck when it attempted a landing at Heathrow (in bad weather) and hit the ground a few hundred yards short. The pilots ejected but the back-seat crew of four did not survive. The full story and a Pathe newsreel can be seen by Googling 'Vulcan XA897'.
The Vulcan, along with the BAC Lightning, are two of my favourite English military jet aircraft. My absolute favourite though has to be the panavia Tornado .
In 1950,s 60,s , America were producing and designing fantastic cars, while the Brits were busy manufacturing the coolest Cold War aircraft! Proud to be British
The Vulcan has such an enduring legacy, I think A.V Roe had a fantastic mind far ahead of his time, I consider it a shame that I only ever got to see XH558 fly 3 times in my life, two of those in her second life after restoration and the first when I was only 3 years old, but that day at Biggin Hill Air Fair in ‘92 must of had an impact on me
I like this guy so much as an American. He has a heavily british accent but explains in good detail about the Airplane which is really one of the coolest looking planes to ever fly. Guys made my night watching this.
A good summary of the Vulcan. Note for IWM - please do not use music background - different tunes and volumes and for no reason. There is no background music at live presentations at Duxford. The music in the Vulcan CZcams presentation spoils the commentary at sometimes makes it hard to hear. Maybe re-issue with music soundtrack off?
I agree with the criticism of the music, it appears arbitrary, and distracts from the presentation. Perhaps have a music sequence to identify the museum, and only as part of the introduction, similar to Dr. Mark Felton's videos. Spend more time on the cockpit displays and controls, a lot of viewers would be interested. The Vulcan had some interesting trim controls that were unique to that design.
Many people commenting about their memories of the Vulcan. I just remember my dad who was an Avro project manager on the design development team. He was born 102 years ago.
I was lucky enough to see a Vulcan at RAF Newquay in display in 1980 as a Army Cadet. Little did i know the importance of this Aircraft going forward a few years. The noise/thrust values, of that machine climbing would make you respect it forever.
Show de bola Júlio!!!!! Vários elogios!!!! os gringos com certeza vão amar um canal tão bom na língua universal, é só questão de tempo.... Congratulations!
The sad thing about the Vulcan was the one that crashed at Heathrow airport on 1st October 1956 having done a world tour to Australia and back. This accident rarely gets mentioned but only the two pilots with ejection seats survived, the other 4 were killed (3 RAF Officers and a civilian from AVRO) . Readers are left to read the official reports to find the cause of the crash.
Reading your comment reminded me of the time when I was in hospital at a New Zealand city ,Invercargill. A Vulcan was due to do a fly over the city so a nurse took me to a day room so I could look. I just managed to see the aircraft as it did a quick circuit around central Invercargill and headed off. I am wondering if it was that aircraft that upon arriving back in England it had a malfunction and crash landed in a field that was growing cabbages. I remember being told about the accident but I don’t think it was 1956, maybe earlier visit. Correct me if I am wrong. Cheers from New Zealand.
i saw the Vulcan at an air display in 1986, it was awesome to see it do a low level barrel roll. somehow the awesome size of the aircraft, made the simple act impressive, and memorable to this day
I’m no relation of Martin Withers but I do have a Vulcan story… I grew up near a town called Wellesbourne in Warwickshire (uk). There was, for many years a Vulcan parked up at the end of the runway at Wellesbourne airfield. There were no gates or fences, you could just walk in and “visit” the aircraft. I still remember the first time I saw this beautiful plane that we all know now as XM655, it was parked in the hedge and looked a bit sorry for itself. Many years later, I returned to the area for my brothers wedding, which took place at a country house close to the end of the airfield, coincidentally on the same day as the first taxi of XM655. An unforgettable sound for a few minutes. Great to hear those engines. Later my wife and I donated annually some money to the “Vulcan to the sky” charity and would cycle out to watch XH588 if she was “flying ops” in the Wiltshire area. I’ll never forget waiting on the Ridgeway when she came from behind us, quite close to the ground, engines throttled back… just this sort of screaming hiss as she came into sight to our right. She then lit up her engines almost directly in front of us… LOUD! It still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. It’s sad we will never see a Vulcan in the skies again. Thanks for the very interesting little video and thank you CZcams for the rather random recommendation.
The four most memorable aircraft events in my life:
1. 1st flight in anything ever, was as a cadet in the RAAF ATC, in an RAAF DC3.
2. Seeing an Avro Vulcan cook a tunnel in the clouds, as it flew in low over the airfield then just went straight up and out of sight. Un-be-bloody-lievable!
3. Low flyover of a Spitfire at an airshow in Norway
4. Harrier, doing it's stuff, then stopping and hovering perhaps 40ft above the ground, barely 50m away, facing me dead on, and tips his nose, taking a bow.
That's all folks. I'm satisfied. 😀
Those are some great aircraft moments!
You missed one the lightning 😊
Thank you for that, It made me smile and prompted me to compile my own list, and it does include a Lightning!
1. As a child hearing the bang as two Hawk T1's collided in mid air, and then watching the sun repeatedly flashing on the wings as one spun down to crash over the horizon (crew ejected okay).
2. Still a child, going to an airshow (Chivenor) where the cloud was so low that little flew except an EE Lightning that did a low level pass, towing a huge doughnut of cloud along behind it.
