Anyone Flown In A Vulcan?

[Doughnut]

One of my earliest aviation memories is sitting in the cockpit of a Vulcan at one of the RAF recruiting road shows. It would have been Skegness in the 1970's. Assumed it was the B1 nose with the entry door cut in the side that ended up at Cosford ?

[Vulcan74]

I was lucky enough to get a tour around 617 Vulcan Squadron at Scampton, and with having a look around the inside of a Vulcan plus a visit to the ATC tower and hearing a Vulcan been talked down on approach. One of many visits to RAF stations to remember!!

[ColintheCaterpillar]

I’ve flown next to one. That was almost in it.

[Vulcan74]

Bet that was awesome!!

[Doughnut]

When on the civil register what was standard flight crew for XH558 ? Would have expected all non essential crew to be left on the ground.

[Vulcan74]

Normally it was three, Capt. Co-Pilot, AEO, sometimes a Navigator was required. But don't recall it been more than 4 max.

[Sparts99]

Nearest I got was ATC camp at Scampton in 1979 or 80. One was having an engine tested, from memory there was a concrete pan dedicated for this with big concrete blocks the Vulcan was tethered to. I was offered the chance to be on board when they ran up the engine but was I removed by an engineering officer and sent away before the test. I did get a flight in a Canberra B2 of 100 Sqn at West Raynham a few years before though.

[Blackboxromeo]

Cadet camp at Lindholme 1970 - flew to Scampton in Hastings T5 TG505 and had a tour of a Vulcan. Still remember the tight squeeze between pilot and co-pilot seats when accessing the cockpit! Visited the bomb-bay of one at St Athan years later and remember the excess of space. Unfortunately, flights were not offered on either occasion.

[paddyboy]

I've sat in XM612

[Pen Pusher]

When I wasn't washing Vulcans, I was sweeping the hangar floor under usually 3 Vulcans. One of the engineers was topping up the tires with Helium, which doesn't catch fire should the tyre explode, when a group of scouts came around. One asked when was he using Helium and not air. The engineer looked around to see if any one in authority was listening and in a quiet voice said that Helium was used in balloons to give them lift. They fill the tyres with Helium to give the Vulcan extra lift so it can carry more bombs. Shhhhh.

Brian

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Bet that was awesome!!

It certainly was.

[Agent K]

When I wasn't washing Vulcans, I was sweeping the hangar floor under usually 3 Vulcans. One of the engineers was topping up the tires with Helium, which doesn't catch fire should the tyre explode, when a group of scouts came around. One asked when was he using Helium and not air. The engineer looked around to see if any one in authority was listening and in a quiet voice said that Helium was used in balloons to give them lift. They fill the tyres with Helium to give the Vulcan extra lift so it can carry more bombs. Shhhhh.

Brian

Helium? Really? Would it not have been nitrogen?

[raptor9]

Sat in the Coventry one years ago. I was taught to fly by a Vulcan Captain {Wing Commander Kevin Dearman}, and have flown in a four jet engined delta that was MUCH FASTER than the Vulcan. Sorry, just willy waving.................

[bvs]

When I wasn't washing Vulcans, I was sweeping the hangar floor under usually 3 Vulcans. One of the engineers was topping up the tires with Helium, which doesn't catch fire should the tyre explode, when a group of scouts came around.
Brian

Brian -
Most A/C tyres were Nitrogen (N2) inflated for safety (as in safer than using Air).
Helium would have been a little expensive as a tyre inlation gas.

[iainpeden]

I did get the chance to sit in XM597 - the Rio Vulcan - at the Alconbury show in 1982 (1983?). Apparently when the Vulcans were being scraped and the aircrew were after souvenirs, the most popular item was the yellow ladder they had all climbed countless times.

I also had 40 minutes in the former RAF Phantom simulator - great fun.

[Seahornet1]

...Helium would have been a little expensive as a tyre inlation gas.

...Not to mention that the tyres would very likely lose pressure within hours. The Helium molecule is much smaller than nitrogen (and oxygen), and will exploit miniscule leak paths that are completely impervious to air or N2.