1. Aircraft

Vulcan Farewell

As part of the two day UK tour of locations associated with the Vulcan, or where Vulcan airframes are on display, XH558 made a flypast at the Museum of Scottish Aviation, East Fortune where a Vulcan airframe is on display. With the immanent grounding of XH558 due to engineering support being withdrawn, the operating company organised a "Farewell Tour". One last chance to see the "mighty flat iron" in action and hear the famous "howl". 10/10/2015
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  • WF259 is a Hawker Sea Hawk F2 single seat jet fighter introduced into Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in 1953.  It is powered by a  
Rolls-Royce Nene 103 centrifugal-flow turbojet engine.  Six squadrons of Sea Hawks saw action in late 1956 during the Suez Crisis.  
This airframe is currently in one of the storage sheds.

    WF259 is a Hawker Sea Hawk F2 single seat jet fighter introduced into Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in 1953. It is powered by a Rolls-Royce Nene 103 centrifugal-flow turbojet engine. Six squadrons of Sea Hawks saw action in late 1956 during the Suez Crisis. This airframe is currently in one of the storage sheds.

  • WW145 is another former Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircraft, a de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22.  The design is an adaptation for the Navy from the de Havilland Venom aircraft.  They entered service in 1955.  It had a crew of two and was powered by a de Havilland Ghost 105 centrifugal-flow turbojet engine.  Like the Sea Hawk, the Sea Venom also saw military action in late 1956 during the Suez Crisis.

    WW145 is another former Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircraft, a de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22. The design is an adaptation for the Navy from the de Havilland Venom aircraft. They entered service in 1955. It had a crew of two and was powered by a de Havilland Ghost 105 centrifugal-flow turbojet engine. Like the Sea Hawk, the Sea Venom also saw military action in late 1956 during the Suez Crisis.

  • Also tucked away in this storage shed is Bristol Bolingbroke IVT 9940.  There are better photos in the other East Fortune gallery.

    Also tucked away in this storage shed is Bristol Bolingbroke IVT 9940. There are better photos in the other East Fortune gallery.

  • Another view of the Sea Venom, again better photos are in the main East Fortune gallery.

    Another view of the Sea Venom, again better photos are in the main East Fortune gallery.

  • The unmistakable shape of the Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XT288.  Behind it is a McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom formerly with the USAF.

    The unmistakable shape of the Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XT288. Behind it is a McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom formerly with the USAF.

  • Parked up outside is Avro Vulcan B2A XM597.  Completed on 26 August 1963, it was delivered to 12 Squadron the next day. The only other surviving Vulcan to have engaged the enemy in the Black Buck missions of the Falklands War, setting the record for longest bombing raid in Black Buck 5, and causing an international incident when it had to divert to Brazil in Black Buck 6, both feats commemorated with two mission markings and a Brazilian flag painted on the nose. Latterly with 50 Squadron, it was delivered to East Fortune on 12 April 1984. Displayed outside Hangar 1.

    Parked up outside is Avro Vulcan B2A XM597. Completed on 26 August 1963, it was delivered to 12 Squadron the next day. The only other surviving Vulcan to have engaged the enemy in the Black Buck missions of the Falklands War, setting the record for longest bombing raid in Black Buck 5, and causing an international incident when it had to divert to Brazil in Black Buck 6, both feats commemorated with two mission markings and a Brazilian flag painted on the nose. Latterly with 50 Squadron, it was delivered to East Fortune on 12 April 1984. Displayed outside Hangar 1.

  • G-BDIX is a de Havilland Comet 4C and is displayed in Dan Air colours.  This airframe was built in 1962 and is powered by four Rolls Royce Avon 525C engines.  This airframe flew a total of 16,318 hours as of 31st Dec 1979.  The design first flew on 27th July 1949 and the final flight of a Comet took place on 14th March 1997.

    G-BDIX is a de Havilland Comet 4C and is displayed in Dan Air colours. This airframe was built in 1962 and is powered by four Rolls Royce Avon 525C engines. This airframe flew a total of 16,318 hours as of 31st Dec 1979. The design first flew on 27th July 1949 and the final flight of a Comet took place on 14th March 1997.

  • Black Buck Five was flown by McDougall with Montgomery reprising his role flying the reserve aircraft. This was the first completed anti-radar mission equipped with Shrike missiles. The main target was a Westinghouse AN/TPS-43 long-range 3D radar that the Argentine Air Force deployed during April to guard the airspace surrounding the Falkland Islands. The warning that this radar gave enabled the Argentine defenders to conceal mobile Exocet missile launchers. It also gave Argentine Hercules transports the warning they needed to continue using the runway at Stanley. An attack on the radar with Shrike missiles could only succeed if the targeted radar continued transmitting until struck, so a Sea Harrier raid was staged to coincide with the attack to force the defenders to turn on the radar. At 0845Z two Shrikes were launched at it. The first missile impacted 10 to 15 yards (9.1 to 13.7 m) from the target, causing minor blast damage, but not disabling the radar. The second missile missed by a greater margin.