3. Hearing Brian Hanrahan say "I counted them all out and I counted them all back."
4. Sat in the back of a Black-Hawk while the crew passed back there sandwich boxes for me to hold, before they stood it on its rotor-head in a 'split S'.
5. Driving an MG down Ribblesdale with the Red Arrows coming in from the left (They were going a lot faster than me!), and realising that we were heading for the same point; so did they and, as they went over us they gave a short burst of coloured smoke. If you were flying that day, thank you!
I forgot the obvious one:
6. Being at school when three Vulcans flew over, I think it would have been their fairwell tour upon withdrawal in the early 1980's. Would that be right?
@@johnkenyon6910 !;
It’s hard to believe that there’s only 10 years between the first flight of the Lancaster and the Vulcan.
But lefties and europhiles will claim the uk the " sick man of europe" in this period.
@@jonathansimmons5353 as a “leftie” I can assure you, I don’t think that.
@@jonathansimmons5353 as not a leftie i do think that, partly because of our inability to coprehend the importance of soft power over hard power. We had by far the most powerful military in Europe but this meant nothing in suez because of our economic dependence on the USA and it meant nothing in the cod wars because we werent able to garner the sympathy of other European nations and our leaders were unwilling to fight for the industry.
Also pretty sure this isn't a leftie opinion as one big reason we were the sick man of Europe was due to our heavily nationalised economy.
I know it is just unbelievable.
@@jonathansimmons5353 pretty sure no one thinks that and you just wanted to have a whinge
The Vulcan was so effective. 1974, I’m walking down Whitburn High street and it’s dark. A V wing comes over us about 100 to 250 feet above the road, it’s engine roar is unmistakeable. It’s only light is it’s flashing anti collision light on the underside. Impressive. With its 360 radar, it was flying night low-level before Terrain Following radar was invented. That night ended up with a UFO Society wanting to send an investigator to our town. He was very disappointed when I told him it was, unmistakeably, a Vulcan bomber.
Back in 1967, I was on holiday in Anglesey and was walking across Holyhead mountain when through the clouds I could hear jet engines. As I looked, 3 Vulcans popped out of the clouds before disappearing again as they homed in on RAF Valley. Quite a sight - and sound.
100 feet seems a bit of an exaggeration, hell, even 250 feet would be nucking futs over a town at night.
@@Wombat1916 That would have been part of a “Dispersal” excercise. Where, if there was a chance of an attack by the Soviets, aircraft were dispersed around the country. Unfortunately, now, most of our eggs are in the one basket !!!!
@@stijnvandamme76 Yup 100ft lucky he didn't have his landing gear down.
If it was dark it would be impossible to properly judge the height above ground, especially if the anti-coll was your only light reference; Vulcan would be at a minimum of 500-1000 feet at night using the overland low-level corridor - even Tornado could only safely operate down to 200 feet day/500 feet night agl (IIRC) on Auto-TFR and onboard, that certainly concentrated the mind... Still, it was probably the most exciting thing to happen in Whitburn for a while! 😀
As a former American Airman (USAF) I truly appreciate and admire all that the RAF has done and the aircraft that they flew, especially the Avro Vulcan. What an amazing and beautiful aircraft is it!
don't forget the American Air Defence couldn't handle the Vulcan, hence it dropping 2 nukes on America
My great grandfather was an air electrics officer in this plane. Sadly, he passed roughly a year before I was born. I am twelve now and the plane is so significant to me. My great grandfather was actually on TV for a meeting with the rest of his crew. I saw it recently and I really wish I could've met him. 😔
The last Lancaster ever flown, was the EXACT ONE that he flew. An absolute hero in my heart
I first saw this plane in the James Bond movie, “Thunderball” in 1965 when I was a kid. Since that first viewing, I became fascinated with it to this day. A very cool and unique aircraft.
That's where I recognized the aircraft from as well. Thanks for mentioning it!
@@sletzer, There is a Vulcan bomber on static display at the Castle Air Museum (Former Castle Air Force Base) in Atwater/Merced, California, USA. It was stated as “On loan by Her Majesty’s Government.” After being there for many years, it is apparent that it is now a permanent possession of the Castle Air Museum.
Do you have the model? I understand the revamped AirFix Vulcan is either out or just about to come out. My Vulcan fell of the wall(!) but will be replaced.
@@Wombat1916 , I’m going to buy the Airfix model. I currently have a Corgi 1:72 scale die-cast model of the Vulcan.
Yeah your right
In 1979, as a U.S. tourist, I was standing outside the St. Andrews clubhouse when a Vulcan bomber flew over at a fairly low altitude -- probably 500 feet or less. I was shocked at how large and extremely loud the aircraft was(he only made one pass and headed out to sea.) The green camouflage gave it a surreal appearance I'll never forget.
St andrews in Scotland?
I live next to St Andrews lol. The airfield is visible from the window! A few weeks ago we had the battle of britian memorial flight there
The Vulcan had something very few aircrafts possess: charisma. Many planes are bigger. Many planes are faster. But very few have such an impact on you when you see them
yes Winston too true I bet you have had many good conversation with a Vulcan. Loved that Spock bloke so charismatic
it has no gun turrets therefor i don’t care about it and it has no charismatic effect on me
True. It's design is a work of art to me. I hope to see one in person someday because the plane is incredible.
