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| The first jet bomber to employ the delta-wing configuration. The original Avro 698 Vulcan prototype was developed to Air Ministry Specification B.35/46, issued on 1 January 1947, flying for the first time on 30 August 1952. It was then fitted with four Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets, but was later re-engined with Bristol Siddeley Sapphires and subsequently Rolls-Royce Conways.
A second prototype powered by four Bristol Siddeley Olympus 100 - with a slightly longer fuselage to eliminate the need for shortening the nose-wheel leg during retraction - made its first flight on 3 September 1953. It was later fitted with wings having a redesigned leading edge with compound sweepback and it made its first flight in this form on 5 October 1955. On 31 August 1957 it began flight testing the larger wing of the Vulcan B.2.
All production Vulcans were fitted with wings having the revised leading-edge configuration and two main versions were produced. The first production version was the Vulcan B.1, powered by Olympus Mk 101 or Olympus Mk 102 engines. All of these engines were converted later to Olympus Mk 104 standard. Planned re-equipment of three Bomber Command squadrons of the RAF with this version was completed in 1960. The B.1A version was given electronics in a bulged tail-cone, like the B.2. A total of 45 B.1/1A were built. The B.2 was a developed version with Olympus Mk 201 or 301 engines, wing of increased span (with elevon controls) and the ability to carry the Blue Steel stand-off nuclear bomb. The first production B.2 flew on 30 August 1958. Production was completed in 1964.
| CREW | 5 |
| ENGINE | 4 x BS/RR "Olympus 301", 89.0kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 91000 kg | 200622 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 33.8 m | 111 ft 11 in |
| Length | 30.5 m | 100 ft 1 in |
| Height | 8.3 m | 27 ft 3 in |
| Wing area | 368.3 m2 | 3964.34 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Ceiling | 18300 m | 60050 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 6400 km | 3977 miles |
| ARMAMENT | one guided missile or bombs |
 | A three-view drawing (690 x 548) |
| John Hancocks, e-mail, 10.06.2010 07:33 A very memorable Farnborough air show (most were actually) where a Vulcan with a bulge underslung came low toward the crowd, suddenly a bang and a hell of a roar and the thing went up vertically, smell of kerosene was incredible. They were using it as a test bed for the Concord engine...amazing, wonderful experience! reply | | Jim Connolly, e-mail, 09.05.2010 23:13 Have worked and flown in the Vulcan did 13 years on them from 1957 till 1981 served at Finningley Waddington Scampton Goose Bay CYPRUS WAS THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUCTER AT FINNINGLE AND WADDINGTON FROM 1969 TILL 1973 I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS AND IM A SUPPORTER OF VULCAN XM655 BASED AT WELLSBOURNE DO WORKN IT WHEN REQUIRED. reply | | John Kendall, e-mail, 14.04.2010 13:34 I just watched "Thunderball" a James Bond thriller featuring the Hijacking of a Vulcan with it's compliment of Nuclear Warheads. Brings back fond memories of the Air Raid Sirens going off in the early sixties in Montreal, Quebec. It's nice to know our empire was being protected by these fine aircraft. reply | | Steve, e-mail, 02.09.2010 21:26 The only time I saw this aircraft up close was at an air show at Homestead AFB, Fl a long time ago. I loved the way it sat way off the ground. Must have been a good ten feet. When it flew, it resembled a large "Bat". Love to see one again someday. reply | |
| | Jim Mahon, e-mail, 01.03.2010 09:02 As a teen I had the good fortune to witness several flight demonstrations by Vulcan aircrew who were obviously top-notch at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. A lightly-laden Vulcan, looking like a huge, unearthly bat, could be reefed around in truly hair-raising bank angles at low altitude, to the glorious scream, rumble, and crackle (from the ground observer's perspective, changing with aspect, distance, and throttle setting) of those engines, making the Vulcan a huge crowd favorite here. After one memorable flight, the aircrew were standing on the static line near their parked mount and my father walked up, shook their hands and exclaimed "Gentlemen, coming from an old Liberator pilot, THAT is an airplane! ." The RAF lads broke out in huge grins and began pouring out their love of their aircraft. Great memories, one of my favorites from the airshows of my youth. Long may XH558 fly! reply | | Steve, e-mail, 26.02.2010 06:17 Bob, Yes you are correct.
