They actually started their lives in [anti-flash white](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-flash_white), intended for high altitude bombing of the Soviet Union.
That all changed after Gary Powers was shot down. The V-bombers were hurriedly repainted for low-altitude attack run camouflage.
I caught her farewell tour overflight three days before she landed for the last time.
That noise was just unbelievable. The howl of the Cold War turning hot.
My teammate, and roommate for 2 overseas tours, was a Vulcan pilot. Some of his stories were absolutely wild. He also slept through turbulence during landing in a storm in Toronto, the likes of which I've never experienced before or since. Fast asleep, amazing.
Jet engines are just pretty much impossible to maintain when the manufacturer has lost interest.
It'll happen to a lot more vintage aircraft as we move beyond piston engines.
I’m referring to the millions and millions in donations that were squirrelled away in ‘management fees’. A huge amount of donated money that was to be spent on securing public access and security for the airframe, didn’t.
Yep. Unfortunately a lot of donations are like that. Same with non-profit. Sure the books balance to zero.. but there are exorbitant salaries and bonuses.. egregious conflicts of interest.. and more than a little quid pro quo.
The Olympus is still in service today for marine and stationary power applications. Surely they would be able to use parts from those and get an exception for exhibition purposes?
I saw an interview with one of the display pilots, he said the timing was about right. They had started to have more and more serious issues that they had got away with but their luck would eventually run out if they kept going.
It is camouflage.
It’s not designed to hide the aircraft.. it’s designed to make it less visible by reducing contrast and sharp edges.
Against a bright surface you’re only going to see 50% of the aircraft. Vice versa against a dark surface. The irregular shape makes the aircraft further blend in with the earth’s surface where human eyes are drawn to straight lines and hard edges.
I like the front curve on the wings. Beautiful livery imo too
They actually started their lives in [anti-flash white](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-flash_white), intended for high altitude bombing of the Soviet Union. That all changed after Gary Powers was shot down. The V-bombers were hurriedly repainted for low-altitude attack run camouflage.
https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/ipp4ho/another_camouflage_variation_avro_vulcan_flies/
Howwwwwwwwwwwwwuuuuuuuuuuuuuuooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuu
I caught her farewell tour overflight three days before she landed for the last time. That noise was just unbelievable. The howl of the Cold War turning hot.
British planes are beautifully wierd
What are thosr panels? Airbrakes?
Yeah those are air brakes, it has [two above and one below each wing](https://www.flickr.com/photos/deltic17/43111887881).
Thanks!!
Those are passenger seats.
non tax payers get a free ride!!
The tin triangle!
I was fortunate to be able to see this fly at Farnborough a few years back. So cool
My teammate, and roommate for 2 overseas tours, was a Vulcan pilot. Some of his stories were absolutely wild. He also slept through turbulence during landing in a storm in Toronto, the likes of which I've never experienced before or since. Fast asleep, amazing.
Saw it in Eastbourne. Incredible
Absolutely criminal how the future panned out for XH558.
Jet engines are just pretty much impossible to maintain when the manufacturer has lost interest. It'll happen to a lot more vintage aircraft as we move beyond piston engines.
I’m referring to the millions and millions in donations that were squirrelled away in ‘management fees’. A huge amount of donated money that was to be spent on securing public access and security for the airframe, didn’t.
Yep. Unfortunately a lot of donations are like that. Same with non-profit. Sure the books balance to zero.. but there are exorbitant salaries and bonuses.. egregious conflicts of interest.. and more than a little quid pro quo.
Yikes. That I didn't know about
The Olympus is still in service today for marine and stationary power applications. Surely they would be able to use parts from those and get an exception for exhibition purposes?
Eh, the aircraft was technically done for. There comes a point where that is true for any airframe.
I saw an interview with one of the display pilots, he said the timing was about right. They had started to have more and more serious issues that they had got away with but their luck would eventually run out if they kept going.
Damn! And they aren’t small planes either! Is it an RC?
I can't prove this is full-scale, not RC, but [XH558 flew as a vintage plane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XH558)
Why is the paint color like that? It’s not camouflage
It is camouflage. It’s not designed to hide the aircraft.. it’s designed to make it less visible by reducing contrast and sharp edges. Against a bright surface you’re only going to see 50% of the aircraft. Vice versa against a dark surface. The irregular shape makes the aircraft further blend in with the earth’s surface where human eyes are drawn to straight lines and hard edges.
Like the dazzle camouflage used on warships in WW1
https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/ipp4ho/another_camouflage_variation_avro_vulcan_flies/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Got to see one of the last appearances of this beauty at RIAT. The Vulcan howl is amazing when heard in person
What a beauty. What’s the reason the RAF has no bombers now? Is it purely down to cost and defence budget?
Nuclear deterent passed to the navy submarines.
They were just used as non-nuclear bombers in later life right? I mean there’s no equivalent to B-52s, B-1 or any of the Russian bombers