@@cosmosyn2514 oh look the american
It's the sound more than anything for me, nothing else sounds like a Vulcan at full throttle. That whistle from the air intakes was apparently accidental, but I bet it sounded absolutely terrifying to the Argentines at the airfield, almost like the modern version of the Stuka dive siren
Getting through America's stepped up, cold war, defenses, ... twice.
It's a good system
And nobody heard it coming??? lol Quite the feat. Great plane.
Outclassed American bombers and fifteen of the sixteen aircraft in the two exercises out foxed American fighters. Yet the Americans did not purchase any.
I believe it had a very low radar cross section from certain angles
My son was part of the maintenance crew and he flew to America in the vulcan.
The American top brass were less than impressed with there defences after 3 of the 4 Vulcans got through twice, one would use its electrical counter measures to fool any interceptors while the others just flew in a nuked America twice! Its no wonder the Americans tried to cover up the results at the time, Mark Feltons channel tells the whole story, take a look its some good history, one of the last times us Brits could be proud of a plane we designed and built on our own, the Harrier also fits that bill, it reminds all the recent generations us Brits did make some good stuff.
Took my wife and her sister to an airshow at the Airforce base (at the time) in Fort Worth, Texas. We took a picnic lunch and set up under a shade tree when one of these Vulcan bombers took off. Have to admit, quite a thundering sound as full throttles were fed in. Kinda shook the ground too, as I recall. My SIL made some comment about it causing “the big O”… took a second or two for that meaning to register with me. So yeah, you Brits had an impressive aircraft as far as my SIL was concerned! 😉😂
What - it sounded like Roy Orbison ?
Very expensive way to get one! LOL
I remember walking my dog in the fields by my old house a few years back and spotting a bizarre outline on the horizon coming in low level directly at me and thinking to myself that can't be what I think it is surely... I didn't think at the time any were still airworthy but sure enough, a Vulcan flying low level screamed right over my head. It was an incredible sight, to think if I'd taken my dog out just 10 minutes earlier or 10 minutes later I would have missed it. Turns out it was the final flight tour, they must have been on their way to St Athens. Beautiful sight!
What an awesome experience
@@donaldstanfield8862 definitely right place at the right time! I was incredibly lucky
Whenever I am in the United Kingdom and have the time, I go to Duxford. It is such an amazing collection and military museum. I am delighted they are sharing so much material online.
Fifty years ago I was stationed at SAC Hq in Omaha. There was an RAF detachment assigned to the Underground Command Post. Vulcans flew into Offutt AFB on a regular basis. They sure looked a lot sexier than the RC-135s we had. Today, there is a Vulcan on display at the SAC Museum located just outside of Omaha.
I remember my Dad taking me to an air show and the THUNDER through the ground from the Vulcan was really quite terrifying! Fabulous!
It's a fantastic noise. Thanks for sharing your memory with us!
I remember the Vulcan seeting off the car alarm when it took off at RAF Finningley airshow in 1991
The Concorde had similar engines. I guess the Vulcan was probably even noisier.
@@duartesimoes508 the concord, the Vulcan, the tornado and the panavia tornado, and the typhoon. all use the same engine family.
At air shows I attended in the 60's the Vulcan would make a low, slow pass and climb out at full power. Hearing & feeling the sound that would drown out any rock concert.
A few Vulcans were stationed at Offutt AFB Omaha in the late 70s, impressive aircraft among the RC-135s, EC-135s, B-52s & AWACs stationed there at the time... I was an RC-135 airborne recon tech.... but the strongest memory retained is of a British airman who must've been part of this outpost assignment at Offutt, on one spring day, alone, in full Kilt playing the pipes on a distant taxiway at the southern end of the main runways. I wish I had gone up to him & introduced myself. Love the pipes.
Another Offutt RC-135 guy here - loved watching the Vulcan fly. I would swear it could do it's full air show demonstration without leaving the perimeter of the base.
I was stationed at Offutt AFB from Jan 1979 to Oct 1981, one of my stand out memories of that time was watching a Vulcan flying low level directly overhead with the engines roaring an awesome site and sound.
I wish I could see a picture of that! Strategic Air Command
These aircraft documentaries are fabulous!! Archive footage, cockpit talk-through, history and anecdotes from crew. Brilliant. MORE PLEASE!!!!!!!!
Absolutely beautiful plane, and I’m proud to say my grandfather was an electronic engineer on them who helped develop the landing software
I had the immense pleasure of seeing a Vulcan fly over at low altitude during an air show in Canada in the late 1970s. It was a cloudy, rainy day. It was the closest I'll ever get to a rocket launch, the power of the engines was so great.
If you can get a chance to see a rocket launch, do so. I've been to a couple (including a Shuttle mission), and the sound energy is extraordinary, even from miles away. The only thing close to it is being right next to the cars at a Top Fuel drag race.
I went to an airshow at Boscombe Down, must have been 1987 or thereabouts, and the thing I still remember from that was the Vulcan. The noise was not merely loud, it was physical - I could feel my ribs being shaken, and the (then fairly new) car alarms were going off all over.
It might be nice to see one in a museum, but it's a poor substitute for witnessing one fly - I went to see the spitfires and lancaster fly, but, more than three decades later, the Vulcan is the thing that I remember the most clearly because it literally shook me to the core.