Black Buck Six was flown on 3 June by McDougall, whose Vulcan was now armed with four Shrike missiles instead of just two. Montgomery again flew the reserve aircraft. McDougall loitered over the target for 40 minutes in a vain effort to engage the AN/TPS-43, which was not switched on. Finally, the crew fired two of the four Shrikes, which destroyed a Skyguard fire-control radar of the Argentine Army's 601 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, killing four radar operators.
On its return flight McDougall was forced to divert to Rio de Janeiro after his in-flight refuelling probe broke. One of the missiles he was carrying was ditched into the ocean to reduce drag, but the other remained stuck on the pylon and could not be released. Sensitive documents containing classified information were jettisoned into the sea via the crew hatch, and a "Mayday" signal was sent.  Two Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighters from 2° Esquadrão do 1° Grupo de Aviação de Caça of the Brazilian Air Force were scrambled from Santa Cruz Airfield and intercepted the Vulcan.  The aircraft was cleared to land at Galeão Airport by Brazilian authorities with less than 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of fuel remaining, not enough to complete a circuit of the airport.  This was a potentially embarrassing international incident, as it revealed that the United States had supplied the British with Shrike missiles. British diplomats negotiated for the release of the Vulcan and its crew, who were interned at Galeão Air Force Base. A deal was struck on 4 June under which they would be released in exchange for spare parts for Westland Lynx helicopters.  Brazil came under pressure from Argentina, and the United States agreed to intervene to preserve the secrets of the Shrike missile. The crew and aircraft were permitted to fly to Ascension on 10 June. A new refuelling probe was fitted there, and the aircraft flew back to Waddington on 13 June.  The remaining Shrike missile remained in Brazil.
Details from wiki

    Black Buck Five was flown by McDougall with Montgomery reprising his role flying the reserve aircraft. This was the first completed anti-radar mission equipped with Shrike missiles. The main target was a Westinghouse AN/TPS-43 long-range 3D radar that the Argentine Air Force deployed during April to guard the airspace surrounding the Falkland Islands. The warning that this radar gave enabled the Argentine defenders to conceal mobile Exocet missile launchers. It also gave Argentine Hercules transports the warning they needed to continue using the runway at Stanley. An attack on the radar with Shrike missiles could only succeed if the targeted radar continued transmitting until struck, so a Sea Harrier raid was staged to coincide with the attack to force the defenders to turn on the radar. At 0845Z two Shrikes were launched at it. The first missile impacted 10 to 15 yards (9.1 to 13.7 m) from the target, causing minor blast damage, but not disabling the radar. The second missile missed by a greater margin. Black Buck Six was flown on 3 June by McDougall, whose Vulcan was now armed with four Shrike missiles instead of just two. Montgomery again flew the reserve aircraft. McDougall loitered over the target for 40 minutes in a vain effort to engage the AN/TPS-43, which was not switched on. Finally, the crew fired two of the four Shrikes, which destroyed a Skyguard fire-control radar of the Argentine Army's 601 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, killing four radar operators. On its return flight McDougall was forced to divert to Rio de Janeiro after his in-flight refuelling probe broke. One of the missiles he was carrying was ditched into the ocean to reduce drag, but the other remained stuck on the pylon and could not be released. Sensitive documents containing classified information were jettisoned into the sea via the crew hatch, and a "Mayday" signal was sent. Two Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighters from 2° Esquadrão do 1° Grupo de Aviação de Caça of the Brazilian Air Force were scrambled from Santa Cruz Airfield and intercepted the Vulcan. The aircraft was cleared to land at Galeão Airport by Brazilian authorities with less than 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of fuel remaining, not enough to complete a circuit of the airport. This was a potentially embarrassing international incident, as it revealed that the United States had supplied the British with Shrike missiles. British diplomats negotiated for the release of the Vulcan and its crew, who were interned at Galeão Air Force Base. A deal was struck on 4 June under which they would be released in exchange for spare parts for Westland Lynx helicopters. Brazil came under pressure from Argentina, and the United States agreed to intervene to preserve the secrets of the Shrike missile. The crew and aircraft were permitted to fly to Ascension on 10 June. A new refuelling probe was fitted there, and the aircraft flew back to Waddington on 13 June. The remaining Shrike missile remained in Brazil. Details from wiki

  • To the delight and sadness of the gathered people at East Fortune, XH558 passes over the former airfield.  The former Control Tower is visible to the left of the nose of XM597.
XH558 was restored to flying condition by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust. The first post-restoration flight, which lasted 34 minutes, took place on 18 October 2007.

    To the delight and sadness of the gathered people at East Fortune, XH558 passes over the former airfield. The former Control Tower is visible to the left of the nose of XM597. XH558 was restored to flying condition by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust. The first post-restoration flight, which lasted 34 minutes, took place on 18 October 2007.

  • The crew brought XH558 round for a second and closer pass.  I have changed lens to put the bigger one on.

    The crew brought XH558 round for a second and closer pass. I have changed lens to put the bigger one on.

  • It is unusual to get such a good view of the topside of the airframe, the underside is more commonly seen.

    It is unusual to get such a good view of the topside of the airframe, the underside is more commonly seen.

  • It was a sad day as time was fast running out for the aircraft.  This day saw the airframe pass over sites in the north of the country and Scotland, with the following day taking in southerly locations.  That left just one more flight, the last ever flight, to take place on an unspecified date of which details would be released on the actual day.

    It was a sad day as time was fast running out for the aircraft. This day saw the airframe pass over sites in the north of the country and Scotland, with the following day taking in southerly locations. That left just one more flight, the last ever flight, to take place on an unspecified date of which details would be released on the actual day.

  • After performing displays every season from 2008 until 2015 inclusive, XH558 last flew on 28 October 2015.  This was due to the withdrawal of support from the "technical authorities" without whom the aircraft is prohibited from flying, under Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations.
The Vulcan flies off into retirement and history.  Farewell!

    After performing displays every season from 2008 until 2015 inclusive, XH558 last flew on 28 October 2015. This was due to the withdrawal of support from the "technical authorities" without whom the aircraft is prohibited from flying, under Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations. The Vulcan flies off into retirement and history. Farewell!

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