MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
World's only flying Vulcan bomber will be displayed at the Yeovilton Air show
The Vulcan’s RAF career peaked during the 1982 Falkland’s conflict when the type’s famous Black Buck missions became longest bombing raids in history. XH558, the world’s only flying Avro Vulcan ‘V-bomber’, is RNAS Yeovilton Air Day’s first confirmed flying display participant. . Now 55 years old, this thunderous Cold War icon which played a great role in the Falklands' conflict, will be among the largest, heaviest and noisiest types involved in this year’s show on Saturday 11 July.
XH558 is a globally unique survivor and has brought Air Day to a standstill on each of its previous appearances at RNAS Yeovilton.
As before, the sensational Vulcan will perform a spectacular, roaring air display and will also be present on the ground. This will allow visitors to enjoy a close-up guided ‘under-wing’ tour – an attraction offered by few other air shows.
With 2015 marking XH558’s last planned display season, this really could be one of the last chance opportunities to see this famed and hugely popular type in South West England.
The Vulcan’s RAF career peaked during the 1982 Falkland’s Conflict when the type’s famous Black Buck missions became the longest bombing raids in history.
Many squadrons from RNAS Yeovilton also played a hugely significant role as part of the Royal Navy task force sent to regain the Falkland Islands.
RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2015’s main theme marks 75 years since the Air Station was commissioned as HMS Heron on 18 June 1940.
A large gathering of aircraft types with past RNAS Yeovilton connections is planned to mark this anniversary.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all commentsI can see why MP has put this in. Argie trolls posting “only one bomb on runway” etc.
Feb 13th, 2015 - 10:43 am 0In the 1970's they used to practice low level flying in the hills to the south of me.
I remember driving along a twisting narrow road on a hillside with a valley about 500 feet below me. When I came round a bend there was a Vulcan about 250 feet BELOW me weaving it's way through the hills. It looked enormous and the noise was something else.
I was shown round one at RAF Marham and was surprised at how small the cockpit was. I was almost too big to get between the pilots seats and sit down.
It smelled of old leather and hydraulic fluid.
They told me a story about their first visit to Red Flag stopping off at a New England fighter base with resident F-106's. After some banter the Yanks challenged the Vulcan's crew to a race to 50,000 feet. They took off together and the F-106 shot off at high speed leaving the Vulcan in it's trail.
When they got to 50.000 feet, they found the Vulcan circling about waiting for them !
I hope Sharky Ward is there ....
Feb 13th, 2015 - 11:01 am 0His scathing comments about the cost per bomb dropped of the Black Buck raids in '82 make priceless reading .
The various books on the raids make excellent reading too .
The whole “only one bomb on runway” thing is hilarious when you think about it, bearing in mind that it's primary design armament was one bomb/missile.
Feb 13th, 2015 - 11:10 am 0They were about the single noisiest plane that Britain ever made, but the design did have one rather interesting (and largely unanticipated) side effect - with their recessed engines and delta wing configuration it was surprisingly stealthy (for a plane about the size of a blue whale), certainly when compared with the Soviet Tu-95 (Bear) with it's four pairs of contra-rotating propellers that made it stand out like a walrus in a goldfish bowl.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!