Solo: Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560: Missions Flown in 2016. [Archive]

Tonx

01-26-2016, 12:54

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She has had her ups ... She has had her downs ... She has been likened to a 1991 pop song and has also amassed fans around the Globe. She is indeed Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 of 27 Squadron RAF and she is currently heading this way.

XH560 which is now being flown in memory of Steve Hague from the South Yorkshire Air Museum in Doncaster has chalked up some previous missions all of which featured conventional bombing. The thread these missions are documented has so to speak been Dated & Stamped and can be found under WW2 Missions with it's brand new title WGS Compatible Avro Vulcan B.2 - Missions Flown In 2015. Poised ready to fly ahead of when originally envisaged (May or June 2016) the last element of this equation which the aircraft required became available once again on February 8th 2016. Some may recall at this point how at the tail-end of the 2015 thread there was talk of clouds and silvery linings. It's even better than that ... Because the lining of the cloud actually turned out to be brass!

Until there is something to report let us keep the re-introductions brief for now. However I would like to add that I am looking forward to seeing what 2016 holds for this aircraft :)

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Tonx

02-08-2016, 20:36

DATE: 09FEB16 MSG READS: Operation FLUGELHORN: Vulcan XH560 operating as Thunderball 560 from RAF Boddington. Aircraft to fly northbound and ascend to 5,000 feet and receive orders in the air. Until received aircraft to maintain 5,000 feet on heading advised with an airspeed not to exceed 200 knots. This is not a drill :MSG ENDS:

CREW T & F FLIGHT: Welcome Home Thunderball 560.

The Tin ... Sorry, Brass Triangle Returns.

fast.git

02-08-2016, 20:49

Quite the fine-looking mod, Barney. Very nice! :sAprvd:

Tonx

02-08-2016, 21:03

Quite the fine-looking mod, Barney. Very nice! :sAprvd:

Thanks Christopher. Expect more after I have had a bit of a rest today as per the OPS Notice: We are not sure yet of what is happening after the northbound @ 5,000 ft instruction but hey-ho not long until we find out!

There will be a few photos - promise :)

fast.git

02-08-2016, 21:41

I've said it elsewhere, but it's worth saying again... pleased to see you on the duty roster again. Welcome back. :salute:

Tonx

02-09-2016, 08:03

I've said it elsewhere, but it's worth saying again... pleased to see you on the duty roster again. Welcome back. :salute:

Thank you Chris it's great to be back :thankyou: and it just so happens that one of the most significant developments in XH560's operating history has resulted from her return to the sky today ...

Prepare for XH560: THE MOTION PICTURE which one of the Vulcan TOSH (Team & Order of Show Helpers) is just in the process of uploading to Youtube. Then I am posting a link onto here.

Was actually going to do a few mentions including yourself Chris during the filming but I was nervous and forgot - only just realised.

I hope the WingCo can forgive me just this once for borrowing the aspidistra AND the gramophone from the Mess to assist the Vulcan TOSH in the making of this three minute production.

It also features the voice of the late and great Pete Postlethwaite as the backing track taken from the film Brassed Off injects a really beautiful Yorkshire element into our production.

Tonx

02-09-2016, 09:12

https://youtu.be/j9gE2HCdcSc

Join Vulcan TOSH (Team & Order of Show Helpers) Members Wg Cdr Coldwore with occasional inputs from Flt Lt Valiante as Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 departs on it's first flight since November 29th 2015. Thunderball 560 climbs away from it's base at RAF Boddington to the east and then to the north to an altitude of 5,000 feet. Though B forgot to mention RAF Bodders too because he was a bit nervous throughout this production - probably having borrowed both the aspidistra and the gramophone from the Mess in order to piece this quite unique production together. Both have now been returned safely by the Vulcan TOSH after the making of this three minute production.

Also featuring the voice of the late but still great Pete Postlethwaite at the start of the Concierto D'Aranjuez by Rodriguez which has been taken from the film Brassed Off and used as backing music. The 'Concerto D'Orange-Juice' as Postlethwaite's character refers to it as in the film features a solo Flugelhorn which of course was the official Operation Title for today - another thing which B forgot to mention though this is not as significant as forgetting RAF Boddington / dedications was!

The extract from Brassed Off was voted for use by the Vulcan TOSH over The Floral Dance by Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band and Portsmouth by Mike Oldfield. The reason being that this injected a sincere but nevertheless beautiful Yorkshire element into this production which appropriately and thoughtfully reflects upon XH560's connection with the South Yorkshire Air Museum.

So there we have it ... XH560: THE MOTION PICTURE as filmed today when this aircraft made a successful return to the WGS skies.

Rating: E - Everyone as there is no swearing or cheesy music for the Vulcan TOSH to be ashamed of. Just three minutes of pure class (and aspidistra and gramophone!) :salute:

Tonx

02-11-2016, 08:54

Within days of Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 making it's much anticipated return to the skies of WGS comes some even more exciting news: It's confirmed - there are two more Vulcans are on the way!

According to XH560's new sponsors Chopper Squad work is poised to begin on the first of two airframes which unlike XH560 will require building before they are converted and adapted for WGS usage.

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The first of the two develops the 617 Squadron RAF affiliation which is already strong within WGS due to the Avro Lancaster Dambuster Edition being available for the game. It comes in the shape of Avro Vulcan B.2 XM595 which historically was the final Vulcan built from new to carry the British Blue Steel nuclear deterrent. The colours she will be wearing date from the 1970s when the aircraft which was nicknamed Dumbo after the Walt Disney cartoon character was based at RAF Scampton. Many photographs in this era rather interestingly mis-place XM595 as serving with 27 Squadron - XH560's unit but this is now a known inaccuracy: XM595 never served with 27 Squadron and will carry 617 Squadron's toned-down markings along with it's camouflage-top / white underside with red / white / blue Roundels and Insignia on completion.

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The second one maintains the 617 Squadron RAF affiliation within WGS but at the same time introduces the second most replicated Avro Vulcan B.2 in terms of scale models: Somewhat inevitably XH558 tops this list followed closely by the anti-flash white liveried XL321. This Vulcan will indeed wear this colour scheme which dates from the 1960s when built and adapted for use within WGS along with 617 Squadron's original Avro Vulcan markings. At present all that can be confirmed is that two more Vulcans are involved in this latest Chopper Squad-backed project for 2016 and that these will be their identities: No dates have been set as yet regarding completion of these two airframes and when exactly they will become active.

