In this book the authors, Duncan Cubitt and Ken Ellis, claim that B1 XA903 was fitted with a 27mm Cannon.
Is this true? Why would anyone want to fit a cannon to a Vulcan? I can hardly see it being used for straffing or dog fighting – so it was probably rearward firing?
I am somewhat intrigued. Where was it fitted?
This is the same airframe used for testing the Tornado’s RB199 engine.
By: SteveO - 11th March 2006 at 19:06
I found some pics here http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/903/index.htm
Close-up of the starboard RB199 Tornado installation on Vulcan B1 XA903. Having served as the flying test bed for the Olympus 593, a new nacelle on 903 was constructed by Marshalls of Cambridge to carry a single RB199. 593 first flew in this configuration in 1972. A Mauser cannon was at one time fitted to the nacelle and 903 became the only Vulcan ever to fire a gun.
L Braithwaite collection. © Rolls-Royce
By: Rob Beard - 9th March 2006 at 20:08
Twerp
I had visions of a straffing Vulcan – wow what a sight that would be coming towards you, guns blazing!
yeah what a sight ay mate, guns ablazing, YeeeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaa.
I want to piddle my pyjamas
By: RobAnt - 9th March 2006 at 18:43
So, you guys think they slung a Tornado fuselarge beneath a Vulcan, complete with guns? I guess that would certainly test the engines and guns alright!
I had visions of a straffing Vulcan – wow what a sight that would be coming towards you, guns blazing!
Alternatively a cannon where the braking chute would usually be – taking pot shots at chasing fighters or missiles – not much good without some kind of remote or automatic aiming mechanism I would have thought. Too complicated for the amount of room available in those days – but hey, I don’t really know.
By: peppermint_jam - 9th March 2006 at 18:36
To the best of my knowledge It was to see the effect that firing the gun had on the air going into the engine intake, if it turned out that if was disturbed too much, they might have had to fit the gun, but not electrically connect it. What use would a fighter jet be that carried a gun it was not able to use! Eurofighter anyone??
The current owner of 903’s Nose section posts on this site, I’m sure he will be able to elaborate on this matter.
By: Papa Lima - 9th March 2006 at 13:39
See page 124 of “”Avro Vulcan” by Robert Jackson – the Mauser single gun firing trials over Aberporth, as part of the RB.199 testing for the Tornado.
By: JG54 - 9th March 2006 at 13:28
Could be wrong here but I think it was the Mauser 27mm as used in Tornado? Might have been mounted in such a way as to see what effect it had on the intake design / air flow for the RB199?
Horrido!
Frank.
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March 9, 2006 at 1:11 pm