Victor Bomber Blue Steel Trials

Theres some Interesting News reels on the ‘Pathe’ website about the V Bombers and Bluesteel

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=42985

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=40932

Vulcans and Victors in their prime

You might find this of interest

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%200386.html

and this site

http://www.jsaxon.org/bluesteel/books/99book.htm

I used to spot these when they flew high over my hometown, with binoculars it was possible to make out the big weapon. In the same way i could indentify the Vulcan used for testing the Olympus engine. I seem to recall that was XA603.

XA903 😉

The nose of which is still in one piece at wellesbourne mountford aerodrome 🙂

They used to do a lot of stuff over Boscombe Down, and various other places..Gayden? as well as Goose.. as it says in the logbook.

I remember that he was not even allowed to tell my mum about some of the things they were doing as it was all top secret.

My brother recalls that one day when my mum was out hanging out the washing dad was circling the house in the Victor and they were all waving at him, but i was only a babe then lol. We lived in Hemel Hempstead then, Leverstock Green…

I used to spot these when they flew high over my hometown, with binoculars it was possible to make out the big weapon. In the same way i could indentify the Vulcan used for testing the Olympus engine. I seem to recall that was XA603.

Hi Peppermint,

Thanks for your help, wow this is interesting stuff, i do remember dad saying to my husband a few years ago in conversation about how they had to jack a plane up to get the bomb under, and how hilarious he found it, that they had to do so now this all ties in lol.

Julie.

Blue steel was an air launched Nuclear Missile carried by Victors, Vulcans and possibly Valiants (not sure and waiting for someone more knowledgable!) back in the 60’s. It was Britains primary Nuclear deterrent until the Navy took over the job in the early 70’s i think with the polaris missile system.

I’m believe it was rather a snug fit to install one on a Victor as it required the aircraft to be jacked up off the ground to get enough clearance to squeeze the missile underneath it!

I’m sure some of the ex V-Force bods can explain better!

Can anyone explain this to me please if poss xxx