Hello fellow Hiveans!
I travelled up north to Leeds for work recently. As an enthusiast in aviation, I have flown here in the past with the Mini 2 but since upgrading, I knew I wanted to return at some point!
XH558 was a legend of the skies- designed and built by Avro same company behind the Avro Lancaster. She was present at most of the venues in the UK airshow circuit, as well as touring the UK for about 10 years before being grounded due to flying hours/ lifetime on the airframe.
The Vulcan was said to handle like a fighter, which likely came from the range required and relying on speed to attack a target..and having no armament to defend itself!
It had a characteristic 'howl' that was the result of the huge amounts of air moving through sections of intake at certain power levels.
I urge anyone interested to watch a video on Youtube to get an idea, in person you could feel it in your chest.
Up until the airport closing a few years ago- the charity that owns her offered corporate events, engine runs and tours. The aircraft was once in a hangar for a couple of years but the owner of the airport had other ideas so now she is permanently outside.
There were discussions to build a bespoke hangar for her and other aircraft as part of an experience but it's been very quiet for a while. The airport is said to be reopening at some point.
The airport FRZ is deactivated and aircraft is reasonably close to a carpark fence so with the aide of the auxiliary light, I could keep an eye on the drone whilst flying around her.
On the return leg back home, I stopped off in Woodford near Manchester.
RAF Woodford was built and owned by Avro from 1924 until 1977. It was one of a couple of Avro factories that produced Lancaster bombers during the war and Vulcans just a decade later!
BAE bought it in 2011 and used the base for a number of years. When they came to sell to a housing company, an agreement was made to ensure that the Avro heritage was not lost and the old fire station was converted for the new owners- the Avro Heritage Museum.
Although the design of the new housing estate features long avenues, most notably along most of the old runway, this building is all that remains of the old airfield where the Avro factory once stood.
The Vulcan was originally designed to a stringent criteria as laid out by the Ministry Of Supply (which oversaw each armed force force being outfitted with necessary equipment) as a long range nuclear-strike aircraft. It was armed with the Avro Blue Steel stand-off nuclear bomb to maintain a British nuclear deterrent.
It was later used as a conventional bomber, most notably when the British planned to recapture the Falkland Islands in 1982.
XM603 originally left the factory with a camouflage paint scheme, it was repainted and is now the only remaining white, 'anti-flash' Vulcan in the world.
As the aircraft is right next to a public road and footpath, I was able to fly up close and personal without losing line of sight.
Until the next time!
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