I remember from my childhood days the Vulcan bomber from the Air Shows at RAF Wildenrath in Germany. To this day it is the most beautiful jet aircraft I have ever seen. Thank goodness it never had to fire a shot in anger (with the exception of the Falklands War.)
I believe they had a 25% crash rate. Having been in a cockpit at a museum only the pilot and co-pilot had ejector seats. The three crew sitting facing the rear on the lower deck had to put on their parachutes and go through a hatch in the bottom of the fuselage. As most of the crashes seem to have occurred on landing there really wasn't much point their having parachutes. The co-pilot had the best chance, one wrote standing orders were he should eject immediately so he could tell everyone what had gone wrong.
My dear old dad, now in his late eighties, was an RAF policeman guarding the Thor site at Polebrook. He records two 'interesting' little snippets. His armament consisted of a .38 revolver, with which he was expected to deal with unauthorised miscreants. The ammunition for this heavy artillery, just six rounds per man, was wrapped in sticky tape in his belt pouch to prevent over enthusiastic use of Her Majesty's property.......didn't do much for a rapid draw though! The only time this ammo was permitted to be loaded was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The missiles operated on a 'dual key' principle apparently. Which meant that a resident USAF officer had to jointly authorise a launch with his RAF counterpart - this was because the warhead was owned by the Americans. A few days after Polebrook became operational with Thors the senior engineering officer quietly informed the CO, 'Don't worry, sir. If we need them to, they'll go!) Dad insists this is not an apocryphal story. I kind of hope he's right.
JUST Remembered The Lighting Fighter Aircraft a 1950s Invention from Her MAJESTY'S United Kingdom 🇬🇧 that was twice the speed of sound and was able to climb above 100 thousand feet. No Fighter Aircraft Could Match that in its era.
1.31 There's enough wiring in these bombers to light a small town. Fun detail I worked with an electrician who'd built Vulcans at Woodford, Cheshire and he said it was the most boring job of his life. The union had negotiated 6 weeks to do the central wiring system and a competent electrician could do it in two. They used to pass the time playing cards or sleeping in quiet places, the trouble was when he was made charge-hand no one would let him in on a game.
For a while, 1950s to about 1964, (I think!) technicians had their rank denoted by inverted chevrons US style to distinguish them from other ground trades. The experiment didn't last long!
Everyone, no matter how low in rank, or manual in responsibility, wearing a tie, just in case they have to attend a board meeting, or go to their club for cognac and cigars….
Yes he did say supersonic bombers which we were developing at that point with the TSR 2. Wing Commander Roland Beamont who was in an English Electric lightning (which itself was no slouch) made the comment that as a chase plane for the TSR 2 he was left for dead by the TSR 2 on reheat on just one engine.
This is probabaly the only record in the public domain of the 'Thor' Intermediate Range Ballastic Missile (IRBM) system in one of the six locations in Eastern England all aimed at Russia the the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe. Back in the days before ICBMs could be developed and launched from USA soil. Prime Minister Harold Mac millan painted a huge nuclear 'Bullseye' on this country when he agreed to base US IRBMs there in the late 1950s. The Thor Missile system was also based at Incherlik in Turkey. It is the primary reason why the Russians retaliated by basing their IRBMS on the Island of Cuba. The 1962 crisis was only averted not because, as we were told, the Russians 'blinked' first when confronted with a blockadge of US Warships. It was because Kennedy agreed that the price of removing the Russian missiles from Cuba, was that the Americans would remove their missiles from the UK and Turkey. This was achieved within 2 months of the end of the crisis. This apect of the Cold War in General and the Cuban Missile Crisis in particular has been all but airbrushed out of history.
good remarks ;))) But Vulcan was really great. And what was decidedly better? :) Early B-52 was not state-of-art anyway. Our Tu-16s was about the same level as Vulcan or below
By 1960 thete were serious doubts as to the effectiveness of the V bombers. As to missiles not being effective in the observable future, they replaced the bombers in 1967. Polaris.
Absolutely. The US fighters at the time had highly stressed wing loadings and could only turn slowly but missile advances quickly overcame the problem. I wasn't criticising the V bombers, just pointing out how quickly they became obsolete in their primary role. Technology was moving at an alarming pace in the forties, fifties and slowed down a bit after then as equipment became so complex.
The Vulcan Bomber nuked America twice in one of the largest exercises to test America’s air defences. The Vulcan bomber at the time was absolutely unrivalled due to its speed, manoeuvrability and high altitude capability.
@@CFMLEAP "and high altitude capability" if we discuss 1962 then Vulcan will be downed with 99% probability at once enters Soviet (not Russian as you like write) anti-air missile zone. Alas - I like this iconic plane very much
what you mean "with that Capability"? In sense of speed or bombload or equipment US or Soviet bombers were about the same or even better. Sure you know about B-52 but perhaps forget Tu-16s and/or 3Ms (you called it Bison)
Those were the days!As a 13year old schoolboy I remember looking up to the RAF in awe with the mighty Vulcans and Victors they flew.
