Here you will find a brief history of the mighty delta. A new addition to this area of the site is an article contributed by Ray Goodall - 'One of our Vulcans is missing!' - an enlightening account of the Vulcan STS (Structural Test Specimen).
Ray was an engineering apprentice at A.V. Roe during the 60's and spent 3 years in the Production Flight Test Department.
Click here to read this fascinating insight into the forgotten Vulcan:
'One of our Vulcans is missing!'
The origin of the Avro Vulcan can be traced back to the response of Roy Chadwick, A V Roe's Chief Designer, to the receipt of Specification B35/46. This was the RAF's requirement for a four jet nuclear bomber and was initiated due to what became known as the 'Cold War'.
In early 1947, Roy Chadwick had decided upon a delta wing configuration which became known as the Type 698 project and was duly submitted to the RAF for approval.
Towards the end of July 1947, the news was received that prototypes of the Type 698 and the Handley Page Victor were to be commissioned. Unfortunately Roy Chadwick was killed in a tragic flying accident in August 1947 but his assistant S.D. Davies (a survivor of the same accident) continued to bring the project to fruition.
The prototype Avro Type 698 first took to the air on the 30th August 1952 with Wing Commander Roly Falk in the left hand seat.
A few changes were made between prototype and production models. It was found that buffeting was a problem with the outer wing sections and production models (designated B1) possessed the now famous 'kinked' leading edge. The Vulcan B2 entered service with the RAF in the 1960's and had a number of refinements over the B1, notably Series 201 Olympus engines producing an additional 5,000 lb st, along with an extended tail containing electronic countermeasures. This was the machine which would carry the Blue Steel nuclear missile.
During the Cold War years, the Vulcan was allocated the role of a high level, stand-off attack bomber and was painted in pure white to reflect nuclear 'flash'. From the 1960's onward, as Soviet air defences improved, the attack profile was changed to low-level penetration and the more familiar camouflage markings were adopted.
The Vulcan was last used in anger during the Falklands campaign. Known as the 'Black Buck' raids, the purpose was to destroy the airfield at Port Stanley. Flt. Lt. Martin Withers captained Vulcan XM607 in the longest ever sequence of bombing raids in history - 15 hours and 45 minutes. It is not until you have been inside a Vulcan cockpit can this feat really be imagined!
The final operational role for the Vulcan was during this era as tankers to assist the existing Victor fleet. Designated K2's, all these tankers were flown by No. 50 Squadron until disbanded in 1984 - these were the last operational Vulcans in the RAF.
Many Vulcans were sold by tender by the RAF and some fine examples are preserved across the UK - even a few overseas (see survivors) - sadly there are none flying at present.
Following the cessation of operational use, the Vulcan Display Team was formed and displayed Vulcan XL426 during 1985/86. In 1986 Vulcan XH558 was chosen as the successor and continued to thrill audiences wherever she performed until the end of the 1992 season.
Details of the fate of this famous Vulcan are well documented elsewhere - suffice to say, she is now resident at Bruntingthorpe where one day it is hoped she will once more feel the air under her wings...