When my dad's regiment returned from BAOR to the UK in mid 70's, we flew VC10 to RAF Scampton, arriving late at night, and I remember well the silhouettes of Vulcans as we walked from our aircraft
In the late 70's I think, I was cycling around the back of the old De Havilland company factory in Hatfield, when a Vulcan came into land just over tree height, for a flight show the next day, It blotted the sky, the sun, and scared the bejabbers out of me. An unforgettable moment.
As an RAF cadet in the late 1970s I went to Brize Norton for 2 weeks. We had to sleep in these big, old four man tents near to the runway. The first time when we heard one of these Vulcans taking off it was literally the loudest thing that I have ever heard. You thought the sky and all its contents were collapsing in on top of you. Incredible!
derin111
... You thought the sky and all its contents were collapsing in on top of you. Incredible!
Explain how YOU appear to know that the ---sky and all its contents were collapsing in on top of Me
or anyone else?
Do you actually know the meaning of the word YOU?
Look it up in a dictionary
Don't use the word YOU unless YOU are referring to some'one' specific.
You have a very limited vocabulary ( through lack of reading) and your knowledge of
the English language is only average.
Undertake an extensive reading program to better educate yourself and good luck.
NO point in anyone replying as I am far too busy with other matters - write home to your mother
and tell her you love her - It will be better for you - and read some books instead.
Goodbye and good luck
Amazing aircraft, have had the honour of meeting some Vulcan pilots, and also had a cockpit tour with one. Was the best day I have had in years
When the MOD decided to mount the Black Buck raid on the Falklands, they called Duxford and said," we delivered a Vulcan to you a few weeks ago", I said "Do you want it back", the answer was no but we do want the Refuelling probe which was removed shortly afterwards. We got one back after the conflict was over.
I don’t understand you were saying they delivered a Vulcan to the military base on the Falklands? I thought there weren’t any real air basis
@@joestrummer4106 no they delivered a vulcan to the duxford museum as they were being phased out at the time and requested components from the museum for the vulcan still being used
I just saw a Vulcan once in my lifetime, on final to Lisbon Airport around 1979. I was 13 and started screaming in the middle of the street "A VULCAN! A VULCAN!"
I can assure you that everyone in a 300 meter radius raised their head to the sky!
Unforgettable sight indeed...
I saw this plane at the Bristol airshow. They did a touch and go landing right in front of us. The sound of it!!! Didn't know whether to block my ears or try to hold my stomach from vibrating. Amazing aircraft. Great memory.
Same for me - 1977 Jubilee Airshow at Woodford. Magnificent beast.
Back in the 70s/early 80s the Vulcan was a favorite visitor to our local airshow in Canada. "THE ALUMINIUM OVERCAST" was a thrill to watch fly low over the flight line, before deafening us with its vertical climb.
My dad was a Navigator in the RAF. He left when his squadron was moving over to the Vulcan due to the fact the Navigator was going to have a real issue getting out. Now I see why. :-( Thanks for the video.
As an ATC Cadet in the early sixties, our summer camp was on a Vulcan Bomber station. The sound as they took off was astonishing as was the sight as we lined up for our flights in a Chipmunk. Have had a soft spot for them ever since.
Very interesting video, my Dad served at RAF Marham in the late 50's which had three squadrons of Vickers Valiant ‘V’ bombers, together with the Vulcan and Victor. Always loved seeing the Vulcan at air shows, particularly at Duxford.
I’ve had the privilege of conversation with a former Vulcan pilot, a senior RAF officer, formerly quick reaction with nuclear bombs. Ha told me that the Vulcan handled like a fighter jet. I loved to see them roaring over the airfield during shows in my childhood.
It's deceptively manueverable for its size, impressive to see.
Have a look on CZcams for Vulcan at Farnborough, aircraft was barrel rolled on takeoff as part of the display
I still remember as a kid at the airshow where the vulcan took off... the noise and the ground shaking... absolutely blown away..
I’m just over 6ft and tried to get into the cockpit of a Vulcan and tapped out after just being able to squeeze into the crew compartment. How they managed to sit in there for hours is mind boggling!
I found the cockpit very claustrophobic. Imagine being stuck in one at 50 000ft over the mid atlantic :-o
@@SAHBfan Don't forget you need to wear an eye patch so one eye is saved if you see the flash from one of the exploding nuclear weapons.
@@SAHBfan My grandfather is 6'1" and he was a squadron leader in 617 and 12 squadrons flying the Vulcan. We checked his log book and he flew some famous ones like XH558 and XL426. I will ask him about how cramped it was when I see him next. I have been inside the cockpit of XL360 and it was so small lol.
I sat in a 617 Squadron Vulcan cockpit when I was 14 and even I thought it was cramped!
The Bournmouth aviation museum has (had ?) the nose section of a Vulcan you could go inside which allows you to get a good view of the 5 seats. I don't think you are allowed to sit in them though unlike other aircraft in the museum. You need to check access before you make a special trip due to anti-virus precautions.
I remember being at an airshow in Yeovilton back in 2015, where they flew a Vulcan bomber. They announced that it was the last public flight for that one in particular. I was around the age of 9 and all I remember were the engines roaring as the aircraft flew at low alttitude over our heads!
I think that was the last flight of any Vulcan bomber.
I saw it too on the same day but in East Devon before it headed towards Yeovilton. It flew over us at low level . . . an awe inspiring experience. It has been flown since after it was bought by a private customer. It is now permanently grounded.
