Last Vulcan Leaves Raf Waddington

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-28276162

I saw one of these many years ago and it made the most tremendous noise.
What a wonderful plane...I hope it continues to fly somehow.

[New Judge]

In my younger days I was lucky enough to fly in a large variety of RAF aircraft including an English Electric Lightning (and I can confirm that they do live up to their nickname of "Frightening"!). I have actually travelled in a Vulcan - but only on the ground ! I was given the opportunity to get into the cockpit of a Vulcan at an RAF station "somewhere in Rutland" during ground testing and was taken for a high speed taxi in the right hand seat. Magic ! Quite how the guys who took one from Ascension to the Falklands and back stood the discomfort and the noise for fourteen hours amazes me.

[Sqad]

\\\\ I was given the opportunity to get into the cockpit of a Vulcan at an RAF station "somewhere in Rutland" \\\

NJ..could that have been R.A.F Wittering in the early sixties?

You mention the "Lightning" my mate was piloting one of 3 EE Lightnings on the way to a PR visit to Jordan and on the way they came across a Vulcan. Being a bit "showey" they decided to "buzz it" and as they did they were seen by the crew of the Vulcan which immediately turned on it "after burners" and climbed rapidly, never to be seen again by the jet fighters.
The Vulcan was remarkably maneuverable and versatile.

[Sqad]

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.org/

Just outside of York....worth a visit and see the Halifax in all it's splendour.

[DrFilth]

mikey this is the concorde at manchester airport before they had a special building built for it , you could just walk round the aircraft at the airport viewing park

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=6gv4tc&;s=8#.U8J4crEjrMg

[New Judge]

No Sqad, it was at RAF Cottesmore. More than that I'm not prepared to say as with many of my trips "strings were pulled"" which would certainly not be pullable today !!! RAF Wittering is actually in Cambridgeshire (in fact the runway crosses the county boundary into Northamptonshire) and Cottesmore (which is in Rutland) is now a "satellite" station to Wittering.

Yes, both the "Frightning" and the Vulcan were superb aircraft. The Vulcan in particular was the most un-bomber-like bomber there has ever been !!!