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However there is one question which has been raised already about this project: Haven't we been here before already?

This of course relates to the abandoned and consequently failed Handley Page Victor Project HPV/K2 from last year. But during the three months for which it lasted Project HPV/K2 will prove to have been very different in comparison with this brand new two-aircraft venture - all that the two will share is the ethos behind them and the objective that they both set out to achieve. The two airframes involved in Project HPV/K2 were resin for starters and nobody in this neck of the woods had ever worked with this material before. There was also the mistake made in the usage of Humbrol acrylic paints instead of Revell and the end result which this decision achieved of a cheap and nasty glossy finish which looked like a bored 15 year old had painted it. Typical Humbrol BTW and their enamel paints can be just as bad regardless of what finish it says on the tin. The death-knell certainly of the first airframe was the sanding off of the Humbrol disaster which took much of the detailing with it. Finally there was the issue of the 1/200 scale decals costing in excess of £20.00 although by the time of the final airframe in the project's demise this had been reduced down to £9.50 by customising 1/72 scale Harrier GR1 / GR3 decals. An engineering accident killed off the final airframe in December 2015 amidst low morale and growing ill-health: Enough was enough at this point and Project HPV/K2 shut down.

So far this brand new project is nameless and this is the only article being released about it. The general feeling that Project HPV/K2 was far too bigged up contributes towards this far more low key introduction. But hopefully the end results will be just as exciting. Barney Dunkin whose role play acting as Wg Cdr Coldwore in XH560: THE MOTION PICTURE has yet to attract any don't quit your day-job comments spoke of an upbeat mood at Chopper Squad along with an aura of anticipation and excitement about this project being officially announced. Work is set to commence on Airframe 1 within the next three days.

Tonx

02-15-2016, 00:44

Just as it appeared that there was another major obstacle standing (pardon the pun) in the way of 2016s Avro Vulcan developments it has just as quickly been overcome. So far whilst in service original Avro Vulcan B.2 which will now change callsign to Pioneer 560 has been using a custom stand as designed by Eleven Trees Designs. It appears that they no longer make those any more leaving any further Avro Vulcans being developed stand-less!

A quick spot of research and a perfectly acceptable replacement has been found and two units ordered from Aerodrome Accessories - AA on February 16th 2016. So far one is required for XH560 and another required for the new Thunderball aircraft XM595 as good progress is currently being made on it. What is also highly beneficial about this new design and selection of stand is that they use the official altitude pegs only and there are no custom attachments in use which restrict operations to a minimum of 5,000 feet only!

Keith will be delighted at this news as well as the near-future requirement there is for at least two more as there is Avro Vulcan B.2 XL321 to cater for as well. The identity of the fourth Vulcan is rumoured at this point to be XM607 from the Operation Black Buck Raid on the Falkland Islands in 1982: Yes Vulcan 607 may be what is heading for the skies of WGS on an Aerodrome Accessories stand ...

Tonx

02-19-2016, 11:28

BREAKING NEWS: A second Avro Vulcan B.2 is poised to enter the skies of WGS after XM595 was officially launched today. The Vulcan was declared Game-Ready at 16:00 on February 19th 2016.

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The second of two WGS compatible Avro Vulcan B.2s carries a livery which dates from the early 1970s and rather interestingly 27 Squadron RAF Markings though she is commonly documented as having served with 617 Squadron RAF. The Vulcan also only carries one countermeasures suite which is mounted on the rear of the tail unlike XH560 which carries two. One detail that any rendition of XM595 cannot be without has also been included and this is representative of how this aircraft gained the nickname Dumbo whilst in service after the Walt Disney character. Flying Elephant logos can be seen on the tail and on the fuselage just behind the cockpit.

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With XM595 now active original Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 will now change call signs when in action: Up until now XH560 had been using Thunderball 560 but from now on will be using the brand new Pioneer 560 call sign. The Thunderball call sign will still be used but by XM595 - Thunderball 595.

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It just so happens that a famous face was able to be included in the launching of this aircraft: Earlier on in the day Barney Dunkin was talking to a good and rather well known friend of his from Grimsby when he happened to mention that this was going on in the passing. In response this friend offered to phone Barney back and did so enabling him to take part so that it can now be truthfully said that although XH560 may have been the first ... XM595 was launched by a celebrity.

With an ENORMOUS :thankyou: from Barney to Guy Martin for participating in this event. Yes ... THE Guy Martin! Barney has known him for a few years now :)

Diamondback

02-19-2016, 13:34

Don't tempt me to up the ante from WESTLANT with B-52s... whether stock or modified. ("Modified" meaning potentially either an "Old Dog" a la Dale Brown's novels, or the improved "Hunter-Killer" version an old retired fighter-jock prof and I hatched... a B-52 packed to the gills with AAMs and PGMs to kill any conceivable target whether land, sea, air or space? O.O )

Tonx

02-19-2016, 15:23

Exactly what crime would have been committed if some genius was to put a 1/200 Scale Boeing B-52 into the skies of WGS / into the game? NONE ... Because the B-52 is truly jaw-droppingly and awe inspiring.

I have read Dale Brown's novel Flight Of The Old Dog it is a good read. In fact in one of Dale Brown's novels one of the lead characters has the surname Dunkin. Hammerheads is my second favourite of his books - which others have you got or read out of interest please?

In the meantime our brand new Avro Vulcan B.2 XM595 will be flown for the first time on February 20th 2016 but using kit borrowed from XH560 for now - a stand is currently on the way for it and XM595 now has it's own R1 Manoeuver Deck to operate with. Plus an Airplane Card from Mike (OldGuy59) for which I am very grateful - I don't have to hand draw one myself now :)

Diamondback

02-19-2016, 19:34

LOL, no crime at all except that an Old Dog would be cheese with its air-to-air missiles, and an HK the gameplay would be "Put plane on table, declare I Win, run from flying shoes."

