News

Vulcan Haynes Manual now on sale

Two new titles are available from the VRT Shop

Avro Vulcan Owners’ Workshop Manual

Code: BK105 £19.99

The Avro Vulcan B2 gets the Haynes Manual treatment! Co-written by Dr Alfred Price, a former Vulcan Air Electronics Officer; Tony Blackman, Vulcan test pilot; and Andrew Edmondson, Engineering Director of the Vulcan Operating Company, the Avro Vulcan Owners’ Workshop Manual takes a close-up look at what the Vulcan did, what it was like to fly and how it worked. The aircraft’s complex systems are explained using official diagrams from the RAF manuals and specially commissioned photographs. Life with the Vulcan is seen from the pilot’s, the navigator’s and the air electronics officer’s perspectives, and the restoration of XH558 to flight is covered in detail.

Published by Haynes. 160 pages, over 260 colour and black & white photographs, 35 diagrams. Hardback. ISBN 978 1 84425 831 4

Vulcan Units of the Cold War

Code: BK104 £12.99

Vulcan Units of the Cold War Former Vulcan pilot, Andrew Brookes, looks at the RAF’s operation of the Vulcan from its entry into service in the late 1950s through to its withdrawal as an air-to-air refueling tanker in 1984. Chapters cover the Vulcan’s initial use as a high-level bomber, the Blue Steel and Skybolt missiles, the switch to low-level operations in the 1960s, deployments in the Middle and Far East, operational training and going to war in the Falklands. Also included are 24 colour side profiles showing many of the schemes worn by the Vulcan during its RAF service.

Published by Osprey. 96 pages, over 70 colour and black & white photographs. Softback. ISBN 978 1 84603 297 4

£2.00 UK postage.

Red Arrows salute the Southend Vulcan

The Red Arrows will salute Vulcan XL426 with a special fly past at the Visit the Vulcan Day at London Southend Airport on Sunday 15 August. This is the first time the world famous aerobatic team has appeared at a Vulcan Restoration Trust event and we are extremely proud they have agreed to do so. The team’s nine Royal Air Force Hawk T1 aircraft are due to make their fly past at 1:30pm.

The Visit the Vulcan Day is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Visitors will be able to get a close-up view of XL426 with guided tours of the aircraft and cockpit. Tickets can be purchased on the day only with general admission £2.50 for adults and senior citizens, and accompanied children under-16 free. There is an additional charge of £2.50 per person (including children) for cockpit visits. Sorry no dogs, except guide dogs.

Vulcan souvenirs will be on sale from the Trust’s stand and refreshments will be available.

XL426 at Full Power

In the cockpit

On Saturday 12 June, the Vulcan Restoration Trust's engineering team towed Vulcan XL426 to the north side of London Southend Airport, Essex, for a successful maintenance engine run.

Two of the V-bomber's engines were run to full power, whilst power on the other two was restricted due to the removal of their jet pipe end caps for renovation as part of the Trust's 426 Return to Power programme.

At the controls for the engine run was former Vulcan Display Team captain, Group Captain Bill Burnett.

Richard Noble OBE speaks at VRT AGM

Richard Noble in front of XL426 Richard Noble OBE, the former World Land Speed Record holder and project leader of the BLOODHOUND project spoke at the Vulcan Restoration Trust’s Annual General Meeting on 10 April 2010 about his incredible career as a champion of British engineering.

Richard’s attempts at the World Land Speed Record, all of which have been successful, have been achieved by very small, highly motivated teams working on a shoestring budget – very much like the VRT! The BLOODHOUND project aims to take its land based car faster than 1000mph, a speed which is even greater than any high speed jet aircraft can achieve at low level! The hurdles that the project must overcome are incredibly complex and solving them means that the BLOODHOUND team will be working at the limits of engineering and scientific technology.

There is a vast shortage in the UK of skilled engineers, so Richard’s plan has been to not only engage the country’s education system, but to encourage the young people to become Britain’s engineers of the future. In the past 30 years the British economy has shunned the UK’s traditional manufacturing base in favour of one dependent on fickle financial markets. Governments have shown little will to reverse this trend, so creating a void which has left the country bereft of inspiring technological projects.