The Victor Thread

[Mackrick]

Lets not forget the Victor....

[Saracenman]

now you're talking - i LOVE the Victor - beautifully ugly

bizarre though, coz I've just stumbled across a very interesting website: here with some fascinating pictures

including this one...



does anyone know the story behind this? I'm guessing (from the subject of the website) that it was taken at Woodford - but why does she look so grim?

sm

[Mayfly]

one of those designs you either love or hate - personally I love them especially elegant in flight

she was broken up in 1997 & the cockpit is at Ralyiegh Essex

http://www.ukserials.com/

[Saracenman]

i can't find any reference to her ever being converted to K2 - so why was she at Woodford, and why only broken up in 1997?

sm

[Mayfly]

sorry meant '79

[Saracenman]

ah - that sounds a bit more realistic - but why was she at Woodford in the first place i wonder - only to be scrapped?

surely she could've been scrapped anywhere? and wasn't that prior to the K2 conversions?

sm

[Mayfly]

I don't know did they use her for some sort of trials ?

[IanM]

A quick Google comes up with the January 1972 edition of Air-Britain news which says...

"Work is to start this month on the 20 Victor B.2s that have been standing outside at Woodford (previously at Radlett) for conversion to K.2 tankers by Hawker Siddeley. The aircraft XH669, XH670, XH671, XH673, XH675, XL160, XL162, XL163, XL188, XL189, XL190, XL192, XL231, XL232, XL233, XL511, XL512, XL513 are mostly ex. 100/139 Sqns."

Obviously 670 wasn't converted for some reason.

(yes I know there are only 18 serials there but it's a scan of the original and 2 serial numbers aren't readable)

Complete article here http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/ABN%201972-1.pdf

[IanM]

Lets not forget the Victor....

Looks similar to what I was doing the other day

[Saracenman]

A quick Google comes up with the January 1972 edition of Air-Britain news which says...

"Work is to start this month on the 20 Victor B.2s that have been standing outside at Woodford (previously at Radlett) for conversion to K.2 tankers by Hawker Siddeley. The aircraft XH669, XH670, XH671, XH673, XH675, XL160, XL162, XL163, XL188, XL189, XL190, XL192, XL231, XL232, XL233, XL511, XL512, XL513 are mostly ex. 100/139 Sqns."

Obviously 670 wasn't converted for some reason.

(yes I know there are only 18 serials there but it's a scan of the original and 2 serial numbers aren't readable)

Complete article here http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/ABN%201972-1.pdf

aha - thanks IanM - i knew there was a good reason somewhere.

probably another typical UK Gov't approach - agree to have X number of aircraft built/converted,and then halve the order at the eleventh hour

sm

[Mackrick]

Watched one of these do a controlled crash landing in Ascension Island in the 80's.
The nose gear failed to extend, With a Tristar 2 hour out on its way back from the Falklands with Mrs T on board.
They tried everything to get the gear down, high G turns, bouncing it on the runway, they even talked about tanking it back to the UK. In the end they blew the canopy and did a gentle landing holding the nose off till the last minute then dropped it on the runway. Loads of sparks and it came to rest on the centre line. Fire section everywhere and the crew out and stood by watching before they even got there. Jacked the nose up and the gear came down. Towed it back to the pan, quick FOD check of the runway and the Tristar came and went with no one knowing any different.
Its a shame but the one day I didn't have a camera in my hand .....

[Saracenman]

shame on you! i hope you got jankers for 'dereliction of duty'

sm

[Mackrick]

A couple of flight deck photos...

[Mackrick]

Brunty's Victor

[Saracenman]

fabulous machines

what a shame we don't have one flying still

sm

[Wedgy]

That is just magnificent!

[Mackrick]

Just a few taxi frames left....

[Saracenman]

caution - LOUD clip!

[Wizzy]

With a Tristar 2 hour out on its way back from the Falklands with Mrs T on board.

They did all that for Pam / Mayfly? Wow, I knew she was important, but.........

[Mayfly]

[Saracenman]

let's just hope she wasn't at the controls....................

sm
(awaiting incoming THWACK)

[Mayfly]

you're a brave man from the otherside of that PC SM

[RLN]

you're a brave man from the otherside of that PC SM

Seems quite sensible to me