Tag: avro vulcan

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Avro Vulcan AEO Sets Out to Answer Common Cold War Question in New Book

Coming soon from Air World and author Julian Grenfell is The Vulcan B2 in the Cold War: Could the V-Force Have Helped Defeat the Soviets. Written by an Air Electronics Officer with some 4,500 flying hours in Avro Vulcans, the new title sets out to answer the commonly asked question about Cold War V-force nuclear deterrent: “If the balloon had gone up, would it have got through?”

The Vulcan B2 in the Cold War analyses the state of air power in the early years of the Cold War, examining the hot wars of Korea and Vietnam, as well as the early versions of Soviet and Chinese air defence systems and how effective they might be at countering the RAF’s nuclear bomber fleet. The UK’s deterrent had to be survivable of a Soviet pre-emptive ballistic missile strike, or had to be airborne before such a strike took place. The early warning system provided Bomber Command’s headquarters with some 3½ minutes to 4½ minutes warning to get the V-force airborne. The average time to get these aircraft airborne was an astonishing 1 minute 53 seconds.

The author explains the ‘combat environment’ the Vulcan would have to fly into to be able to release its weapon. It would have to be capable of outpacing enemy fighters and avoid detection from the radars of surface-to-air missiles. Such factors were considered in what was called the ‘Probability of Kill’. The effectiveness of the Vulcan in evading Soviet defences was put to the test during several critical moments of the Cold War. One such instance was the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Another supremely important element of the Vulcan’s role was the nature of the weapon the Vulcan carried and its method of delivery. All of this is discussed in this intriguing investigation into how the Vulcan, and more specifically the B2 variant, would have fared should the Cold War have turned ‘hot’.

The 256 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 31.

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Shaping the Avro Vulcan: A Full History of its Development and Engineering

Coming soon from Tempest and author Stephen Liddle is Shaping the Vulcan, a full history of the Avro Vulcan’s development and assessment of the technological and engineering breakthroughs which underpinned the construction of this unparalleled aircraft.

The Avro Vulcan is one of the most striking aircraft ever made – its enormous wing stretching back from an improbably thick leading edge marked by cavernous wing root engine intakes. Perhaps even more incredible, its first flight was made just over ten years after the introduction of the piston-engined Lancaster during the Second World War. Within a decade, technology had taken a giant leap from straight-winged slow-moving conventional bombers to this vast delta designed to carry a nuclear payload. But what led to such a radical configuration and what was the technology that enabled such an ambitious design? What possessed Avro to offer the Air Ministry such a futuristic aircraft and what prompted the Ministry to approve its development and entry into service?

The 350 page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 14.

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Vulcan to Spitfire and Back: Flying in an RAF Squadron During the Cold War

Coming soon from Fonthill Media and author Bill Perrins is From Vulcan to Spitfire and Back: A Life in Aviation, described as “a humorous, unguarded, and often self-deprecating account of what it was like to be part of an RAF squadron during the Cold War.”

Growing up in Belfast during the Troubles, Bill Perrins was a young man hell-bent on a career as a pilot. He made it through RAF pilot training—thanks more, perhaps, to sheer determination than aptitude—and finally graduated to the role of Vulcan pilot in time to take part in the 1982 Falklands War. After the RAF, Bill entered the world of commercial aviation, flying Boeing 747s and Dreamliners on long-haul, though he still found time to pilot the world’s only privately owned nuclear bomber, the mighty Vulcan XH558, at air shows, along with P51 Mustangs, Yaks and the legendary Spitfire. Way back in his boyhood, the fantasy of one day flying the Spitfire was where it had all begun—and it did not disappoint.

From Vulcan to Spitfire and Back: A Life in Aviation is… about the simple joys of flying, whether in the cockpit of the enormous delta-winged Vulcan or behind the sprightly controls of the inimitable Spitfire, and the camaraderie that comes with it, both in military and civil aviation.

The 224 page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for June 30.

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Avro Vulcan In Scale: An Essential Resource For Modelers

Coming soon from Fonthill Media and author Geoff Coughlin is Avro Vulcan: Cold War Aircraft in Scale, which will no doubt be a must for fans of the iconic British bomber.