I was born 1954 so as a child I would see these fly over occasionally, it wasn't until however I was in my teens that I realised what a magnificent aircraft this was. Ever since then I have been to many airshows in the hopes that the Vulcan would be there. Beautiful design, powerful and at the same time so graceful, she was meant to be in her element, in the air. I saw the last display flight of XH558 before she retired and I will admit I had to keep wiping my eyes. Iconic lady I certainly will never forget.
I saw one of these fly a few years ago at an airshow, they said it was one of two airworthy Vulcans in the world, and they had a donation basket as the engines needed overhauling. I just remember the vibrations through the ground as it flew overhead at a glide speed, and then even moreso with throttle on. Beautiful plane.
I can't remember the year. 1980? Living in Sumas WA and going to the Abbottsford Air Show in Canada and the Vulcan flew there. I was VERY impressed. Bomb bay doors open and doing a fly by. Wow. Great memories.
I remember seeing this awesome aircraft occasionally at the Shoreham Air Show, it never landed but would do a few low-level fly-bys, as it flew over and past the ground literally shook and the noise of those engines was phenomenal, it was always the highlight of the air show. The Vulcan wouldn't have passed any noise abatement limits today, but neither would a 707 or any jets from the sixties and seventies.
Saw three of these beauties all on active duty in the USA near Chicago, il.: Sadly witnessed XL-390's last flight in 1978; next came XL-443 in 1980; lastly XM-565 in 1981 which the crew was nice enough to give a few of us the "dime tour" inside and out, along with the Nimrod that accompanied the Vulcan this trip.
Beautiful machine! The right combo of flying wing and fuselage.
I've only seen one in flight during an airshow in Southern California back in the late 70's. The ground trembled with the power of those engines.
I remember that, you could feel it in your chest.
Thanks, the Vulcan is one of my favorites. At one point in the Cold War Khrushchev told someone that the American B-52s did not scare him. They were easily seen on radar and could be shot down. It was the Vulcan that worried him because it was far harder to see on radar. That was probably due to the V-wing and the embedded engines. You might say the the Vulcan was the first production stealth plane.
Khrushchev never said that. 😂
At Woodford starting all four engines together, was referred to as " A Mass Start." The Vulcan had to be taken apart and strengthened in order to take the strain.
I was fortunate enough to be present when the last Vulcan to be modified in this way had it's engines tested.
The blasting pens had been removed to accommodate the 801 [Nimrod] blasting pens. The Vulcan was chocked up on the edge of the apron at the Woodford flight sheds just outside hanger five.
We all trouped out to watch, I will never forget it. All four engines burst into action, the blast blew a ruddy great hole in the airfield the size of an Olympic swimming pool.
You could see the turf being rolled up and flung into the far distance. The hole was massive and there was no evidence of soil to be seen, it had been scattered across the airfield.
I have never seen or heard such a demonstration of power either before or since, the noise was incredible. All of a sudden my body was being pounded by the shock wave, I couldn't hear myself think. One of my enduring memories.
They have built houses and are finishing a new bypass on Avro Woodfood! Criminal!
I really enjoyed this, thank you. Excellent footage and a very high production quality. Hopefully this is the start of something very successful for the museum, similar to what the Tank Museum has achieved.
Thanks for your feedback, we really enjoyed making it. Let us know which other aircraft you might like to see later in the series.
@@ImperialWarMuseums I’d watch them all if you did them! I’d like the TSR2, Harrier and Buccaneer though.
@@DAGO58 TSR2 had the same fate as Canada's Avro Arrow - Forced out by USA bullying, TSR2 via IMF when GB was in financial difficulty, and the Arrow when Canada & USA were negotiating the Columbia river treaty.
SR-71 Blackbird would be fascinating!
The Vulcan is undeniably cool, it is almost a flying wing.
As a child In the early 60's my Dad took us to a Battle of Britain Day display at RAF Finningley. The highlight was a Vulcan squadron scramble. Still one of my most vivid, impressive, memories.
That sounds incredible. How many vulcan aircraft were present?
@@ruairifrance5204 I remember four. They made it a proper scramble, with the siren and crews running to their aircraft.
It was a great day. My little brother - he would have been 7 years old - was able to have his photograph taken in the cockpit of a Lightning in return for a small donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Thank you, a great video of a superb aircraft. I joined the RAF in '86, so I was never privileged to work on them as an engine fitter, although I would have dearly loved to have done so. I recall them from news reports on the Falklands war as I was studying for my O Levels in '82. I will never forget standing at the open doors of "Twin peaks" at St. Athan (carrying out major servicings on VC10s as a JT) as the last Flying RAF Vulcan did a low fly-by with its bomb bay doors open and a "farewell" sign strung up inside. One of many occasions that made me truly proud to serve my country and to be a member of the best Airforce in the world.
A happy and peaceful new year to every single person on this planet.
I worked at Hawker Siddeley Woodford in the early 70s while doing a "sandwich" course in Aeronautical Engineering. The fatigue test airframe sample was still undergoing fatigue test simulations in one of the hangars at the flight test end of the facility. We used to visit the airframe while it was undergoing fatigue testing, which ran for many hours each day. It was possible to climb up into the bomb bay and listen to the creaking noises made by the airframe during the most extreme cycles of the testing. While I was still there, it was decided that sufficient testing had been conducted to allow the fatigue cycling to be discontinued. I was one of a small crowd of people who got to witness the final cycle of the fatigue testing being performed. I recall quite clearly that they play Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries over the PA system as the cycle came to an end. A very vivid and pleasant memory.