Re Brown, about the entire first half of his career--I quit when he got to the point of playing "how many main characters can I slaughter this time?" Think the last one I read was the one where Wendy died, and that's where I said "screw it, I'm outta here"--yes, you take casualties in war, but I read books to escape, to *have* that happy ending where everybody rides off into the sunset.

clipper1801

02-19-2016, 21:53

Tonx

02-20-2016, 05:54

Loved that booK! Here's a photo from a long past thread comparing 1/144" scale bombers . . .

Congratulations David for making the Boeing B-52H look even more jaw-droppingly awesome ... Thanks too for posting a picture from which other comparisons are able to be made and the rest of us can watch and learn from: Repped.

Now so I am told there IS a 1:200 Scale kit of a B-52 which has been out of production for a few years now and is not all that easy to find. I think it may have been released by Hobby Craft which IIRC are a Canadian aircraft construction kit manufacturer. Academy Minicraft do manufacture a B-52 as well but I have a sneaky feeling that this is 1/144 Scale. Dragon Wings manufacture a 1/400 Scale B-52G / H in kit form.

clipper1801

02-21-2016, 23:16

Hmm, might have to look into that, if not available I would consider a go at a resin pour : ) I have a spot for it having been nearby when one crashed at Fairchild AFB . . . tragic day, awesome part of my childhood watching them launch during the cold war . . . Incredible sound, my dad said the same of the waves of B-36's over his dad's farm in the 40's. Airpower . . . astounding!

Diamondback

02-21-2016, 23:26

If memory serves, Minicraft is 1/144, Dragon 1/200.

https://www.scalemates.com/search-solr.php?q=%22boeing+b-52+stratofortress%22

Tonx

02-22-2016, 18:57

If memory serves, Minicraft is 1/144, Dragon 1/200.

https://www.scalemates.com/search-solr.php?q=%22boeing+b-52+stratofortress%22

Dragon 1/200 B-52 Stratofortress ... You are giving me ideas!

February 23rd 2016 saw an annoying setback develop regarding the second Avro Vulcan B.2 in the 2016 project XL321. Carrying the Anti-Flash White colours this Vulcan is proving harder to paint than XL595 did wearing camouflage. So far XL321 has had to be sanded once due to the type of brushy finish developing which was the start of the end for Project HPV/K2. Barney D is sure that it is not just him being pernickety and a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to this sort of work.

There is one solution and that is to airbrush the final coats of white onto XL321 and just use what has been sanded as undercoat. Fortunately somebody with spray-painting experience is known through Galactic Models and their assistance on this one will be requested. Because of the better grade of sandpaper used this time following the lessons learned from Project HPV/K2's downfall hardly any of the detailing on the fuselage has been lost this time.

In order to be declared Game Ready XL321 requires both a Manoeuver Deck and stand so it will take time to acquire these - the stand coming from AA. But now the decision has been taken to involve airbrushing it is not known when exactly this will be carried out. As far as can be seen this is the only way to achieve the smooth anti-flash white finish XL321 will not be released without. Barney D does however assure everyone that this project is not in any sort of major trouble at this stage. It is just that what happened with Project HPV/K2 before this has obviously dented his confidence at repainting :minis: and this is taking some time to return.

Tonx

02-23-2016, 04:04

STOP PRESS: AA Stands for Avro Vulcan B.2s XH560 and XM595 have arrived February 23rd 2016. This development sees both now declared fully operational / Game Ready.

Yell

03-01-2016, 03:19

Barney D is sure that it is not just him being pernickety and a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to this sort of work.

Best advice to Barney D is to look ahead and concentrate instead of dwelling on that failed project. Learn the lessons there are to learn / reflect upon it - yes but don't dwell on it ... Roll on XL321 :)

Tonx

03-01-2016, 03:29

Best advice to Barney D is to look ahead and concentrate instead of dwelling on that failed project.

:sAprvd: Be rest assured that Barney D has read and taken on board this sound advice :thumbsup:

Roll On XL321!

Lt. S.Kafloc

03-02-2016, 09:21

Any chance of getting to 'Fireball' XL5?

clipper1801

03-02-2016, 10:48

Any chance of getting to 'Fireball' XL5?

DO NOT TEMPT ME!!!!!!! Just happen to have the blueprints . . .

Tonx

03-02-2016, 11:50

Any chance of getting to 'Fireball' XL5?

Never considered that as a call sign - at this rate XL321's getting FIREBALL Something after three attempts at painting the swine! :eek:

Tell you what - First of these beauts to draw a Boom Card in action: Will change call sign to mark the occasion ...

Whilst I am on the subject: There is a problem photographing anti-flash white paint on an aircraft ... Wonder if anybody can spot it? :lol:

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Tonx

03-02-2016, 15:02

It's time for me to order two more stands from AA because anti-flash white Avro Vulcan B.2 XL321 will soon be in need of one ...

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On the third attempt the anti-flash white coat of paint has settled acceptably and decaling has begun. Once that has been completed a coat of satin varnish (Vallejo) will be overpainted and the altitude peg modification applied.

As the second photo shows XL321 was equipped to carry a 1/200 scale Blue Steel missile but the altitude peg fitment prevented this and needed the recess filling in with Milliput. However this means that XL321 now has a flat as opposed to a bevelled underside allowing the altitude peg to be attached straight onto the aircraft. On the two occasions this has been done before the altitude peg needed to be customised in order to fit to the bevelled undersides of XH560 and XM595. This required a marge to be filed into the peg before careful attachment using superglue.

Today has also been the day when the identity of the fourth and I am sorry to say final Avro Vulcan of this 2016 Project was decided on ... With a little help from a friend. Well rather a famous friend as it happens! Because in his latest message to me Guy Martin suggested that XM655 which is the Vulcan preserved at Wellesbourne Mountford would make a great addition to the game. Guy's suggestion is probably based on the fact that he has actually performed a high-speed taxi-run in XM655 as part of his involvement with the documentary Guy Martin - Last Flight Of The Vulcan Bomber about XH558 before it's retirement last year. To date he remains the only civilian to have ever performed this manoeuver in a preserved British V-Bomber although he was closely supervised and under instruction throughout his time at the controls. The practice of high speed taxi-runs using British V-Bombers all began at Bruntingthorpe where Handley Page Victor K.2s were being preserved in working order following their retirement from RAF service in November 1993. Rather famously during one of these high-speed taxi runs and witnessed by a large crowd at Bruntingthorpe Handley Page Victor K.2 XL167 accidentally left the ground and was required to land again immediately having reached a height of around 50 feet!

