That what ive heard

I do hope not!!

As per my new post on OHB – the Black Knight getting personal…

Please forgive my ignorance… 😮 ‘Zaps’?

Of course one of the best zaps was the “RNZAF Vulcan” whereby a red kiwi had been painted over the red in the roundel during a visit down under.

I have been following this thread with some memories of how when the aircraft returned to “Waddo” that brown stuff had to be washed off .
“It is water soluble and will wash off easy” unquote . I think it took more than acouple of washes , and more time down the wash bay than I planned as a Line squadron mechanic . The “waterproof suits” we wore to wash the aircraft were not very pleasant after the water got in !
Happy memories of The Line and 44 (R) Sqdn

Fascinating!! I presume only one jet was so painted. Was the camo a repeat of the upper surface scheme?

Is it true that the stuff baked solid in the California sun and that was why it was so hard to remove? Also suggests why the patch behind the exhausts on Buccaneers was left in the original camo.

I believe that to be the case. Certainly the Buccs suffered from baked on desert camo. I’ve seen shots of one taking part in a bombing exercise from lossie looking very out of place in the November gloom!

Interesting pic that one. The underside colours look like the top colours applied to the ‘chocolate bomber’ force of the RAFs late ’60s transport scheme, but not as glossy.
Is there a good underside view of XM607 in this experimental scheme? Would be nice to know the full patern.

Certainly looks like light stone and dark earth of the transport force. Like you I would love to see some more piccies of this beast.

Back on track re Vulcans, this is an interesting pic, confirming the desert scheme. Are there any more out there of the desert Vulcan??:confused:

http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/vulcan_people/nellis.htm

Fascinating, though that looks more like the ‘Arctic exercise’ scheme that was carried by one or two post-Red Flag Buccs (may be the photo though). I think it was white distemper painted over the middle stone and a very dark green over the dark earth. Can anyone confirm or deny?

No, its a desert one, August ’77. 4 were painted up in desert colours and all had some original camo at the rear of the fuselage and at least one had a camo (grey) radome. The arctic one was actually before Red Flag – April ’77. 208 were detatched to Norway for some pre-Flag warm up. IIRC the white was painted over the green in the camo.

As said, 12 Vulcans received the wrap over scheme , specifically for red Flag but it did lend itself to low level European operations as the scheme was the same as the Jags, Harriers, Buccs of the time. The grey was changed though to dark sea rather than the medium sea grey of the gorgous 70’s scheme. I recall seeing my first wrap around jet at the Cosford air show in June 1980. Wrap around aircraft did continue with their scheme until retirement, some having as mentioned, dark sea grey undersides added for the Falklands war.

XH558 was a 27 Sqn MRR machine (hence the lack of TFR nose pimple) and then a K2 tanker, finished in the standard ’70s scheme of med sea grey, dark green camo with light aircraft grey undersides. When selected to be the display jet she received a one off (inaccurate) all over camo of gloss dark green and light aircraft grey for ease of maintainence. I think she was painted at Kinloss, I would have much preferred a repaint of the original scheme. So as you watch ‘558 thundering around next year ( hopefully -as we did ’83-’92), I’m afraid you’re looking at a non representative RAF Vulcan! 😉

Thanks for the update, lets hope someone comes in with a sponsor. If the Vixen was a registered charity of course, you could have a Just Giving web page for donations which takes minimal effort to maintain, and the cash & gift aid goes straight in the bank at month end.
I know there is a lot of people here would gladly bung £5 – £10 your way on a semi regular basis ( figures based on a pint of beer in my local costing £2.80 a pint!) if results could be seen. Good luck with the Vixen, may we see her in flight soon.

Yep definitely include me! Come on lets get the ball rolling! Can she fly on a test permit or does the insurance predicament preclude that??

I agree entirely Mr Moggy but isnt this the Historic Aviation forum ? 😉