"Vertical, supersonic Victor"

[22A]

This morning looking at the magazine shelf, I saw the current issue of "British Military History" magazine with that headline on the cover.
I had a quick look inside whilst deciding whether or not to buy the mag.

In 1961, completely unplanned, a Victor ended up in a nose down attitude and as it fell earthwards, it went through the sound barrier. I've now found a link to the story;
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/superso ... 0-seconds/

Anyone know of any similar occurrences please?

[graham luxton]

This morning looking at the magazine shelf, I saw the current issue of "British Military History" magazine with that headline on the cover.
I had a quick look inside whilst deciding whether or not to buy the mag.

In 1961, completely unplanned, a Victor ended up in a nose down attitude and as it fell earthwards, it went through the sound barrier. I've now found a link to the story;
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/superso ... 0-seconds/

Anyone know of any similar occurrences please?

Vaguely remember one going supersonic on a factory test flight out of Radlett

[Snoop 95]

A very interesting story and thanks for posting it. Just for orientation of the story I had a look on Google earth and bothe Port Wakefield and Woomera seem operational now. Woomera has three F18s on the runway and an F111 on a hardstand.

[Thunder]

Your F111, looks more like a F-18E/F.

[Snoop 95]

Your F111, looks more like a F-18E/F.

I guess it's more likely to be an F18.

[Arthur Tee]

XA917 - the nose of which still survives in Fife.

Arthur

[T_J]

The supersonic vertical Victor is also recounted in the book Victor Boys. I currently have it out on loan from my local library. I thoroughly recommend it!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victor-Boys-St ... 1908117451

The early Victor Mk1s were by all accounts a very slippery airframe at altitude and crews fairly regularly went supersonic. There is also an account in the book of a Victor being barrel rolled.

[raptor9]

The 'Victor Boys' and all the 'Boys' books are very good reads. Most aircraft are capable of rolling, provided 'g'considerations and speeds are not exceeded. Concorde was rolled twice on one flight, to the right by Brian Trubshaw, and to the left by his Co-pilot. Of course, the prototype Boeing 707 was famously rolled [and filmed] by Tex Johnson over San Francisco Bay. When asked by Boeing bosses what he thought he was doing, he replied 'selling airplanes' !. A Dc 8 airliner exceeded the speed of sound in a descent on a test flight. I guess there's not much new under the sun these days!.