The identity of the fourth Vulcan was rumoured at one point to be XM607 - the famous Vulcan 607 from the book by Rowland White. Whilst others were expecting XH558 which ceased flying in October 2015 but which is still on public display in Doncaster. But it is official now: The 2016 Project will now conclude with the following Avro Vulcan B.2s being game ready and fully WGS compatible - as supported all along by Chopper Squad.

XH560 - Pioneer 560: 27 Squadron RAF in 1980s RAF camouflage colours.

XL321 - Bullseye 321: 617 Squadron RAF in 1960s RAF anti-flash white colours.

XM595 - Thunderball 595: 617 Squadron in 24 Squadron RAF markings (as shared by the two) carrying 1970s RAF camouflage colours (with Dumbo logos!)

XM655 - Speedking 655: 101 Squadron RAF in 1980s RAF camouflage colours.

But like I said the first one of these four to receive a Boom Card gets FIREBALLed.

Yell

03-02-2016, 18:45

Any chance of getting to 'Fireball' XL5?

And don't forget The Joker ;)

Guy Martin ... You might have your Bullseye Award up on your wall but I have got my signed photo of him on mine!

Yell

03-02-2016, 18:53

Whilst I am on the subject: There is a problem photographing anti-flash white paint on an aircraft ... Wonder if anybody can spot it? :lol:

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Yes I have spotted something ... That aircraft is already varnished! So exactly what part of XL321 has not been pre-built by DRAGON WARBIRDS 1/200 SCALE MODELS then?

Still looks very nice though - even though I strongly suspect this wasn't Built By Barn :lol:

Diamondback

03-02-2016, 19:18

The other rub is, if we don't set limits on our Philadelphia Experiments... I may be tempted to scratchbuild the monster a prof and I designed in college.

Remember what I said about a B-52 Hunter-Killer being an "I Win" piece? Well, Project Infiltrator is the I Win piece to bring against H-K's... in 1/200 scale, the damn thing is 2' of span and slightly more than that in length. O.O (Overall layout: imagine what would happen if an F-117 knocked up a Vulcan and the spawn of that unholy union was force-fed anabolic steroids and growth hormones from the moment of birth...) As specced, even a Kamikaze A-Wing-style strike to the bridge would just leave crud on the glass...

For the record, the Tin Triangle was a bugger to take down right to the end--in the early 1980s, a few came to play at SAC Bomb Comp when my prof had taken a Det from the 318th FIS with F-106s to try to intercept them... his team bagged two, and considered that more Bragging Rights than the half-dozen BUFFs on the scoreboard with 'em. (When we were putting together the Hunter Killer concept, he actually said that the Vulcan might be a better base airframe to start from, except that there are none available nor does the tech to build more still exist.)

Tonx

03-02-2016, 19:26

And don't forget The Joker ;)

Get back to work you skiving Motorhead fan!!! :lol:

Anyway I haven't forgotten The Joker as you have just named this little beaut (when I have finished BUILDING and PAINTING it) ...

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Tonx

03-02-2016, 19:30

Yes I have spotted something ... That aircraft is already varnished!

DRAT! Foiled Again ...

Yell

03-03-2016, 01:59

DRAT! Foiled Again ...

GOTCHA! :lol:

Tonx

03-03-2016, 03:43

GOTCHA! :lol:

:hmm: For the first time today I have noticed! :lol:

Of the originally rumoured Vulcan identities I was hoping for XM597 as preserved at the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune near Edinburgh. Because then somehow we could have paid tribute to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHKxk719AMc

Johnny Cash - Wreck of The Old 97

Tonx

03-03-2016, 16:26

So with The Joker currently having two possibilities which one of these two are we choosing to develop further?

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The Blue Steel missile on the left dates from the 1960s when the British v-Bomber fleet carried anti-flash white colours: It would typically be carried by XL321. The Blue Steel missile on the right dates from the 1970s and would typically be carried by XM595. At the moment I haven't a clue which manoeuver deck The Joker is going to use but as the saying goes I am never saying never - however it is important that a weapon is selected first to fulfil this role ...

Yell

03-04-2016, 02:09

So with The Joker currently having two possibilities which one of these two are we choosing to develop further?

GO SILVER!

The Blue Steel missile on the left dates from the 1960s and appears to have a damn great dent in it! It would never have been carried in this state by XL321. The Blue Steel missile on the right dates from the 1970s and would typically be carried by XM595. At the moment I haven't a clue which manoeuver deck The Joker is going to use but you are working on it I know you are Barn. You did create XH560 from scratch after all :)

Tonx

03-07-2016, 02:28

OK we are going Silver on The Joker. Well spotted Yell about the dent in the other missile :)

XH560 took a grand total of six weeks to put into the game. Stands for XL321 and the final Vulcan XM655 are now on the way from AA.

Tonx

03-07-2016, 04:46

Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 or Pioneer 560 as she is better known operationally appears to have gained herself rather an important fan.

With it could come a brand new fan-base of untold hundreds who may also probably become aware of the game for the first time. Which is why in response to the news editor at the Vulcan To The Sky Trust today Barney D has submitted full details of the Vulcan Into The Skies Of WGS story as well as made sure a good impression of WGS and who designed it / who supports it were included too.

It is not clear how the VTTS Trust which is still responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of real world Avro Vulcan B.2 XH558 first became aware of XH560. But with Members of the Royal Aeronautical Society and some key figureheads within Aviation and Aerospace within it's Membership somebody has obviously looked through the Who's Who of Aviation and found Barney D still listed under Angel Transport Projects. The Trust has also been made aware of the fact that though they are all restricted to usage as conventional bombers to maintain compliancy and stick with the ethos of WGS there is XM595 now too with XL321 only days away from making it's game entry. On the day this was written both XM655 turned up ready for conversion and two more stands for the last two aircraft were ordered from Aerodrome Accessories - AA.