Please ditch the music. It adds nothing and makes it harder to follow the talk.
Agreed. Why on earth do they feel the need to add intrusive loud music? It's as if they think we're such idiots we can't focus on just people talking.
Subtitle: am i a joke to you ?
Funny, the episode I watched didn't have any music attached, just his commentary.
The mispronunciation of nuclear took me away from the presentation more
Thought it was peace and quiet near the beginning, then that confounded noise ruined it! It's distracting!
Thanks for that, very informative. I had the privilege to see the last Vulcan occasionally flying right over my house between Duxford & Sywell (Northants). You could hear it coming long before it came into view, then for a moment the sky would go dark as it was so big. It came over low & slow, so sorry I didn't have a camera handy.
Back when I was a child,my father who worked for Avro at Bracebridge heath..Lincoln, took us all my sister and mum ,to Waddington for the Airshow.. the highlight of the day was a QRA of a flight of 6 Vulcans..the memory and sound is still an emotional one as they howled down the runway and into the sky..!
Definitely one of the most iconic aircraft ever.
I remember the three small prototype's the A,B and C flying out of Woodford. In 1953 Coronation Year the Scouting Counties of East Cheshire, South-East Lancashire and the City of Manchester held a jamboree in August at Lyme Park which is immediately above Avro's Woodford Air Base and one of the joys of the jamboree was having one of the full size prototypes fly across this Jamboree. Such a superb Aircraft. Very Proud to come from the City of its birth.
Why the lousy music in the background**Had to turn off 🥴
What a wonderful experience to remember ! Thanks for sharing it.
Interesting video, thanks. My Dad used to fly Vulcans and in fact, had actually flown the one that is kept at Duxford. (Also, XH558 was his assigned aircraft). He flew Canberras and Lancasters too!
Thankyou for his service
Awesome. Respect.
I saw these when young flying over our back garden in Hayes Kent, coming into land at Bigging Hill Airport display. Also many times in the 1970s at Farnborough Airshow . When they climbed vertical the ground shook beneath y ones feet. One year one was equipped with a Concorde Engine fixed beneath as a testbed and ejected a long diamond shaped flame behind. Wonderful memories.
I'm one of those who love this bird. It's majestic, beautiful of design and its howl is a music to my ears.
I must be some kind of aviation heretic as seeing the Vulcan take off at Farnborough a number of years ago gave me bigger goosebumps than seeing a Lancaster fly-past.
My cousin Martin flew that first Black Buck mission
I’ve seen just about everything I’d ever want to see fly at one airshow or another. Nothing has ever equaled or blown my mind as much as that Vulcan did when I saw its performance in the 80s.
They used to fly over my house as a child in the early 80s. We knew they didn't have long left in service then and used to take a little while longer watching them before they disappeared for good. Saying that, you never forget a Vulcan in flight!
My grandfather was a nav plotter on one of these and when one set on fire in January '77 I believe it was one of two where the whole crew bailed and survived
The three men in the back would have had little chance of escaping from the cockpit at low level. Even Lancaster crews had only a tiny nose-hatch as their 'official' emergency exit.
My father once told me the Vulcan was meant to cruise near transonic speeds.
A feat that might shake a regular plane to pieces.
I love the Vulcan. I studied in Lincoln in the late eighties and i had the pleasure of a vulcan bomber fly over some red arrow guys we were talking to on a static hawk jet outside lincoln castle. It tipped its wings to them. It still makes me cry when i remember So lucky to see it in its habitat above howling through the air.
I Saw This Aircraft Fly In An Airshow At BAFB In The Mid-Sixties As A Child & Loved It. The Documentary On The Falkland's Mission Is Great As Well. Thank You.
What an incredible machine, when Britain was ahead of the rest.
It proved its worth in the Falklands attacks, but thank god it was not used for the task it was designed for, delivering nuclear warheads.
Such a pity there isn't one flying today.
When I was young low-flying Vulcans were commonly seen around Lincolnshire and especially where I lived. You didn't really appreciate their size until they disappeared over hills and you realised that the thing that looked low enough to crash on a hill was high enough to fly over them. Their size made them seem much lower than they really were. We had one crash a few miles away. No-one was killed and pilot was decorated for staying with the plane long enough to stop it crashing into Spilsby.
I'm from Newark-upon-Trent 😊
Wow... talk about a blast from the past... and a video that makes me feel OLD! LOL in 1972 I was a senior in high school, near Washington DC. That was the year Transpo 72 came to Dulles airport - a huge multi-week exposition of not just aircraft but all sorts of transportation-related vehicles and technologies. As a certified aircraft geek, I had no choice but to play Hookey from school and hang out at the show for as many days as I could get away with. Even got a job at one of the food stands as a way to get in the show for free. Anyway, all week there was every imaginable sort of flying demonstration - the USAF Thunderbirds, USN Blue Angels, the RAF Red Arrows, and all kinds of individual aircraft demonstrations... an F-111, a C-5A... all the latest stuff of the day. But the one aircraft that really wowed me... that I instantly fell in love with... was the Vulcan. Definitely the coolest aircraft I've ever seen - before or since. As for the "feeling old" part - that was 50 years ago. Where has the time gone? But at any rate - thanks for the memories!
We were buzzed by a Vulcan whilst on holiday at Lyme Regis in 1972. Unforgettable.