The Avro Vulcan, arguably the best known of the British ‘V-Bombers’, was an integral part of Britain’s nuclear deterrent. During the Cold War several RAF squadrons were equipped with Vulcans, including some assigned to Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) sorties to counter immediately any threat launched by the Soviet Union. The Vulcan was also suited to conventional bombing missions. In 1982, in Operation Black Buck during the Falklands War, Vulcan B.2s carried out the longest-ranged bombing raids in history up to that time.

Cold War Aircraft in Scale: Avro Vulcan contains extensive photographs and profiles, unique reference materials and detailed step-by-step scale model builds in all the main scales: everything you need to inspire, inform and instruct you in your creation of a showpiece replica of this iconic Cold War bomber.

The 160 page paperback publication is currently available for pre-order with release set for March 30.

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Avro Vulcan Cockpit Section For Sale: “Good, Restorable Condition”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

An Avro Vulcan cockpit section described as being in “good restorable condition” has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This is a very rare example and has been dry stored for many years but is currently in outside storage… The Pilot positions do have the Ejection Seats and some of the side consoles along with other items but I cannot be more precise… Clearly this Cockpit does need restoration but the cockpit was removed aft of the transport joint and therefore not open to the elements… In good restorable condition for display only with no airworthiness attached or implied.

The section is located in Norwich, United Kingdom and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the complete listing on eBay.

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Airfix Releases New Tool Avro Vulcan B.2 Model Kit

Airfix has released their new tool Avro Vulcan B.2 model kit in 1/72 scale.

The offering (A12011) reportedly includes “stunning detail” with LIDAR scanned shapes as well as an optimized sprue configuration, customizable build options and two piece wings “to simplify and fortify your build.” The kit contains plastic sprues and decals with marking options for two machines: Avro Vulcan B.Mk.2 XM594, The Scampton Wing and Avro Vulcan B.Mk.2 XM602, RAF No.12 Squadron.

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First Look: Test Build / Sprues For Airfix’s New Tool Avro Vulcan B.2 Kit

Airfix has released an update on their upcoming, new tool 1/72 Avro Vulcan B.2 kit (A12011) which includes sprue images and detailed test build photos.

As previously reported, the company initially announced the kit’s development at the Scale Modelworld 2019 event in Telford. The kit’s spures have been “rigorously inspected” by the development but are still subject to change before production. Likewise, the model seen in the new test build images is still subject to change as well, as the process allows the team to “examine both the accuracy of molding detail and effectiveness of models construction from the parts.”

The Vulcan kit is currently slated for release sometime this autumn. Click below to check out a selection of the newly released images.

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Airfix Provides Update on New Tool Avro Vulcan Model Kit

Airfix has published an update on their upcoming new tool Avro Vulcan B.2 model kit in 1/72 scale.

As previously reported, the company announced the news at the recent Scale Modelworld 2019 event in Telford complete with a prototype model on display at their stand. The update includes video of the event and the prototype, as well as a new selection of CAD renderings which detail the “inherent rigidity” incorporated into the Vulcan’s construction, as well as the two ordnance options to be included with the first release.

Click below to check them out.

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Airfix Announces Upcoming New Tool Avro Vulcan Model Kit

At the recent Scale Modelworld 2019 event in Telford, Airfix announced the development of a new tool Avro Vulcan B.2 model kit in 1/72 scale.

Although the project is relatively early in development, Airfix had a prototype model on display at their stand which reportedly represents a “significant investment for the company” and “a fascinating and rather expensive stage in the production of this magnificent new tooling.”

So far, a number of CAD renderings have been released, including an exploded part view, as well as images of the prototype model. The kit is currently slated for release in November 2020. Click below to check out additional images as well as a newly released video interview with the kit’s designer.

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Reproduction Avro Vulcan Cockpit Panels Offered For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

Reproduction Avro Vulcan pilot and center cockpit panels are available for sale. The listing states (in part):

All as per picture some of the gauges (gearbox psi/oil psi etc.) are not correct but very similar and are better than gaps – unsure please ask – everything else as shown in the pictures. Price set to invite sensible offers so please don’t be put off!

The panels are located in Ripon, United Kingdom. Click here to check out the complete listing on eBay.

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