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The first illustration included in Barney D's response shows XH560 airborne soon after it made it's first take-off on September 3rd 2015.

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The second shows XH560 bombing the first target it was deployed against with successful results again on September 3rd 2015.

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The third photo which the VTTS Trust will see of XH560 is a good view giving an overall impression of what the aircraft looks like. Only photos of XH560 have been submitted and not a word breathed about XH560: THE MOTION PICTURE just in case!

The end result of what has happened so far is likely to be a newsletter article which people will receive by e-mail over the next couple of months. It will also be featured briefly on the website before being archived under the General News section. Barney D commented briefly that It looks like we have put Pioneer 560 back into action at just the right time: Because this is a total change in the aircraft's fortune given the way things seemed to be looking just months ago.

The aircraft was grounded but returned to flight in February 2016.

Tonx

03-07-2016, 18:09

Anti-flash white Avro Vulcan B.2 XL321 is nearing a state of game readiness as the following photo shows. In the background another current project is taking shape healthily regarding Air Sea Rescue Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIc aircraft.

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XL321 will share bomb and target cards with XH560 / XM595 and use the manoeuver deck from XH560 after the modifications are finished and it has been equipped with the stand which has been ordered for it from Aerodrome Accessories / AA. However thanks to Mike (OldGuy59) it does have it's own aircraft or airplane card. XL321 will of course have it's own manoeuver deck one day but this is subject to whenever I feel like cannibalising another Focke-Wulf Fw.190D :minis: after the one just recently for XM595 ...

The fourth and final Vulcan which was revealed recently as XM655 has arrived but work has yet to begin on this aircraft. It will carry 101 Squadron RAF colours and share cards with XH560 but will be equipped with it's own stand and aircraft card. Of the four Vulcans which will be operational within WGS after this 2016 Project's completion XM655 will be the only one which still exists in preservation. It is anticipated that XM655 should be game ready by the end of this month or in early April 2016.

Yell

03-07-2016, 18:31

It is not clear how the [B]VTTS Trust which is still responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of real world Avro Vulcan B.2 XH558 first became aware of XH560. But with Members of the Royal Aeronautical Society and some key figureheads within Aviation and Aerospace within it's Membership somebody has obviously looked through the Who's Who of Aviation and found Barney D still listed under Angel Transport Projects.

This all sounds very prestigious especially the Royal Aeronautical Society ... GO GO XH560! Is this the first time Wings of Glory has been represented in such a high profile way by someone from the Aerodrome?

Can I be a member of TEAM VULCAN if this materializes? ;)

Tonx

03-07-2016, 20:26

Is this the first time Wings of Glory has been represented in such a high profile way by someone from the Aerodrome?

Can I be a member of TEAM VULCAN if it does? ;)

Righty ... No. Then Yes :)

You could do with meeting Chris (Boney10) who deals with the Aerodrome's UK events and asking him about this. Same as whoever got us into ORIGINS in the USA and CANCON in Canberra - both of which are known internationally and I bet these are not the only ones. There was also September 15th last year (Battle of Britain Day / our wedding anniversary too) when Battle of Britain expert Simon (Strangelybrown) took WGS to the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford - Marion and I went along and played. There are two RAF Museums: Hendon which is down in London and Cosford for us Northerners. Whether or not this new exposure for the game will result in an actual event like it did for Simon & Team I am not sure but XH560 looks set to be the vehicle which carries awareness of the game further afield and like you say to other auspices and echelons ...

Team Vulcan Idea ... Yes seeing as you suggested it. Not sure if a team will be needed beyond what Chopper Squad are already silent partners in but if one is I know where to look :)

Lt. S.Kafloc

03-08-2016, 01:27

Not as colourful as these though.
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So with The Joker currently having two possibilities which one of these two are we choosing to develop further?

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The Blue Steel missile on the left dates from the 1960s when the British v-Bomber fleet carried anti-flash white colours: It would typically be carried by XL321. The Blue Steel missile on the right dates from the 1970s and would typically be carried by XM595. At the moment I haven't a clue which manoeuver deck The Joker is going to use but as the saying goes I am never saying never - however it is important that a weapon is selected first to fulfil this role ...

Yell

03-08-2016, 01:39

Righty ... No. Then Yes :)

Righty ... Two inspirations spotted in the same paragraph Barn. IIRC Chris ran the WGS game at Doncaster 2015 with bombers in it. Simon for Battle of Britain Day though like you mention he had assistance from his wife and Welsh Dragon <-?

Righty II ... Barn change the ending of the XH560 Goes Royal item! HEY! My first duty as a Team Vulcan member was just carried out!!!

Yell

03-08-2016, 01:51

Not as colourful as these though.

:sAprvd: Cannot agree more - are these from Thunderbirds?

So here we have the impressive FIREBALL XL5 though if you look side on IMHO it resembles The Joker. Next thing we know we will be on Jindiviks ... Whatever one of those is :confused:

Diamondback

03-08-2016, 02:18

One problem if my builds happen... as the Old Dog's creator put it, "We don't have a tail number... we don't even look like a real B-52."

Be interesting to see how you handle those Blue Steels... might yield some ideas for Old Dog and Reaper's more long-range weaponry too. On top of the pure creative interest seeing another of our mad geniuses at work... now if only I could find a Super Stallion in 1/200 for another of my little mutant nightmare butcherbirds.

Tonx

03-08-2016, 03:00

HEY! My first duty as a Team Vulcan member was just carried out!!!

It certainly has! Welcome to Team Vulcan as great minds think alike / two pairs of eyes are better than one :salute:

I would SO SO like to see a Super Stallion (MH-53J helicopter) in 1/200 scale - another of my old favourites from my modern military aviation days. In fact any CH-53 variant would be nice and on October 22nd 2015 when Marion and I went along to the TOTS Event (The One True Scale) at Midland Aviation Museum in Coventry I was silently looking for one. Or a Sea King. Closest they could come up with though was either a Westland Whirlwind for £45.00 ready-painted or a Westland Wessex which we never saw because it had been sold. Publicised on here under Y'all Come To ... TOTS Event or something similar which actually gave the impression that the event was being held across The Pond! Nope - it was in Coventry and if it returns this year Wings of Glory / WGS may very well have a presence there c/o Marion and Myself :)

Diamondback

03-08-2016, 03:14

Offtopic: Supe's actually the 3-engine CH-53E, PL was the survivors of the AF's 2-engine Super Jolly Green Giant CSAR force. Differences are an extra rotor blade, a kinked gull-wing tail on the Echo and a revised "sail" (all carried over to the new fat-sponson King Stallion), some subtleties of rear hull shape and the Echo/Sea Dragon/King (Sikorsky model S-80) are just a skosh bigger than the two-engine S-65. (Interestingly, both reuse the basic backbone, machinery raft/powertrain and cockpit of the S-64 Skycrane.)

