Interesting, hadn't heard about that either. The first of the V bombers, saw the other 2, the Victor and Vulcan flying but the Valiant way before my time.
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Interesting, hadn't heard about that either. The first of the V bombers, saw the other 2, the Victor and Vulcan flying but the Valiant way before my time.
Weststander
Well-known member
The first prototype according to wiki flew in 1951, just 6 years after WW2, the era of Wellingtons/Lancasters (I realise B29’s too)!! Post war technology advanced at an incredible rate. A bit of a space age looker for a bomber imho.
Hell of an upgrade on a Wellington !! Love the Silver planes of the 50/60's
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It really did - only 11 years seperated the first flight of an Avro Lancaster from the first flight of an Avro Vulcan.
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I wasn't aware of this either, thanks for sharing!
The Valiant only had a fairly short service life after cracks were found in the wing spars of them. There's now only one intact one left anywhere in the world, in the RAF Museum at Cosford.
As a side note, the Valiant was the only V-Bomber to do (only in tests, thankfully), what they were originally designed to do - drop a live nuclear weapon. The one that did it, XD 818, is the one preserved at Cosford.
You should also add the TSR2 into the conversation although it was cancelled before it could get into service. It was light years ahead of the game.
AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
- Apr 19, 2018
- 2,135
Lovely to see these photos. In the 80's as a history-obsessed teen I did a bit of voluntary work at a site that had some old Vickers-Armstrong and BAC documents. As part of sorting things out saw some blueprints and concept art from the 1950s and 60s of aircraft that were never built but looked amazing - early Concorde type passenger aircraft, some spacecraft concepts, some military jet concepts. All incredible.
Met some fascinating people too, including working for a few days with Norman Boorer who was described to me as an aviation artist, and his paintings are fantastic, but I only discovered after his death he had been one of Barnes Wallis's team of 3 designing the bouncing bomb too. I remember him as a very humble man, generous with his time. Odd to think that was nearly 40 years ago.
Met some fascinating people too, including working for a few days with Norman Boorer who was described to me as an aviation artist, and his paintings are fantastic, but I only discovered after his death he had been one of Barnes Wallis's team of 3 designing the bouncing bomb too. I remember him as a very humble man, generous with his time. Odd to think that was nearly 40 years ago.
AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
RAF photo competition 2021
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.da...-vertically-RAFs-spectacular-images-year.html
Either the photography thread or this one
Doesn't really matter IMO, great images though.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.da...-vertically-RAFs-spectacular-images-year.html
Either the photography thread or this one
Doesn't really matter IMO, great images though.
swindonseagull
Well-known member
Currently at Fairford, 2 x B1's
Return of the Rev
Well-known member
Saw this beauty yesterday.
AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
[tweet]1460720839997939722[/tweet]
I have spent my break being buzzed by a Spitfire. (Goodwood).
Which is nice.
Which is nice.
AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
wunt be druv
Drat! and double drat!
I spent my Saturday afternoon flying in the back of this bad boy, I apologise for the noise over Peacehaven at around 15:45-ish as we did a victory roll over Wunt be Druv heights! A wonderful birthday gift from Mrs. Wunt be Druv for a "significant" birthday
Cheshire Cat
The most curious thing..
Madafwo
I'm probably being facetious.
- Nov 11, 2013
- 1,734
The fact that you waited until I wasn't in Peacehaven to witness this is incredibly selfish. I suggest you do it again next week so I can see and hear it.
Deportivo Seagull
I should coco
Used to watch these do bump and runs at Yeovilton. Noisy ******** but very very impressive.
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