Vulcan

Vulcan B.2A

Avro

Avro Vulcan

The original mission of the Avro Vulcan B.1 was to be able to carry a 9000 kg / 10 ton nuclear weapon to its target at high subsonic speed and high altitude.  It entered RAF service in early 1957 and, given rapid Soviet air defense improvements, its mission was likely a one way trip.  With the introduction of the SA-2 surface to air missile its approach, like that of the American B-52, would become a low level, radar evading, flight.  The above photo shows the wing's kinked leading edge, an early refinement implemented to counter a mild buffeting problem which increased airframe fatigue.  

Vulcan

Crew:                    5 - pilot, copilot
                                  navigator radar
                                  navigator plotter
                                  air electronics officer

Power:                  4 - Rolls Royce 9080 kg / 20,000 lb thrust Olympus 301 turbojets

Max Speed:          1038 kph / 645 mph
Ceiling:                 16,775 m / 55,000 ft
Range:                  5550 km / 3450 miles
Climb:                   Not Available

Weight -
Empty:                37,682 kg / 83,000 (Mk 1)
Max. Take Off:   113,500 kg / 250,000 lb

Size -
Wingspan:           33.85 m / 111 ft.
Wing Area:         368 sq m / 3964 sq ft
Length:               30.5 m / 99 ft 11 in
Height:                8.26 m / 7 ft 1 in

Armament:
                          21 - 454 kg / 1000 lb bombs or
                          nuclear bombs or
                          1 - Blue Steel stand-off missile

V I D E O

Adapted for low-level penetration

To improve crew survivability a stand-off nuclear missile was developed, the Blue Steel, with the intent of firing it around 161 km / 100 miles from the target.  Still, a more credible nuclear threat was the Polaris missile submarine and their introduction into British service in 1969 brought to an end the Vulcan's role in nuclear deterrence.  

Capable of carrying 3x own weight

The large surface area of its delta wing give the Vulcan great load carrying capacity.  The photo is located at the photographer's, Paul Mutton, personal site.

 

Cockpit

While both the pilot and copilot were furnished ejection seats the three other crew members had to exit the aircraft's entrance hatch.  It remained a controversial decision in the design of the Vulcan.

Camouflage

Your piloting an interceptor and your task is to find bombers racing close to the deck toward their target.  This paint configuration blends into the noise of the terrain increasing the likelihood of successfully completing their bombing mission.    

Wheels Down

The Vulcan was replaced by the Tornadoe but it did see action in the Falkland Islands prior to its retirement in 1984.  

Related Topics:

B-36 Peacemaker

B-58 Hustler

Tu-16 Badger

Tu-22 Backfire

A V I A T I O N

 

OVER EASY

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