You're gonna laugh at this... a beast I had hatched (with some help from a former Sikorsky development engineer) on a fiction board where I used to be one of their tech advisors was a fully-automated (not "NOLO"/"drone", but completely autonomous) Echo airframe, with a King powertrain and a Pave Low avionics package grafted on a.nd a fourth engine added, where the onboard computer had spontaneously achieved human-level AI--and decided it wanted to become a profiler with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. Give ya one guess on the big brute's name... LOL

Yell

03-08-2016, 03:45

Give ya one guess on the big brute's name... LOL

Marine One.

Doesn't matter about the OFFTOPIC this is fascinating. Took me about 30 minutes to come up with that answer and I bet it's not even close :lol:

Tonx

03-08-2016, 04:18

You're gonna laugh at this... a beast I had hatched (with some help from a former Sikorsky development engineer) on a fiction board where I used to be one of their tech advisors was a fully-automated (not "NOLO"/"drone", but completely autonomous) Echo airframe, with a King powertrain and a Pave Low avionics package grafted on a.nd a fourth engine added, where the onboard computer had spontaneously achieved human-level AI--and decided it wanted to become a profiler with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. Give ya one guess on the big brute's name... LOL

No ... Not Marine One as that actually exists: Built by Sikorsky this is a unique S-70 Whitehawk but which is supported by two British built Westland Merlin (EH101) helicopters.

It's probably going to be the title of a novel or in the title of a novel is my initial guess. Thinking in the Dean Koontz / Dale Brown direction ... I do wish I knew where my collection of Dale Brown novels has got to these days? It's really bugging me now not knowing where they are! Sounds a bit too modern'ish for the likes of Craig Thomas (the author of Firefox) or Clive Cussler (who mentions the Boeing 757 as a futuristic airliner in Raise The Titanic!)

Lt. S.Kafloc

03-08-2016, 04:21

Fireball XL5 was way before Thunderbirds and before that was Supercar. Fireball XL5 was followed by Thunderbirds and Stingray.
Although alive I was to young to remember Supercar but can remember XL5, it being my favourite and in black and white.

Cannot agree more - are these from Thunderbirds?

So here we have the impressive FIREBALL XL5 though if you look side on IMHO it resembles The Joker. Next thing we know we will be on Jindiviks ... Whatever one of those is

Tonx

03-08-2016, 05:02

Fireball XL5 was way before Thunderbirds and before that was Supercar. Fireball XL5 was followed by Thunderbirds and Stingray.
Although alive I was to young to remember Supercar but can remember XL5, it being my favourite and in black and white.

I'm learning here as I had never heard of Fireball XL5 (which as a call sign I originally thought was connected with a car) or Supercar before then. Jerry Anderson's Thunderbirds was before my time but I remember seeing re-runs of the original on television when I was very young. FAB ... and all that :)

Stingray I do remember as I think Jerry Anderson was the brains (pardon the pun) behind this too. Then we start getting more into cartoons like Battle of the Planets in terms of what I used to watch as a child ... Trans-Mute!

I think David Manley may very well be our resident Stingray expert. I would still very much like to see his Stingray game in motion at some point - if you read this David when are you next taking it to an event please? :)

Jindiviks were pilotless target drones built in Australia and first flown in 1957. They were extensively used there as well as in the UK until the middle of the 1980s by the Ministry of Defence / RAF and I think they may have been used by the Royal Navy too. If anybody fancies salvaging the remains of one many are known to lie off the North Wales coast between the Mawddach Estuary (Barmouth - Abermaw) and the Lleyn Peninsula (Pwllheli and Criccieth etc.) They were once flown from the now disused Llanbedr airfield when it was a DERA establishment in their DROVES! I understand that the same may be said for Port Hedland in Western Australia - though somebody correct me please if I am wrong about this location.

David Manley

03-08-2016, 08:47

Not sure when Stingray will be running again. I don't think it will be this year, I don't like to take the same game to a show 2 years running (WSF excepted of course)

Tonx

03-08-2016, 09:57

Not sure when Stingray will be running again. I don't think it will be this year, I don't like to take the same game to a show 2 years running (WSF excepted of course)

That's a shame but understandable at the same time. I suppose you can then never feel that people have seen the same thing twice as the saying goes.

Maybe / hopefully the opportunity will come about next year :)

Tonx

03-08-2016, 12:43

JUST A QUICK ONE OR ELSE MY DINNER IS IN THE KITTENS!!! But XL321 is Game Ready as of today - March 8th 2016.

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Bonus: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIc P8131 of 276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron RAF also in pictures ... Enjoy! :eat:

Yell

03-12-2016, 03:09

JUST A QUICK ONE OR ELSE MY DINNER IS IN THE KITTENS!!! But XL321 is Game Ready as of today - March 8th 2016.

:lol:

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Now all I get to hear about is b****y Boeing 787s all the time! This is a photo of one flying low over Derby in fact - just to rub it in!!!

:(

Yell

03-12-2016, 03:54

The Aerodrome has just tried my patience for the FINAL time :mad:

In fact may I suggest you leave too whilst I am at it.

:eek: ??????????????????????????????? :eek:

BTW - I am going nowhere.

Yell

03-12-2016, 05:22

THREE-TWO-ONE AND REST!

I think we have been listening to Going Like A Ton Of Elephants by Barney D. :hmm:

Give me the Shoo-Shoo Shuffle any day! :)

Sorry everyone! But Barn will make his next appearance here when he has got something rather more positive to say - or even sing about.

