Avro Vulcan
The Avro Vulcan (also Avro 698 Vulcan) is a delta wing bomber aircraft. It was part of the RAF V bombers which were used by the Royal Air Force as a nuclear deterrent during the Cold War.[2] The other aircraft in the V bombers were the Vickers and Valiant. The Vulcan was also used for long-distance bombing runs during the Falklands War.
| Avro Vulcan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A Vulcan B.2 of the RAF, 1985 | |
| Role | Strategic bomber |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Avro Hawker Siddeley Aviation |
| First flight | 30 August 1952 |
| Introduction | September 1956 |
| Retired | March 1984 (Royal Air Force) October 2015 (XH558) |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1956–1965 |
| Number built | 136 (including prototypes) |
| Unit cost | £750,000 (1956)[1] |
| Variants | Avro Atlantic |
Development
In 1947, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence said it needed a bomber aircraft that could fly a long way and very high. It also needed to carry a lot of bombs. The prototype Vulcan flew in 1948. It crashed in 1949, but development carried on. Over 100 aircraft were built between 1956 and 1965.
Use
The crew of the Vulcan was made up of five people – two pilots, two navigators and one electronics officer. The Vulcan was originally used as part of the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. It carried the United Kingdom's first nuclear weapon, called Blue Danube.
The Vulcan was also used sometimes for reconnaissance. It was retired from the Royal Air Force in 1984.
Technical data (Vulcan B Mk.2)
| Data | Units |
|---|---|
| Years of production | 1956-1965 |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Wingspan | 33,80 m |
| Length | 30,40 m |
| Hight | 8,20 m |
| Wing area | 368,20 m² |
| Weight (empty) | - kg |
| Max takeoff weight | 113.398 kg |
| Passangers | - |
| Crew | 5 |
| Speed | 1038 km/h |
| Service ceiling | 19.810 m |
| Range | 7.400 km |
| Powerplants | 4*Rolls-Royce Olympus 301 turbine |
Avro Vulcan Media
Vulcans in anti-flash white in 1957
Silhouettes of an early Avro 698 concept and the cancelled Avro 710
The prototype Vulcans (VX777 front, VX770 rear) with four Avro 707s at the Farnborough Air Show in September 1953: The large delta wings of the Vulcan quickly gave it the affectionate nickname of "Tin Triangle".
Comparison of Vulcan wing designs
Avro Vulcan B.2 XH533, the first B.2 Vulcan, flying at Farnborough in 1958
Silhouette of the original study for the Vulcan B.3 patrol missile carrier
Avro Vulcan XH558 at Duxford Airshow 2012
Bomb bay of a Vulcan bomber
Aerial view of a Vulcan B.2 in late RAF markings on static display at RAF Mildenhall, 1984
Avro Vulcan rear crew positions
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References
- ↑ Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 9.
- ↑ "The V-bombers". Channel 4. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
- ↑ Flugzeuge-Die wichtigsten Flugzeuge der Welt ISBN 3-7043-2188-5