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Aviation History
1958
1958-1- - 0301.PDF
FLIGHT, 29 August 1958 305 A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd. Greengate, Middleton, Manchester. Telephone: Failsworth 2020 Vulcan B.1 Now in service with threesquadrons in No. 1 Group, Bomber Command, the Vulcan B.I is an important member of theV-force. The largest delta-winged aircraft in ser- vice in the world, it is capable of very high sub-sonic speed and can climb to heights in the region of 50,000ft. Its very large bomb-bay can accom-modate either conventional or nuclear bombs, both of which can be delivered with the aid of aradar-controlled blind-bombing system. The crew of five, consisting of two pilots, navigator/plotter, navigator/radar operator and air elec- tronics officer, are accommodated in a pressurizedcabin forward of the wing leading edge. Ejection seats are provided for the pilots, but, as with theother V-bombers, the three crew-members sit facing rearwards in fixed seats. They wouldescape from the aircraft by jumping through the main ventral access-hatch. A Doppler radar and computer, together withastro sextants and other aids are carried for navi- gation; and probe and drogue flight refuelling isa standard fitting to extend the striking range of the aircraft. H.F./R.T. radio affords direct voicecommunication with ground stations almost any- where in the world; and this can be directly con-nected to a normal telephone system to permit man-to-man communication between the pilotand, for example, the A.O.C-in-C. Bomber Com- mand. Such contact has indeed been made be-tween San Francisco and England. Progressively more powerful Bristol Olympusturbojets have been fitted to various groups of aircraft in the production run, the most powerfuldelivering 13,000 lb thrust. All flying controls are fully powered by electro-hydraulic units, safetybeing ensured by the division of ailerons, elevators and rudder into two independent sections. Arti-ficial feel is provided for all axes by springs whose datum is varied according to airspeed signals. The Vulcan has shown a remarkably good ser-viceability record from its earliest days in service; and two Vulcans put up a creditable performancein the Strategic Air Command annual bombing and navigation competition at Pinecastlc A.F.B.,Florida, in 1956. A detailed description and cutaway drawing ofthe Vulcan, together with a history of its develop- ment, appeared in Flight for January 31; and anaccount by a Flight representative who flew in a Vulcan of No. 101 Sqn. during a bombing exerciseappeared in Flight for July 18. Vulcan B.2 Considerably increased rangeand performance are features of this substantially modified Vulcan. Bristol Olympus 200-seriesengines, which have been type tested at a thrust of no less than 17,000 lb, will be fitted. Deliveries tooperational squadrons should begin in the not too distant future. An aerodynamic prototype of theB.2, having a considerably extended wing with a more pronounced leading-edge extension and aslightly swept trailing edge, was seen at the S.B.A.C. display last year. Many other changesare incorporated in the definitive B.2. A feature of the B.2 wing is that all the trailing-edge controlsurfaces act as elevons and are not divided into ailerons and elevators. A potent addition to Vulcan armament will bethe Avro stand-off bomb, some details of which are recorded on p. 345. Vulcan B.ls will probablyalso be modified to carry this weapon at a later date. Avro Vulcan B.I (left) Powerplant Four Bristol Olympus Mk104 Span 95ft Length 97ft 1 in Avro Vulcan B.2 aerodynamic proto- type (below) Powerplant (production B.2) Four Bristol Olympus 200-series Span 111ft Avro Vulcan B.I. Avro Vulcan B.2 aerodynamic prototype.
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