David Manley

03-12-2016, 05:49

Yell! Don't bother. Nobody cares. The Aerodrome has just tried my patience for the FINAL time :mad:

In fact may I suggest you leave too whilst I am at it.

Geez, what on earth has happened now??????

Yell

03-12-2016, 06:42

Geez, what on earth has happened now??????

Hi David. I am afraid Barn appears to be relapsing and badly.

I am trying to help him but I'm bearing the brunt too so please bear with me and hope for the best.

David Manley

03-12-2016, 07:14

I live with someone who has different issues but similar outcomes, so I can appreciate where he is, as far as anyone can.

clipper1801

03-12-2016, 11:05

The elves and I are praying for a good recovery and peace of heart and mind.

fast.git

03-12-2016, 19:02

I'll add my simple and sincere well-wishes.

Tonx

03-13-2016, 10:34

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Yell! Where has this photo come from? I actually SAW this happen because the Rolls-Royce powered Spitfire Mk 19 and Boeing 787-8 were overflying the main RR production plant on Raynesway in Derby on July 7th 2013.

We were previously overflown like this on August 17th 2010 by Boeing 787-8 prototype ZA002 for the same reason. Rumour had it that on that first occasion a Spitfire and a Hurricane were to have accompanied ZA002 in making it's flypast after leaving the Farnborough Airshow that year. But amidst concerns about formation flight separation and wake turbulence I think it was the Spitfire which went TECH putting a halt to all this anyway.

Yell

03-14-2016, 03:44

Yell! Unfortunately the last big jet which left just now was being Commanded by me.

Yeah I am in the back hanging on for dear life. Because you are behaving like a REAL dweeb!

I think I'm gonna chunder! :puke:

Lt. S.Kafloc

03-15-2016, 03:37

Hoping you get better soon Barney.

To add, great pics of your latest Vulcan.

The post WW2 section will miss your input. So go slow come, back quickly.

Neil

Flying Officer Kyte

03-15-2016, 13:36

Really sorry to hear this about Barney, Yell.
He seemed so well when I was joined by himself and Marion at Hammerhead last week.
I do hope he comes through this latest setback O.K.:salute:
Rob.

tikkifriend

04-15-2016, 09:58

Get well soon Barney :thumbsup: Theres always a place for you in the Forum with your knowledge of planes.
Paul

Tonx

05-14-2016, 13:58

Somehow ... Tonx didn't just parachute back in through the Officer's Mess window ... Now that would have been a load of margie-bargie!

Parachuting safely back into a sensible landing at MAN within next 24 hours ... Being flown back via Blackburn Boombox C Mk 1 on my own.

Sidekick experiencing parachute problems ... Note to Sidekick: Some SPRING CLEANING is required. Help available on arrival.

Tonx

05-15-2016, 12:58

Returning to the Avro Vulcan I almost forgot to mention that whilst I was away XM655 was built over the space of three days ... But there is a twist! :erk:

This is the Avro Vulcan B.2 which is currently preserved at Wellesbourne Mountford which is near Stratford on Avon.

So that makes four Vulcans now available for WGS in 1:200 Scale: XH560 which started all this off / 27 Squadron and camouflage ... XM595 Dumbo (!) / 27 and 617 Squadron's shared aircraft in early 1970s camouflage ... XL321 (In Memory of Steve Hague - SY Air Museum) / 617 Squadron anti-flash white ... XM655 (located in Brisbane QLD where this aircraft was completed) / 101 Squadron in camouflage.

So when my sidekick successfully parachutes back in there will definitely be some photos of WGS Avro Vulcan B.2 XM655 :)

Tonx

05-24-2016, 08:37

EXCLUSIVE! First photographs taken of Avro Vulcan B.2 for WGS XM655 in 101 Squadron RAF colours: Which is now resident in Brisbane QLD with my Sister Danielle (Yell) ...

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Avro Vulcan B.2 XM655 (101 Sq RAF) is mounted on an Aerodrome Accessories WGS Heavy Bomber Stand. Currently available from Keith at AA the other three Avro Vulcans are also equipped with these now.

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Avro Vulcan B.2 XM655 (101 Sq RAF) after a long story was built in Annerley which is in Brisbane QLD. She travelled 9,455 Nautical Miles to her new home part-made up and is now owned by Danielle.

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Avro Vulcan B.2 XM655 (101 Sq RAF) cannot bask in too much Queensland sunshine or like I said to Yell she will be renaming this one Icarus!

XM655 is fully fitted out and equipped with an R1 Manoeuver Card Deck and scanned bombing and tactical cards / Airplane and Airplane Management Cards by Mike (OldGuy59) and so could be activated if required.

Lt. S.Kafloc

05-24-2016, 14:09

and no pic of Yell with that model. Barney you missed a trick there old chap.

Tonx

05-24-2016, 14:16

and no pic of Yell with that model. Barney you missed a trick there old chap.

What trick? :hmm:

Anyway somebody needed to take the photos which arrived yesterday :takecover:

Diamondback

05-24-2016, 14:45

Missing the first rule, Neil? "Thou shalt not covet thy squadronmate's sister..." ;) (Well, second after "...thy squadronmate's companion." LOL)

Sorry, couldn't resist...

I'm filing notice to reserve call signs for two aircraft if my "Old Dog" builds ever start, and I think you'll appreciate the humor behind one of 'em: Black Bulk and Reaper.

Tonx

05-24-2016, 15:40

Missing the first rule, Neil? "Thou shalt not covet thy squadronmate's sister..." ;)

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :sAprvd: :lol: :lol: :sAprvd:

So fantastically put! Never mind the Old Dog ... The legend here is you for that one. I do hope you are able to make forward progress on the Old Dog builds soon though.

BTW - I do have a photo of Yell taken at Eaglefarm (Brisbane International) earlier this month ... But she is screaming her head off with a landing TNT Boeing 777 Freighter 50 feet above her! If I posted that I'd severely incur her wrath!!!

Diamondback

05-24-2016, 16:25

There's a lot of design and engineering that has to happen before I even think of buying parts... and with research for Ares, a weekly column I just started on a large American politics site (trust me, that vile creature with the dead animal on his head is NOT part of the Party that I'm the first in the family to break with since the Civil War!), trying to get thirty years of my mother's crap and my own packed up and moved, having to do cleaning and organizing at the house we're gradually moving into since the aunt we're moving in with is about as useful as the male mammary gland...

