The Office - Part Four

[wizzair]

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

[Knife 04]

These are brilliant Steve - all 4 episodes have been a fantastic trip through your career.

Very much looking forward to any future posts

best

Darren

[Fibrous Freddie]

Superb...
Thanks.

[TimFoo]

Just Brilliant!!! Most interesting....

[paulh]

Fantastic sets you have been posting Steve, much appreciated

Thanks - Paul

[Mustang531]

These are absolutely wonderful, thanks for sharing them with us.

[f106dart]

These are brilliant Steve - all 4 episodes have been a fantastic trip through your career.

Very much looking forward to any future posts

best

Darren

Let's hope this wasn't the end of your flying RAF flying career. With more to follow

[matt e]

Superb

[DanBeeden]

Fantastic!

[mancman]

Thanks for these posts, nice to see an insiders view of what most us could only view from the outside.

[The Phantom]

Brilliant photos and information

[Hunter49]

GREAT ! Rob