Confused about RATOG in Vulcan’s, as its a very glossed over subject in the books i have. I’ve found mention of B.2’s having fittings for it, but according to the pilots notes, B.1A had it the option also. Apparently it was a contingency until the later series Olympus engines were fitted.
I’ve certainly never seen a photo of RATOG usage or even with them fitted, but neither can i hardly find mention of it in the history books, although i think theres a new Vulcan title (re-hash ?) on the way soon.
Comments anyone…..?
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By: bexWH773 - 17th June 2007 at 19:06
Rebecca,
The gauge fitted later is a TACAN indicator and RATOG is Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear.
😀
Thanks Dave, now it all makes sense. Ive heard of JATO etc but it was the G bit that got me. Must have been impressive to see & hear a Vulcan take off at full chat with RATOG fitted aswell….. awesome. Bex
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th June 2007 at 19:01
There is a cracking photo of a white Victor i’ve seen using JATO bottles….
aha found it, XA930………….
By: Dave T - 17th June 2007 at 18:46
Rebecca,
The gauge fitted later is a TACAN indicator and RATOG is Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear.
😀
By: bexWH773 - 17th June 2007 at 18:04
Nope don’t think so.
Can’t get more official than the pilots notes. Photo below shows RATOG switch fitted to center panel of an early B.2.
The link below is to one of Damien Burkes photos of the cockpit of XM655 at Wellesbourne and as far as I can see where the RATOG instrument / switch should be is a circular instrument instead. My turn now, I dont know very much about Vulcans though I do like em quite alot, could someone enlighten me on what RATOG is please? Bex
By: Dave T - 17th June 2007 at 14:47
Strange this one should re-surrect now – look what popped up on PPrune last week
Hummm, thanx for that. Very interesting read, although the member there ‘Tim McLelland’ is under the impression that only Vulcan B.1’s had RATOG as an option.
In fact, it was the later ‘big-wing’ B.1A modded aircraft and the initial run of B.2’s. As the majority of (all ?) Vulcan’s retained their instrument panels throughout their lives, if you get the chance to ever inspect a B.2 center panel, you should see where the RATOG switch hole was, although the introduction of 300 series engines must have negated this, so in theory those aircraft never had RATOG fitted…?
Perhaps the two new forthcoming Vulcan books may shed some light ?
http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=54298
http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=54283
Cheers……..
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By: DaveF68 - 17th June 2007 at 12:03
Strange this one should re-surrect now – look what popped up on PPrune last week
By: Resmoroh - 16th June 2007 at 16:06
Valiant RATOG
If, as XL391 says, the Valiant and Victor both did RATOG then the Valiant must have been the first. Does anyone know where/when the Valiant trials and operations were conducted? I remember it being used at Wittering but it was not, I think, in connection with ‘heavy’ payloads. It was more to do with getting the beast off the ground in engine-icing take-off conditions! Anybody know?
Resmoroh
By: Robert Hilton - 16th June 2007 at 14:03
You may have read it, but as one of the groundcrew who saw the aircraft off on BB sorties, I would take it with a pinch of salt, there were no signs of lack of power on the ground. The Victors managed, they just had a lower rate of climb after take-off 🙂 .
That was probably because the Victors were limited to 109,000lb fuel loads at the time due to fatigue problems, but were carrying full loads. I would ease out on the climb as well under the same circumstances.
By: ZH875 - 16th June 2007 at 12:24
Have just read again the trouble the overladen Vulcans had on takeoff from Ascension Island on the Black Buck missions. This was just the time and place for the use of RATOG!
You may have read it, but as one of the groundcrew who saw the aircraft off on BB sorties, I would take it with a pinch of salt, there were no signs of lack of power on the ground. The Victors managed, they just had a lower rate of climb after take-off 🙂 .
By: alertken - 18th November 2006 at 21:00
All those 1950s’ Screamers and Spectres and Sprites were to boost MBF from dispersed runways. The need went away for 3 reasons: incendiary hazard; IFR; good big engines.
By: super sioux - 17th November 2006 at 20:32
Have just read again the trouble the overladen Vulcans had on takeoff from Ascension Island on the Black Buck missions. This was just the time and place for the use of RATOG!
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th November 2006 at 17:31
Yeh, thats what little i have managed to trace, that RATOG was a contingency for hauling big loads (ala Blue Danube) until the later series engines were developed.
There is a cracking photo of a white Victor i’ve seen using JATO bottles, but its not really a subject covered in the books i have. However thats not VX777, here’s the other half of that cockpit with B.1 pilots notes illustration for comparison……..
By: XL391 - 17th November 2006 at 16:20
That looks like VX777’s cockpit, the second Vulcan B1 prototype (later fitted with the B2’s wing), not a B2 Dave. RATOG was considered for more power in the early B1’s IIRC until the Olympus 200/300 series engines came on stream. I have seen a picture of both Valiant and Victor using RATOG (very impressive) but never the Tin Triangle…
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th November 2006 at 15:04
…but think you may have been misinformed.
Nope don’t think so.
Can’t get more official than the pilots notes. Photo below shows RATOG switch fitted to center panel of an early B.2.
By: super sioux - 17th November 2006 at 14:41
The Vulcan books I have perused contain not a hint of RATOG, shall try to find other sources, but think you may have been misinformed.
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November 16, 2006 at 1:32 pm