What a bird!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7cb_1345062432

Thanks for that. Many years ago, when the "new" Auckland Airport was opened, there was one as part of the show.

Doug, got it from friend Tac Foley, who lives in the U.K. I'd love to see one and let it rattle the old sternum ...

Saw one at Offutt AFB in Nebraska in 1978 or 1979 do a roll at stage center during their annual airshow.

Rumor has it the pilot said "ops" to the FAA/USAF after the fact, proving that it's always easier to beg forgiveness than seek permission.

I could not find any video of it, but you tube lists others of upside down Vulcans. What a great airplane.

When I used to go to Farnborough back in the 60's they were a regular appearance. Big and LOUD, but beautiful. Used by the UK to project power during the Falklands Islands war, complete with in air refuelling. Largely ineffective I might add as the bombing of the runways was quickly repaired.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
When I used to go to Farnborough back in the 60's they were a regular appearance. Big and LOUD, but beautiful. Used by the UK to project power during the Falklands Islands war, complete with in air refuelling. Largely ineffective I might add as the bombing of the runways was quickly repaired.
Peter.

Was it not designed to deliver nuclear ordinances. One thing I do remember that in low flight, you could almost feel the air displacement.

Scriptus, it was certianly nuclear capable, but we did not want to nuke the Argies. Kills too many sheep!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Scriptus, it was certianly nuclear capable, but we did not want to nuke the Argies. Kills too many sheep!
Peter.

Besides which, I think the Falklanders would have been a bit more than miffed. The bombing run was also more of a miss than a hit. Of the 21 thousand pounders [old type 'dumb' bombs] dropped, two actually hit the runway. The rest created lovely little ponds dotted over the landscape. Although, there was one benefit, a fair bit of the grasslands were well top dressed with organic fertiliser by fast moving "Argies" with faulty anal sphincters.

Me too 1980-84, Offutt. I have some pics somewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by f224:
Saw one at Offutt AFB in Nebraska in 1978 or 1979 do a roll at stage center during their annual airshow.

Rumor has it the pilot said "ops" to the FAA/USAF after the fact, proving that it's always easier to beg forgiveness than seek permission.

I could not find any video of it, but you tube lists others of upside down Vulcans. What a great airplane.

scriptus, agreed! The precision (or lack thereof) of the bombing left a lot to be desired. I was in the States then and took a lot of ragging about the amount of time it took the RN and invasion force to arrive. Once it got there and the Argie airforce with their Exocets got involved ,things heated up and suddenly got very serious, especially with the Belgrano incident. The amazing thing is that this dispute is still simmering. After all this time and loss of life, the politicians are still at it.
Peter.

The Vulcan was part of the UK's "V" force of bombers designed to deliver nuclear bombs, and dropping iron bombs was very much a secondary role.

Re its use in the Falklands, its mission was really to send out a message to the Argies to prove that we could hit targets on the main land if so desired, and with nuclear weapons, however unlikely that might be.

This apparently worked and after the first Blackbuck raid, the Argies tied up numerous aircraft and pilots for "home defense" which could have otherwise been deployed against the Task Force.

Re the actual effectiveness of the attacks runway, as already mentioned, I think only one or two bombs struck the runway, and craters caused were quickly patched. Arguably the Task Force Harriers or an SF raid could have been more militarily effective, but those options would not have contained the same "hidden threat" ..

regards,

Peter

Saw quite a few in the UK when I lived there.

Re the Falklands, it would have been nice to put the runway out of commission but they would have repaired it but I remember the newspapers in the UK when it happened, awesome feeling and it certainly put a rattle up the Argies !!!

Re the Video, if you look on youtube, you can find the same fly past but from within the cockpit.

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