This is a reprint of my article, “Farewell Vulcan,” I had written back in 2015 when the Vulcan made its final flight. It was targeted to a younger audience who were oblivious of the seriousness of the Cold War and how this aircraft played its part. Parts of it are edited.
Thapson
The Iron Curtain Descends
I’m going to bore you with stuff you probably have no interest in. But you know what? I do have interest in this, and need to get it off my chest. I direct your attention to the British V – Bombers. You see immediately after World War II, an iron curtain descended on the world as it was divided into the “bad” commies and the “good” guys in the West. Then there was the third group: the “non-aligned” nations – who kind of leaned towards the commies and, in any case, were the baddest of the bunch in my personal opinion as they were oh …… hypocrites and usually dictators? But that’s for another time.
The V-Bombers
Post WW II, Britain was still pretty much the big guy in its neighborhood, and a power to be feared. To keep the commies in check, they developed a range of aircraft known as the “V-Bombers.” There was:
The Valiant
The Victor
and my favorite:
The Vulcan
All backed up by:
The BAC Lightning
Keeping in mind your short attention span and lack of interest in this subject, I shall jump straight to my favorite, the Vulcan. I never had the chance to see it in person let alone touch it as I have the US B-2 Stealth Bomber and the carpet-bombing behemoth, the B-52. But the sheer design of the Vulcan, I found fascinating. Its huge delta wings giving it a very ominous look – like it meant business, and you don’t want to cross Britannia! Or she’ll come haunting after your a**!
The James Bond Connection
A large aircraft indeed, it was used on some missions too. But, no details here as there’s a link for that below – in case I have whetted your appetite or casual interest on the V- Bombers. If you know your James Bond films, and have seen “Thunderball,” then my friends, you too have seen the Vulcan. It’s the plane that’s ditched into the sea right at the start of the movie.
YouTube / tomaslapastilla
Forget the Bond women, I was fixated on the Vulcan bomber in Thunderball!
Bye-Bye old Vulcan
Well, I am sad to say, the Vulcan has been finally, and fully, retired from the Royal Air Force and had its swan song earlier this month. Just hearing, and reading about this, made me sad as it brought back, to mind, my childhood days of admiring this aircraft. Bye-bye old Vulcan, I never knew you. Never got to see you in person or even touch you as I have the American B-52, the Russian Mig 21, German Dornier, the Italian Macchi, the Canadian Caribou and Buffalo planes, among others.
On its final flight, apparently the pilot cheekily did a “barrel roll” and the normally unflappable British top guys were furious at this misadventure. I say old chaps, loosen up would you please?
YouTube / Henry Kelsall
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