Very impressive airoplane. Cold war time, when you knew, who is your friend and who is the enemy. Greeting from (former west) germany.
Thank you! Very interesting! But I don’t understand why there is background music.
Very interesting mini doco, there was one did a tour to New Zealand and apparently while doing a low fly past scraped a wingtip on the ground. Surprised they retired them so soon after the Falklands conflict tho
its funny I did not notice the background music till I read your comment now its driving me mad lol
@Dan Didnot
60's porno music makes everything better, except porn
@@sam8742 '60's O Music'?
I saw this aircraft fly a demo in 1972 at Dulles Intl. Beautiful aircraft so large it looked like it was flying in slow motion until it flew overhead. WOW!
Visited IWM Duxford in 2020. I always liked the Vulcan and have seen a lot of Aircraft but standing right next to it was a distinct experience. This aircraft has presence: elegant with its aerodynamic lines giving off pure authority and truely menacing - especially with the mock-up nukes (I remember a Blue Steel and a WE.177) at the display. Great video and also great display job at the exhibition. The B-52 in the america hall on the other hand impressed me only by its size.
I used to see one flying over my house whenever we had an Air Show as we were half a mile from the runaway. Amazingly beautiful aircraft to see in the air, and completely awe inspiring. Even the Red Arrows were not as impressive.
I've been to the IWM in Duxford, near Cambridge and it is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. Couldn't believe what they had there. RAF Hendon also unbelievable considering where it is.
Amazing to see just how damn good this nation was at what needed to be done when it was needed. One of the few things left to feel a sense of national pride for.
As a young lad back in August 1967 I joined up to the RNZAF here in New Zealand. Once I had completed the recruit course at RNZAF Wigram I was posted RNZAF Ohakea ,the place to be as based there was a squadron of Canberas and Vampires. One day I was summoned to the flight office to be told that I was to stand picket duty on the soon to arrive Vulcan. I remember it was a wet chilly night so dully dressed in uniform and my wonderful greatcoat I reported for my duty. I spent my hours wandering around under a very expensive large V bomber that made a great umbrella. I remember I was in aww of its size and beautiful shape. I couldn’t really see much apart from the undercarriage to bide my time. But I was fully aware that I was on duty to prevent anyone from stealing it, I am still very proud no one tried as if so I could have clobbered them with a very large long heavy flash light. Eventually dawn broke and the base started to stir. Soon after the crew of the said Vulcan wandered out, all kitted up in their flying gear. Much to my surprise I was thanked for my time and would I like to have a guided tour. Wow yes please. I climbed up the ladder into lower area where magic things happened. A few questions I asked were politely declined due to it being classified, like speed, altitude range etc. so thank you to the crew ,much appreciated. To carry on my recall of her being at RNZAF base Ohakea she did a few flights ,I remember one that on the that occasion a RNZAF officer went up with his bag pipes to try and claim a world altitude record for playing the pipes. It was rumoured he played a tune at 60,000 ft Sadly the record was not recognised it as a world record due to not having a Guinness representative to witness the feat. Eventually the Vulcan was to depart and head off. The base all turned to to get a place watch her leave. Well to this day December 2022 I can still see in my minds eye the sight of her lifting off turning to starboard and heading straight to the flight line and over a hangar at a very low altitude ,I mean LOW it was so low it can not been far off scraping the paint of the roof of the hangar, baggies mess and theatre. Bloody hell she was low ,the Vulcan howl and the pure noise was a full on body thrill. Never ever ever forget that day
Never forget the time I stood guard, the tour over her and the various take offs I witnessed . Wow.
My first and last British aircraft model was the Vulcan. Fifty years later I can't forget it and all the paint that was required for its massive wing area. Beautiful aircraft.
This is one of my favorite British planes. I absolutely love it.
I will always remember, as a kid in the 60’s in Darwin, the ground shaking rumble that would announce one of these huge monster aircraft coming in almost at tree top level during radar evasion exercises to “bomb” Darwin. You could look up and damn near count the rivets, they were that low….and then within seconds there would be a Mirage screaming past on an attack run, trying to take out the Vulcan.
When I was in the RAF in 1971, I stood at the end of the runway and watched a Vulcan coming towards me and taking off over my head, a fantastic sight, and a beautiful aircraft.
As a schoolboy in 1960 we lived quite close to RAF Finningly where AVRO Vulcans were based. I used to take a ride to Finningly on my Bike and site at the end of the Runway with throttles open and brakes holding them still. At the time we got little sleep for two or three years as they did circuits over the local area at around 500 feet, non stop night and day. Finningly had an open day every year for Battle of Britain day and I took my daughter to see a Vulcan take off around 1988. The Thundering noise of the event was so loud that she cried at the event and it took her some time to get over it.
They were quite stunning to behold and there will be nothing quite like them ever again
I've only ever seen XH558 parked up and just seeing it sent a shiver down my back, I can't imagine how scared you'd be seeing them fly over in a war
Back in the heyday of the Southern California air show season, early 80s, we would get a couple of Vulcan visits. Edwards AFB being generally the best spot to see them because they had so much airspace to maneuver and show off. Spectacular.