I remember from my childhood days the Vulcan bomber from the Air Shows at RAF Wildenrath in Germany. To this day it is the most beautiful jet aircraft I have ever seen. Thank goodness it never had to fire a shot in anger (with the exception of the Falklands War.)
This is remembered by myself as I was in the RAF at RAF Folkingham...Lincs..1962..
such destructive power never sounded so jolly.
i love the cock-up at 4:04 where the Vulcan takes off (probably a touch and go) with its airbrakes open.
XH481 scrapped in 1977!
The launch procedure could have been quicker if they employed the Thunderbirds technique of loading the crew (along with the cool music).
Getting in was okay.
It was getting out (bailing out) that was the problem.
Vulcan and contents no longer secret and can be seen at the Midlands Air Museum.
Thanks for this. A Vulcan bomber nearly crashed near me when it's undercarriage collapsed.. cheers from NZ 👍✈️🇳🇿
I believe they had a 25% crash rate. Having been in a cockpit at a museum only the pilot and co-pilot had ejector seats. The three crew sitting facing the rear on the lower deck had to put on their parachutes and go through a hatch in the bottom of the fuselage. As most of the crashes seem to have occurred on landing there really wasn't much point their having parachutes.
The co-pilot had the best chance, one wrote standing orders were he should eject immediately so he could tell everyone what had gone wrong.
5:45 the old pre-Warboys road signs!
Heady days when we had an Air Force
My dear old dad, now in his late eighties, was an RAF policeman guarding the Thor site at Polebrook. He records two 'interesting' little snippets. His armament consisted of a .38 revolver, with which he was expected to deal with unauthorised miscreants. The ammunition for this heavy artillery, just six rounds per man, was wrapped in sticky tape in his belt pouch to prevent over enthusiastic use of Her Majesty's property.......didn't do much for a rapid draw though! The only time this ammo was permitted to be loaded was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The missiles operated on a 'dual key' principle apparently. Which meant that a resident USAF officer had to jointly authorise a launch with his RAF counterpart - this was because the warhead was owned by the Americans. A few days after Polebrook became operational with Thors the senior engineering officer quietly informed the CO, 'Don't worry, sir. If we need them to, they'll go!) Dad insists this is not an apocryphal story. I kind of hope he's right.
@Fire Starter Technically, we COULD launch ourselves because we at least own the warheads. Of course, you're right, we never would.
The Vulcan V Bomber, and the rest at Biggin Hill, Westerham. 1950s, 1960s, 1970s 1980s, Etc.!
Thunderbirds was somewhat darker than I remember...
JUST Remembered The Lighting Fighter Aircraft a 1950s Invention from Her MAJESTY'S United Kingdom 🇬🇧 that was twice the speed of sound and was able to climb above 100 thousand feet. No Fighter Aircraft Could Match that in its era.
I used to watch them at RAF Gütersloh, they were magnificent, within seconds of take off a mere pin prick in the sky.
Always left my breakfast behind !
"and was able to climb above 100 thousand feet"
NEVER - if even goes ballistic. Real static ceiling was 60000 and zoom about 70000
Christ, we’re lucky to still be here. What’s a lunatic time to live through.
I was 4 in 1960 and had more problems with Vanguards and Viscounts flying over our house while I tried to sleep, than with the Russians.
Good job we didn't have blithering Boris in charge in the early 60's.
1.31 There's enough wiring in these bombers to light a small town.
Fun detail I worked with an electrician who'd built Vulcans at Woodford, Cheshire and he said it was the most boring job of his life. The union had negotiated 6 weeks to do the central wiring system and a competent electrician could do it in two. They used to pass the time playing cards or sleeping in quiet places, the trouble was when he was made charge-hand no one would let him in on a game.
Interesting vid
@around 2:40 they run out of a building with ‘no smoking’ clearly labeled on the doors, after half of them were in fact just smoking inside….
Is this RAF Scampton? Sure looks like it. I was based there for 5 years.
No it was Waddington - I know my Dad's in the film.....
Crew rooms never change....
Interesting. Those SNCO's with their rank stripes, upside down.
Yes I wondered that. Looked very US army/airforce.
For a while, 1950s to about 1964, (I think!) technicians had their rank denoted by inverted chevrons US style to distinguish them from other ground trades. The experiment didn't last long!
When the RAF was real with so much respect i know this
wow what joy this video is, what a new world could of come of it if the button was pressed. THANK any god it didnt.
The 3 "V"s. Vulcan, Victor, and Valiant .
England's 50's bombers.
