The Office - Part Four
Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 7:12 am
Shortly after reforming in 1983, 617 Sqn got a personal invitation to take part in the Toronto Airshow. When our Senior Engineering Officer arrived there for the recce he was shown a corner of the Wardair hangar and told "your Vulcan should fit in there nicely". SEngO explained that we had Tornados now and, even though they had no idea what a Tornado was, they still agreed to their invitation. Feeling guilty, it was decided that we would use Victors to get us across the Pond but that we would take a Vulcan tanker into Canada to do the last leg and also take part in the show.
We started our tanker conversion with the Victors with whom we were based. Note the white, dummy ECM pods, carried to prevent flutter and reduce fatigue as I recall.
TANK1 by Stephen Wilson, on Flickr
Getting personal with the drogue. Several of my pics from this period were used in the part-work The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft.
TANK2 by Stephen Wilson, on Flickr
On the trail to Toronto itself.
TANK3 by Stephen Wilson, on Flickr
As the Vulcan unplugged after its final fill of the trip the Hose Drum Unit on the Victor split in two and it started losing fuel rapidly.
TANK4 by Stephen Wilson, on Flickr
The Victor Squadron Boss was at the controls and, despite being close to Greenland, he decided to divert to as close to Marham as he could get. He made it to Prestwick.
The Vulcan took us to Canada, he landed at Goose Bay and we continued to Toronto.
TANK5 by Stephen Wilson, on Flickr
TANK6 by Stephen Wilson, on Flickr
More 617 Sqn next time.
Steve W
We started our tanker conversion with the Victors with whom we were based. Note the white, dummy ECM pods, carried to prevent flutter and reduce fatigue as I recall.
TANK1 by Stephen Wilson, on FlickrGetting personal with the drogue. Several of my pics from this period were used in the part-work The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft.
TANK2 by Stephen Wilson, on FlickrOn the trail to Toronto itself.
TANK3 by Stephen Wilson, on FlickrAs the Vulcan unplugged after its final fill of the trip the Hose Drum Unit on the Victor split in two and it started losing fuel rapidly.
TANK4 by Stephen Wilson, on FlickrThe Victor Squadron Boss was at the controls and, despite being close to Greenland, he decided to divert to as close to Marham as he could get. He made it to Prestwick.
The Vulcan took us to Canada, he landed at Goose Bay and we continued to Toronto.
TANK5 by Stephen Wilson, on FlickrTANK6 by Stephen Wilson, on FlickrMore 617 Sqn next time.
Steve W