Way back in September 1956 when I was a wee lad of 10, my father took me to the Mallala RAAF base in the mid north of South Australia for an air show. Star attraction was a demonstration by Vulcan XA897, the first Vulcan B1 to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. It came out to Australia on a PR tour, and I have remembered its demonstration runs all my life. Particularly awe-inspiring was its near vertical climb on full power, the four engines facing the crowd below. Unfortunately disaster struck when it attempted a landing at Heathrow (in bad weather) and hit the ground a few hundred yards short. The pilots ejected but the back-seat crew of four did not survive. The full story and a Pathe newsreel can be seen by Googling 'Vulcan XA897'.
I stood next to a Vulcan in 1968 when I was about 6 and I thought it was the biggest plane in the world. I've never forgotten it.
The Vulcan, along with the BAC Lightning, are two of my favourite English military jet aircraft.
My absolute favourite though has to be the panavia Tornado .
In 1950,s 60,s , America were producing and designing fantastic cars, while the Brits were busy manufacturing the coolest Cold War aircraft! Proud to be British
I'm not even murican myself,but i have to say; SR-71.
B58 , B70 ,SR71
@@randommaniac245 I agree on that, the coolest plane ever produced.
The Vulcan has such an enduring legacy, I think A.V Roe had a fantastic mind far ahead of his time, I consider it a shame that I only ever got to see XH558 fly 3 times in my life, two of those in her second life after restoration and the first when I was only 3 years old, but that day at Biggin Hill Air Fair in ‘92 must of had an impact on me
I like this guy so much as an American. He has a heavily british accent but explains in good detail about the Airplane which is really one of the coolest looking planes to ever fly. Guys made my night watching this.
I remember seeing it in airshows and hearing the primordial sound it made :-D
A good summary of the Vulcan. Note for IWM - please do not use music background - different tunes and volumes and for no reason. There is no background music at live presentations at Duxford. The music in the Vulcan CZcams presentation spoils the commentary at sometimes makes it hard to hear. Maybe re-issue with music soundtrack off?
I agree with the criticism of the music, it appears arbitrary, and distracts from the presentation. Perhaps have a music sequence to identify the museum, and only as part of the introduction, similar to Dr. Mark Felton's videos. Spend more time on the cockpit displays and controls, a lot of viewers would be interested. The Vulcan had some interesting trim controls that were unique to that design.
Agreed. Sounded like the soundtrack to a workout routine and really detracted from the content
Many people commenting about their memories of the Vulcan. I just remember my dad who was an Avro project manager on the design development team. He was born 102 years ago.
I was lucky enough to see a Vulcan at RAF Newquay in display in 1980 as a Army Cadet. Little did i know the importance of this Aircraft going forward a few years. The noise/thrust values, of that machine climbing would make you respect it forever.
Damn, i wish more had been preserved in the beautiful anti flash white
Show de bola Júlio!!!!! Vários elogios!!!! os gringos com certeza vão amar um canal tão bom na língua universal, é só questão de tempo....
Congratulations!
In 1978 I was privileged to see two Vulcans at an airshow Anderson AFB at Guam, USA.
I saw the Vulcan at the Rhyl air show some years ago. Magnificent. What an aircraft.
The sad thing about the Vulcan was the one that crashed at Heathrow airport on 1st October 1956 having done a world tour to Australia and back. This accident rarely gets mentioned but only the two pilots with ejection seats survived, the other 4 were killed (3 RAF Officers and a civilian from AVRO) . Readers are left to read the official reports to find the cause of the crash.
I remember this it flew over Nelson New Zealand in 1956
Reading your comment reminded me of the time when I was in hospital at a New Zealand city ,Invercargill. A Vulcan was due to do a fly over the city so a nurse took me to a day room so I could look. I just managed to see the aircraft as it did a quick circuit around central Invercargill and headed off. I am wondering if it was that aircraft that upon arriving back in England it had a malfunction and crash landed in a field that was growing cabbages. I remember being told about the accident but I don’t think it was 1956, maybe earlier visit. Correct me if I am wrong. Cheers from New Zealand.
The who incident was hushed up.
Nice video, very informative. Not sure about the background music though.....
Thanks for the feedback, we're always interested to hear from our viewers on how we can improve.
Me too. Music is terrible and ruins the presentation. Black mark
i saw the Vulcan at an air display in 1986, it was awesome to see it do a low level barrel roll. somehow the awesome size of the aircraft, made the simple act impressive, and memorable to this day
I’m no relation of Martin Withers but I do have a Vulcan story… I grew up near a town called Wellesbourne in Warwickshire (uk). There was, for many years a Vulcan parked up at the end of the runway at Wellesbourne airfield. There were no gates or fences, you could just walk in and “visit” the aircraft. I still remember the first time I saw this beautiful plane that we all know now as XM655, it was parked in the hedge and looked a bit sorry for itself. Many years later, I returned to the area for my brothers wedding, which took place at a country house close to the end of the airfield, coincidentally on the same day as the first taxi of XM655. An unforgettable sound for a few minutes. Great to hear those engines. Later my wife and I donated annually some money to the “Vulcan to the sky” charity and would cycle out to watch XH588 if she was “flying ops” in the Wiltshire area. I’ll never forget waiting on the Ridgeway when she came from behind us, quite close to the ground, engines throttled back… just this sort of screaming hiss as she came into sight to our right. She then lit up her engines almost directly in front of us… LOUD! It still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. It’s sad we will never see a Vulcan in the skies again. Thanks for the very interesting little video and thank you CZcams for the rather random recommendation.