nine

And now for some British news!

In 1947 the British Air Ministry asked manufacturers to submit ideas for new bomber aircraft. The new aircraft had to be jet powered, fly faster than 500 knots and fly over 50,000 feet - and oh, yes, had to carry a nuclear weapon.

A tall order when we were still flying piston-engined Lancasters.

One of the planes chosen was a Vulcan and if you've ever been to a UK airshow in the 80's it was to loudest most badass plane you ever did see. Oh, and the huge plane practically did aerobatics too. Not bad for something designed in the 50s and wasnt even a fighter.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/al.will...V190992_1H.wmv

TURN UP THE VOLUME - Tell me it doesn't give you goose bumps

Anyhow, of the 130 or so planes built the last one to fly was in the early 90s.

Now, enough money has been raised to fly one again

http://www.tvoc.co.uk/index2.htm

Look out for it in the future - it really is a stunning aircraft.



More pictures here

http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...nct_entry=true

SinisterMotives

That is a beautiful bird!

MSD

That really is amazing. It's great to see something so agile and graceful. If one of those flew over me while I was taking cover during a military engagement, I think I'd shit myself.

Asuka{eve}

That is easily one of the coolest aircraft I've seen!

DelayedReaction

Just how big is that thing?

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Cycler

Really reminds me of a B-1, without the adjustable wings.

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Bill O'Rights

I remember when I was in the Air Force in the 80's, stationed at Offutt AFB. I was on my way to work at SAC HQ, when I drove past the flightline. There, stacked up row upon row, were British Vulcans. Lots and lots of Vulcans. Awesome looking warbirds, but this, not being a common sight on Offutt, peaked my curiosity. By the end of that day...we were dropping bombs on Libya. Apparently, they were farmed out to make room for our bombers at their home base.

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It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

vermin

Cool plane. You can also see one in the James Bond movie "Thunderball".

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nine

A picture with people - gives an idea of size

Nafter

There used to be one of these at the air museum near us, havnt been in a few years, might still be there, but yea its impressive, i used to have posters of it when i was a kid )

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Jackebear

In the 80's, I lived near London, Ontario and we had one of the best airshow in North America at the time. The day before the show, planes usually do a practice run and I was out working in the fields when one flew over me at about 1000 ft. Badass is not the work...I was shitin' myself the thing was so huge and loud.

The Vulcan came around again and I was waving frantically at it and it went right over me and tipped its wings in acknowledgement. It was pretty cool thing for a 15 year old farm boy. I'll never forget it.

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Destrox

It looks so peacefull in mid flight...

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Madd

Gotta go get that movie now

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castex

I remember one of these doing a low, low pass over me when walking in the Cheviot hills aged about 8. Just fabulous.
The story of 558's will she-won't she return to flight has been long and frustrating.
This is the last Vulcan that could be flown, and it's cost an absolute fortune to get this far. The £40 I spent six years ago getting them to paint my then-girlfriend's name on the bomb bay doors will barely have covered even the cost of the '60's aerospace-grade paint and paintbrush, not to mention sandwiches for the crack team of veterans in charge of authentic font selection.
Is this sort of project worthy of massive national lottery funding?
Hmm?
Yes, it is.

bookerV

That's a badass machine. It would definitely be great to see one of those up and flying around again...

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CrazySaturn

I really hope they keep that thing up and flying. However, I have yet to find a plane as awesome as the B1-B to me.... :drool:

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Super Model

Now this is one fantastic bird. I am shocked, becuase I have never knew of its existance, even though i always follow all the high tech developments in air force and navy. maybe it is becuase I always looked at the russians, and didn't really pay attention to the brits. Damn nice plane.

nine

I've been having a great time surfing the net finding out more about these planes. Probably the most famous mission that I can remember when I was a kid was the bombing of the Falkland Islands airport during the Argentina invasion of the Island. You can read the (interesting) story here

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/mongso...k_page_all.htm

Also, here is a sound clip of those amazing engines

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/mongsoft/vulc.wav

RaDiAn

That is really a cool plane....vid of it was quite impressive, thanks for sharing!

Ilow

it was so ahead of its time, thanks for bringing it to us!

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poof

The one in Thunderball even goes underwater! Ahhh, you need to see the movie, I won't spoil it.

twilightfoix

that is one huge ass plane. doesn't look so big without the people next to it, but it is

kajagoogoo

I remember that scene from thunderball...good stuff.