The second Vulcan took off with the air brakes extended....hmmm, I shall have to ask my local retired Vulcan pilot about that.🤔
Possibly a touch and go? Would be good to hear if otherwise though!
@@murdomac22 Yes, I agree. Also I think those 3 Vulcans were all just filmed during routine T/O or circuits
Everyone, no matter how low in rank, or manual in responsibility, wearing a tie, just in case they have to attend a board meeting, or go to their club for cognac and cigars….
So the Thor program was two years from agreement to operational status? They really knew how to get things done in those days!
Missiles in Submarines took over in the end
Did he say "supersonic bombers" at 1:38?
Yes, and that’s the illusion they wanted in the 50’s
The Avro Vulcan 730 bomber was designed in 1954 and would have been supersonic but prototype never flew and was scrapped in 1957.
I thought the Vulcan was supersonic capable?
Yes he did say supersonic bombers which we were developing at that point with the TSR 2. Wing Commander Roland Beamont who was in an English Electric lightning (which itself was no slouch) made the comment that as a chase plane for the TSR 2 he was left for dead by the TSR 2 on reheat on just one engine.
@@COIcultist not quite, Beamont was in the TSR2 and Peter Moneypenny in the Lightning.
Thank goodness the missiles carried roundels so they would know where they were coming from
:))) British humor detected (I suppose?)
This is probabaly the only record in the public domain of the 'Thor' Intermediate Range Ballastic Missile (IRBM) system in one of the six locations in Eastern England all aimed at Russia the the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe. Back in the days before ICBMs could be developed and launched from USA soil. Prime Minister Harold Mac millan painted a huge nuclear 'Bullseye' on this country when he agreed to base US IRBMs there in the late 1950s. The Thor Missile system was also based at Incherlik in Turkey. It is the primary reason why the Russians retaliated by basing their IRBMS on the Island of Cuba. The 1962 crisis was only averted not because, as we were told, the Russians 'blinked' first when confronted with a blockadge of US Warships. It was because Kennedy agreed that the price of removing the Russian missiles from Cuba, was that the Americans would remove their missiles from the UK and Turkey. This was achieved within 2 months of the end of the crisis. This apect of the Cold War in General and the Cuban Missile Crisis in particular has been all but airbrushed out of history.
Yes. The Turkey withdrawal was, I think, not publicised at all. Perhaps it was kept secret? But then, why wouldn't the Russians announce it?
thank for this honest comment about real reason of Cuban crisis.
This in SOME DEGREE looks like last years tragedy :(((
Should have called it a look at death
No, you can't see the top secret chain driven analogue computer and World War 2 vintage radar sets inside the Vulcan...
good remarks ;)))
But Vulcan was really great. And what was decidedly better? :) Early B-52 was not state-of-art anyway.
Our Tu-16s was about the same level as Vulcan or below
Methinks he protests too much about the problems with rocket sites.
British equivalent of US Army's "The Big Picture."
Bit like the book Hello Russia, Goodbye England.
Falklands 1982
Wearing ties with their flight clothing .... Couldn't stand to wear the damn things on the ground let alone while flying.
How can they map an area the size of the United States if we are supposedly on a rotating globe?
Intro Music: Jolly
Content: Potential inhalation of the human race
Breathe it in.
By 1960 thete were serious doubts as to the effectiveness of the V bombers. As to missiles not being effective in the observable future, they replaced the bombers in 1967. Polaris.
Perhaps, but there is a video on youtube claiming Vulcan's got through the USAF defences and "nuked" America twice in an exercise.
Absolutely. The US fighters at the time had highly stressed wing loadings and could only turn slowly but missile advances quickly overcame the problem. I wasn't criticising the V bombers, just pointing out how quickly they became obsolete in their primary role. Technology was moving at an alarming pace in the forties, fifties and slowed down a bit after then as equipment became so complex.
U.S and the Russians didn't have an Aircraft with that Capability 🇬🇧 at the time.
B-52 says "hello"
@@HO-bndk And the M-4 and Tu-95 on the other side
The Vulcan Bomber nuked America twice in one of the largest exercises to test America’s air defences. The Vulcan bomber at the time was absolutely unrivalled due to its speed, manoeuvrability and high altitude capability.
@@CFMLEAP "and high altitude capability"
if we discuss 1962 then Vulcan will be downed with 99% probability at once enters Soviet (not Russian as you like write) anti-air missile zone. Alas - I like this iconic plane very much
what you mean "with that Capability"? In sense of speed or bombload or equipment US or Soviet bombers were about the same or even better. Sure you know about B-52 but perhaps forget Tu-16s and/or 3Ms (you called it Bison)
What would have then, Nikita Khrushchev, the Russian President, have made of this propaganda film in 1960…?.
When the RAF lacked diversity, wokeness ,tick box promotion , limp Air Officers, women in senior roles etc etc
Was it better?
@@Cous1nJack It was invincible then.