Way back in late 1978 I lead team to RAF Sculthorpe to dismantle the Mirage 1VA and a T33 for the IWM Duxford. Apparently all those from the French Air Force went to RAF Sculthorpe. We had no facilities apart from what we brought with us and were not allowed to leave our aircraft .

Trenchard Brat

Having seen film of the fun time had by all concerned in refitting one on the Victor I can understand how they figured a bill of £1000 if the system was similar. I recall it looked they were feeding a giant white sausage into the chute bay then the final touch is that one guy stamped and jumped on it to get it to finally in place whilst the other members of the team stood and watched.

Having fitted quite a few chutes in a Victor whilst on a night stop at RAF Luqa and others. What you describe was the correct procedure it took a good kick to get it into the Hopper and the doors shut over the drogue bag not forgetting to remove safety pins.

The chute and shackle weigh about 170lbs and the system is all hydraulic, The two doors are spring loaded and held by retractable bolt that opens the doors. Disconnect this and retract it The Chute had a life of 25 streams and was scrapped after that. The Victor had a minimum landing distance of 7,000ft and the streaming of the chute was mandatory except if the runway was over 10,000ft e.g. Goose Bay

Two experienced rigger could load a chute in 10-15mins from unloading it from the Land Rover up giraffe at the correct height. Shackle in and locked in. Chute in one door closed, remove safety pins close other door reconnect retractable bolt tow the giraffe out of the way and sign for the fitting NO pyrotechnics involved.

Having seen Vulcans landing at Akrotiri and Luqa I never saw a chute streamed. The only time I did was whilst working at Fighter Meet at North Weald in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. The Runway was only 6000ft and the streamed on every landing I watched them fitting a brake chute and the time taken was well in excess of the average Victor Refit. the chute was similar to that of a Victor, but the shackle was Chrome Plated. I have both in my collection

It was supposed to be coming when I went to Chateaudun? to collect the Mirage 538 way back in mid 1995 and it still has not arrived not even by road!! It will be long wait. Just wait and see

Two ex WWII type winches a 4000lb and a 1000lb were used to raise and lower the Main Engines on the Victor Mk 1 and 2 versions. The 1000lb was also used to lower the very large bomb Bay tanks of the three point aircraft. They were Known as Bomb Winch’s. I don’t have a picture but used both when I was at RAF Marham with the Tanker Wing

HP Victor Part no are 80——–

26DE all versions of the Victor B1 B1A, B1A(K2P) Two point Tankers, B2 including the Blue Steel versions, B(SR)2 K1 Tankers, K1A Tankers, K2 Tankers.

Some were I have a break down of the Part Numbers for parts of the airframe etc

Hope this helps

Roger Brooks

The actual wingspan of a Victor K2 was 117 ft not 110 ft that was the span of the MK1, the B2 had a span of 120ft. The span was reduced on the K to improve the stresses. The Victor could carry a 35,000lb conventinal bomb load in the Bomb bay which was 14 more than a Vulcan. Fuel wise she could carry a 128,000lb fuel. That’s in the tanking role. But rarely did so I believe.

A far as I can find out the K2 never took of with 128,000 lbs of fuel as the aircraft was Not cleared for that load, but during the Falklands Campaign when airborne and at operating height they were topped up by another tanker who then returned to Wideawake. See my book for all approved loads in Volume 2 It might have well been done at the AAEE but not confirmed. Heavy weight Take Off’s trials were carried out by HP and HSA at RAE Bedford .

Roger Brooks

Having looked up my copy Malcolm Hobart’s book and comparing it with my own history the Author should have contacted The RAF Halton Apprenticed Association for the correct data on their badges and hat band colours and finally the discs used behind the Beret Badges are the Wing Colours and NOT the Course, finally the discs behind the wheel badge are the three Squadrons in each wing. Along with a few more errors.