The Vulcan is one of the most iconic aircraft ever flown by the Royal Air Force. Although not quite the household name that the Spitfire has been, it has always been a crowd favourite at air shows. 

As well as the immense noise generated by its four Rolls Royce Olympus engines, which has thrilled children up and down the country, it was incredibly agile in the air for an aircraft that is 30m long, 8m high on the ground, and has a 30m wingspan. This is because its revolutionary delta wing design allowing its bat-shaped frame to bank (meaning, to turn) incredibly sharply, bringing the aircraft back round to fly back over the crowds once again.

Capable of exceeding 600mph, flying above 60,000ft and with a 3,000-mile range… although it was a bomber, it could out-turn fighters at altitude, straining at the limits of their capability. The powerful yet acrobatic Vulcan was to form Britain’s entire nuclear deterrent. 

Now grounded for perhaps the last time, the charity that originally restored the Vulcan to flight is hoping to use it to inspire the next generation into STEM.

Guest

Dr Robert Pleming, Vulcan to the Sky Trust

Resources

To donate to the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, click here.

The post #75 Last Howl of the Vulcan first appeared on Engineering Matters.