In the case of an emergency decamp, the rear 3 had to decamp via the crew door. The pilot and co-pilot would then eject. reply | | Bob Musser, e-mail, 06.02.2010 21:42 Is it true that only the pilot and co-pilot had ejection capability? reply | | Brian Carlin, e-mail, 06.02.2010 09:36 A few Vulcan Mk. B2 aircraft were specially modified during build at Woodford to carry the American Skybolt nuclear stand-off missile on pylons, one under each wing. I was posted to the Trials squadron, as an aircraft electrical technician, and looked forward to being stationed at Eglin AFB in Florida, where the trials were to be held. Sadly, just a few weeks prior to leaving for this dream posting, P.M. Harold MacMillan and JFK had a meeting, during which they decided to cancel the Skybolt. I ended up at Waddington on B1A's instead. But all in all,I had a long, enjoyable relationship with the Vulcan, both B1A and B2 marks, from its snow-white livery days to the less aristocratic camouflage paint job, and could tell many tales. One of the most beautiful aircraft ever!!! reply | | Norman Edmondson, e-mail, 31.01.2010 13:57 Please support the only flying Vulcan XH558 on her 50th Birthday www.vulcantothesky.org / she needs your support to fly in 2010 reply | | Jim Thompson, e-mail, 10.12.2009 07:34 I used to live in Lutterworth in the mid to late 1960s, not far from the RAF Bitteswell which in turn was not far from where many Vulcans were built. It also housed the Red Arrows and they would often practice right over the school playground. It was fantastic to see a Vulcan flanked in close formation on all sides by Red Arrows low over the school. It even brought conkers fights and spud gun battles to a halt. reply | | Kieran, e-mail, 20.10.2009 15:49 Can anyone point me in the direction of some decent sized 3 view drawings o the plane, im trying to make a 3d model cheers! reply | | Cliff Whitwell, e-mail, 17.09.2009 15:05 great to see one still flying - long may it continue. I can remember as a child listening to the Vulcan flying over my house at around 9pm every night [Knottingley, West Yorkshire area] on a regular routine. The whole house shook as they were so low - around 100'. I also remember the display's at RAF Finningley with my heart in my mouth thinking it was going to drop out of the sky during a low, slow climbing turn - fantastic!!!! reply | | Mark Brown, e-mail, 15.09.2009 06:29 I remember seeing the white Rolls Royce test bed flying over our home in Patchway in the 70s. At the time it was testing the RB199 engine, later used on the Tornado, I vaguely remember that it was used for testing the Olympus engine as used in the Concorde, Boy was it noisy!! reply | | paul scott, e-mail, 20.08.2009 16:02 Amazing, beautiful, outstandingly manouevrable and what a sight. I remember as a kid in 'seventies London, on the Queen's birthday, two flew with an escort of Lightnings /Phantoms over every year - a sight no more alas -our prowess /money is diverted to speed cameras, supporting refugees and MP's expenses. Sad but true! reply | |
| | prince, e-mail, 18.06.2009 06:21 one of the most beautiful acft made a british marvel reply | | Keith Small, e-mail, 22.12.2008 03:32 For several years there was a feature in the main display hanger at Tern Hill (Uk) air shows. It was a model of a Vulcan B1 painted white that slid down wires and released a dart when a "player" pressed the "bomb release" switch. A good shot and the dart landed in the middle of a factory model. I tried this about 20 times over the years. Does anyone else remember this early version of an interactive similation? reply | | g blanks, e-mail, 02.08.2008 22:47 lovely aircraft a bit noisey i lived at raf waddington in the 1960s end of the runway in M QS reply | | Phil Nutt, e-mail, 17.05.2008 19:46 Visit:
www.vulcantothesky.com
and join the Vulcan to the Sky club or make a donation to keep XH558 flying. The hard work is done, she has performed well in flight tests, now we just have to get enough money to see her flying at the UK airshows this summer! If you love this plane, please make a donation! reply | | Jim antill, e-mail, 12.11.2007 21:56 I have many memories of seeint Vulcans etc. flying around my (then) home in Warwickshire in the early and mid-60s. But the most vivid is of Farnborough, seeing the Vulcan with the red 707A and blue 707B information. The 707s then broke away and put on a spectacular display. The dates given for the 707s and Vulcan first flights don't seem to correlate with this. I have a feeling it was Farnborough 1951, and I was there the day after John Derry was killed in the DH110. However I was also at Farnborough in 49 and 50, so may be a bit confused! Can anyone straighten me out? reply |
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