The Avro Vulcan (2006) - Technology Documentary - hosted by John Standing

Video from the channel TV Junkie about Avro Vulcan, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 56:29. Language: English. Video type: Documentary.

2006 documentary presented by John Standing that traces the history of the Avro Vulcan, the world's first delta-wing bomber, from its conception to its retirement. It combines retrospective narration, interviews with former workers and footage from Avro itself covering the design, testing and manufacturing.

After the Second World War, the United Kingdom decided to acquire atomic weapons and bombers capable of carrying them higher, faster and farther. In January 1947, Avro received the specification and the invitation to tender. Studies of swept wings and tailless configurations led to the choice of the delta, which offered low wing loading, a rigid structure with internal space for engines, fuel and landing gear, and dispensed with the tailplane. To test the delta, one-third scale research aircraft were built: the 707A for high speed and the 707B for low speed. From mid-1957 to mid-1969, the V-bomber force was the backbone of British nuclear deterrence, until it was superseded by Polaris submarines.

The first prototype flew on 30 August 1952, after four and a half years of work, and a few days later Roly Falk displayed it at the SBAC show at Farnborough. Production required 50,000 special tools. The aircraft was bombed-up from the ground using jacks, and the use of three bomb carriers allowed the load to go from 21 to 30 1,000-pound bombs. Later came the modified leading edge, the B2 version with Olympus 200 engines, the Blue Steel cruise missile and, in 1961, trials with Skybolt mock-ups. There were in-flight refuelling flights, including one from Scampton to Sydney in 20 hours and 3 minutes, and the record from Goose Bay to Scampton in 3 hours and 46 minutes. Facing Soviet missiles, the Vulcan switched to low-level flying, with camouflage and on quick-reaction alert. It also served as a testbed for engines for the TSR-2, the Concorde (Olympus 593) and the Tornado. Retirement began in 1981. In 1982, the Black Buck missions launched from Ascension Island bombed the runway at Port Stanley and attacked Argentine radars in the Falklands. The last squadron, No. 50, disbanded in early 1984, after which only one example continued flying on display.