Let's see: each bird will require a new V-tail, a scratchbuilt fuselage extension and new inboard wing section, four GE90-115B engines, two new tanks for each wingtip, two new or redesigned pylons each wing, towed decoys, point-defense lasers... "Black Bulk" is a goof on Black Buck, something my frat brothers used to refer to me by when I was either wearing The Suit in my Executive Protection role or fully Tactical Trolled out in black BDU. (I'm a kinda heavy fella, 5'6" and 220#.) "Reaper" is what my ex-fighter-jock prof used to refer to the combination of the "Anti-Air Warfare" B-52 and its crazy creator as when he tangled with us in the sim... he usually found himself getting a faceful of AMRAAM right as he was starting to get a lock. LOL (Ain't off-board targeting assistance fun? :D)

Yell

05-24-2016, 17:07

BTW - I do have a photo of Yell taken at Eaglefarm (Brisbane International) earlier this month ... But she is screaming her head off with a landing TNT Boeing 777 Freighter 50 feet above her! If I posted that I'd severely incur her wrath!!!

When I come over to Hammerhead 2016 you can take my photo with Barn then as I look truly AWFUL on the 777 photo! Barn if you post it on here I will complain as you did not have my permission. I'll say done without knowledge: CAPISCHE?

Diamondback

05-24-2016, 17:14

*tries to figure out if Yell's Pattern of Behavior better matches the profile of "Bossy Older Sister" or one of the various options at the other end of the range*

:p :D

(I kid, I kid. Don't throw anything...)

Tonx

05-24-2016, 17:14

CAPISCHE?

Eight-five.

Tonx

05-24-2016, 17:22

*tries to figure out if Yell's Pattern of Behavior better matches the profile of "Bossy Older Sister" or one of the various options at the other end of the range*

Bossy Older Sister is actually bit protective younger sister: BUT if she even dreams of throwing anything at this exchange I'll be having a word or two in here ear ...

Amazed there's actually been anything posted at all from Yell but hey-ho. Access problems-this and access problems-that beginning to bore me a bit now! :rolleyes:

Diamondback

05-24-2016, 17:26

Sometimes it just takes a little Shock Therapy... :D though I usually prefer to deliver mine via cattle-prod or taser. LOL

Tonx

05-24-2016, 17:39

Sometimes it just takes a little Shock Therapy... :D though I usually prefer to deliver mine via cattle-prod or taser. LOL

My thing to Yell about growing up apart from her was that as older brother I never got a chance to blow her up with my chemistry set or take her into the garden with my friends and play cricket with her ... Here some say that younger sisters are for throwing down the stairs too but for obvious reasons I stopped short of that! Next thing I know she is telling me that her friend Paige still has a scar from a chemistry set-inflicted accident aged 7 & it's on her right arm.

So my choice of two words if she threw a wobbly would just be ... Chemistry Set! Speaking of which where did you pick up capische from Yell?! Mine to you is always comprendez?

Diamondback

05-24-2016, 17:45

You should see my mother and I with the inflatable Clue-Bats... lol My family has this uncanny trait that even Louisville Sluggers break against our thick skulls.

Tonx

05-25-2016, 01:34

I would like Keith from AA to see the photos from these two flights so he can see just what his WGS Heavy Bomber Stands (available from AA) are capable of when it comes to what else is able to use them / versatility.

Keith will also be able to spot if I have removed all the protective paper from the stand components this time :)

DATE: 25MAY16 MSG READS: Operation T-BALL: Vulcan XM595 operating as Thunderball 595 from RAF Boddington. Aircraft to fly northbound and ascend to 5,000 feet and receive orders in the air. Until received aircraft to maintain 5,000 feet on heading advised with an airspeed not to exceed 200 knots. This is not a drill and aircraft STD is 11:00 HRS GMT :MSG ENDS:

Then it's bonus time!

DATE: 25MAY16 MSG READS: Operation F-BALL: Vulcan XL321 operating as Fireball 321 from RAF Boddington. Aircraft to fly southbound and ascend to 5,000 feet and receive orders in the air. Until received aircraft to maintain 5,000 feet on heading advised with an airspeed not to exceed 200 knots. This is not a drill and aircraft STD is 12:00 HRS GMT :MSG ENDS:

Busy day Barn ... Hell YEAH!

Tonx

05-25-2016, 07:51

Well ... What can we say? Today's Avro Vulcan post maintenance test-flights ended today with the grandest of the grand finales: TWO Vulcans in the sky AT THE SAME TIME! :eek: :clap: :thumbsup:

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The understanding was that as FIREBALL 321 / XL321 which took off first despite the way the orders were looking earlier was recovering to base from the south I was distracted by a phone call from Marie Clare at Chopper Squad and had to multi-task for a bit. Amidst that phone call about working over this weekend I originally declined the offer at which point Marie Clare said that thes wer totally unlike me - ah soun jus like a poofta wen I say I cannae do it / Massive guffaw from Sylvia at Chopper Squad in background who had obviously just heard what Marie Clare had said jokingly to me: Ye callin me a poofta?! I responded rather shocked with.

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Aye ... letha pants an a fancy gool shirt! Marie Clare responded with - in fact if I put this section of the conversation as taken down verbatim in the AAR that will help to explain all this further. Either way next thing I knew somehow THUNDERBALL 595 / XM595 was gone from the runway and back in the air. Due to the presence of dangerous wake turbulence from XM595 ... XL321 was instructed to Go Around! Conversation with Marie Clare ended rather abruptly on this note with my arm twisted and an agreement that I will cover this weekend's activity with her ... Previded she gets et tha ahm nae a poofta!

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So there we have it: Two Vulcans in the air from RAF Boddington within 1000 metres of one another for 15 minutes as both of them came around the VFR Circuit to make a visual landing one behind the other. Pleased to report that both aircraft have now recovered to base safely. An AAR will be released by the OFC very shortly ... After they have stopped laughing at the sound of the phone call which may have for the first time in decades put two mighty RAF Avro Vulcan bombers into the sky at the same time!

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