The Avro Vulcan: Britain's Cold War Warrior - Hardcover

Birtles, Philip

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1857802691 ISBN 13: 9781857802696

Publisher: Midland Pub Ltd, 2008

Synopsis

The origins of the Avro Vulcan, which entered squadron service in 1956, go back to an Air Ministry requirement issued in 1947. The requirement called for a jet bomber capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, reaching a top speed of nearly 500 knots, flying at a height in excess of 50,000 feet, and a range of over 3,000 miles.
The Vulcan was the most famous of the three types of V-Bombers. Along with the Victor and the Valiant V-Bombers, the Vulcan helped maintain Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent during the early years of the Cold War. Initially finished in an all-over white color scheme to protect the aircraft and their crews from the heat and flash of a nuclear explosion, the V-Force's aircraft could be scrambled in minutes in response to any Soviet attack. V-Bombers and their crews stood on constant alert until 1969 when the V-Force handed over its nuclear deterrent role to the Royal Navy's Polaris submarines.
In all, 136 Vulcans were built by Avro, the last being completed in January 1965. After it lost its nuclear deterrent function, the Vulcan found other roles as a conventional bomber, a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and as a tanker. Its only combat action was seen in the famous Operation BLACK BUCK raids during the Falklands Conflict. At the time, these were the longest bombing missions in the history of warfare, with the Vulcans covering some 8,000 miles in around 16 hours. The aircraft was finally withdrawn from squadron service in 1984.
This stunning pictorial tribute to an iconic British aircraft celebrates its return to flight and the 25th anniversary of its historic Falklands missions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Midland Pub Ltd
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1857802691
• ISBN 13: 9781857802696
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 128