DA2 (1st twin stick) is at RAF Coningsby last I heard!

As far as I know he was also the last pilot to pass the LTF course at RAF Binbrook.. Think those thoughts on Virgin Atlantic are spot on but he is now definately back in the Lightning saddle!

How about the Empire Test Pilots School? There was a series on this in the mid 1980’s and was brilliant!! Dont know if it was a BBC run project though??

I see the belfast in the background still has her cockpit!!

Merely a thought – no factual basis to found the idea on!:confused:

Aren’t most of the Vulcans in the independent museums likely to be of a similar configuration?

The logic being that the original disposal to museums was delayed by the Falkland’s Campaign and weren’t all the airframes surveyed to identify the ‘Skybolt’ hard points for external missile fits?

Is there any correlation between these ‘Skybolt’ airframes and ‘Blue Steel’?:confused:

No correlation between Blue Steel and Skybolt, however you are correct in identifying that the only Vulcans to be used in the Falklands War of 82′ were Skybolt modded examples. They were all also Mk301 Olympus examples, this is why XL319 was a standby aircraft as it was configured for Skybolt but had the mk201 Olympus..

Regards,

Phil.

None were capable until the mod was carried out which included brand new electrics for all the nuke’s services and a rebuilt under fuselage. Again it goes back to the Lancaster comment said earlier. A Boeing 747 is able to carry a nuke if a mod was designed and carried out but as far as I’m aware, that didn’t happen either.. 😀

To be made capable then they would have had to have been modded up, your statement is not strictly true, if it where than in the same sense all Lancasters were capable of carrying bouncing bombs but were not modded to do so.:D

John.

Well said John!!

32 out of 89

Looking at some of my books it states that only 32 of the 89 Vulcan B2’s produced were ever modded to carry Blue Steel.