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Fighter / Attack:
   Bell P-39 Airacobra
   Bell P-63 Kingcobra
   Brewster Buffalo
   Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair
   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
   Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
   Douglas A-1 Skyraider
   Douglas A-26 Invader
   Douglas SBD Dauntless
   Fairey Firefly
   Focke-Wulf Fw 190
   Grumman F4F Wildcat
   Grumman F6F Hellcat
   Grumman F7F Tigercat
   Grumman F8F Bearcat
   Grumman TBF Avenger
   Hawker Hurricane
   Hawker Sea Fury
   Lockheed P-38 Lightning
   Messerschmitt Bf-109
   Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen
   North American P-51 Mustang

   Polikarpov I-16
   Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
   Supermarine Spitfire
   Yakovlev Yak-3
   Yakovlev Yak-9


Trainers:
  
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (C-45)
   Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
   Boeing / Stearman PT-17

   Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel
   Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway
   DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
   DeHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth
   Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
   Hunting / Percival Provost
   Meyers OTW
   Nanchang CJ-6
   Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
   N. Am. BT-9 / BT-14 / Yale
   N. Am. T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard
   N. American T-28 Trojan

   Piaggio P149
   Ryan PT-22 Recruit

   Scottish Aviation T1 Bulldog
   Vultee BT-13 Valiant
   Yakovlev Yak-11
   Yakovlev Yak-18
   Yakovlev Yak-52


Bombers:
   Avro Lancaster
   Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
   Boeing B-29 Superfortress
   Bristol Blenheim / Bolingbroke
   Consolidated B-24 Liberator
   Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

   Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
   DeHavilland Mosquito
   Fairey Swordfish
   Heinkel He-111 / Casa 2.111

   Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon / Ventura
   Martin B-26 Marauder
   North American B-25 Mitchell


Transports:
   Beechcraft C-45 (AT-11)

   Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (KC-97)
   Curtiss C-46 Commando
   Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota
   Douglas C-54 Skymaster

   Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
   Fairchild C-123 Provider
   Grumman C-1 Trader (S-2)
   Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
   Lockheed C-69 Constellation


Utility / Observation / Special Duty:
   Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
   Aeronca L-16 Grasshopper
   Antonov AN-2 Colt
   Auster AOP 6/9
   Avro 652 Anson
   Avro Shackleton
   British Taylorcraft I-V
   Cessna L-19 / O-1 Bird Dog
   Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster
   Cessna T-50 / UC-78 Bobcat
   Consolidated PBY Catalina

   DeHavilland U-6A / L-20 Beaver
   Fairey Gannet
   Fairey Swordfish
   Fieseler Fi156 Storch
   Grumman S-2 Tracker (C-1)
   Grumman HU-16 Albatross
   Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
   Junkers Ju 52/3m

   Lockheed P2V Neptune
   Max Holste M.H.1521 Broussard
   Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

   Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
   North American L-17 Navion
   N. Am./ Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
   Piper L-4 Grasshopper
   Stinson L-5 Sentinel
   Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
   Westland Lysander


Jets:
   Aero L-29 Delfin
   Aero L-39 Albatros
   Aermacchi MB-326
   Avro Vulcan
   BAC Strikemaster
   Blackburn (BAC) Buccaneer
   Canadair Tutor
   Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
   DeHavilland Vampire
   DeHavilland Venom
   English Electric Canberra
   English Electric Lightning
   Folland Gnat
   Fouga CM-170 Magister
   Gloster Meteor
   Grumman F9F Panther
   Hawker Hunter
   Hispano HA-200 Saeta
   Hunting Jet Provost
   Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
   Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
   McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
   McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom
   Messerschmitt Me-262
   Mikoyan MiG-15
   Mikoyan MiG-17
   Mikoyan MiG-21
   N. Am. F-86 Sabre / FJ-4 Fury
   N. Am. F-100 Super Sabre
   N. Am. / Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
   Northrop T-38 Talon / F-5
   PZL / WSK TS-11 Iskra
   Saab J35 Draken
   Soko G-2A Galeb
   Temco Pinto & Super Pinto


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Avro Vulcan

(Variants/Other Names: B.Mk 1/1A/2; Sr.Mk 2)



Vulcan XH558, the last airworthy Vulcan.
(Photo source unknown. Please contact us if you deserve credit.)

History: A post-WWII analysis of Allied strategic bombing affirmed the success of such tactics during the war. The new importance of nuclear weapons made it all the more imperative that the world's nuclear powers have long-range delivery capabilities. England's Royal Air Force (RAF) issued a requirement for a new aircraft design which could be based anywhere in the world, be able to strike targets up to 1,700 miles away, and deliver a heavy bomb load from high speed and high altitude. One of the three finalists for the job was the Avro Vulcan, first flown on 3 August 1952. The Vulcan's main distinctive physical characteristic, its large delta-wing shape, was a result of the need for structural integrity and a large payload capacity. To prove the as-yet untested design, the Avro company built a series of one-third scale aircraft, designated as Avro 707s.

The first production model of the Vulcan, the B.Mk 1, flew in early 1955, and after a few airframe and wing design changes, entered service. While the first prototype Vulcans were powered by four 6,500-pound thrust Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3 engines, a series of engine upgrades throughout its lifetime resulted in a final configuration of four 20,000-pound thrust Rolls-Royce Olympus 301s, giving the Vulcan significant performance improvements over earlier marks.

Numerous other design improvements were gradually incorporated as well, as follows: The B.Mk 1A variant incorporated a modified tailcone housing an Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM) system. The B.Mk 2 had more powerful engines than the B.Mk 1, a much-modified and larger wing, elevons for pitch and roll control (instead of separate elevators and ailerons), an auxiliary power unit (APU), in-flight refueling capability, and modified weapons-launch capability. In the mid 1960s the B.Mk 2 was adapted as a long-range, low-level conventional bomber. Finally, the SR.Mk 2 strategic reconnaissance variant appeared in 1973.

The Vulcan remained on active duty with the RAF into the 1980s. Few retired aircraft types retain the mystique enjoyed by the handful of remaining examples of the Vulcan which have found their way into museums. For almost a decade after its retirement, at least one Vulcan was flown at air displays throughout Europe and the British Isles, but financial considerations resulted in all Vulcans being grounded by the mid 1990s. However, in 2007, thanks to the work of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust and The Vulcan Operating Company (TVOC), one of these magnificent aircraft was restored to airworthy condition, and flew on the airshow circuit in the UK for eight years until funding issues grounded it in October 2015.

Nicknames: Iron Overcast; The Tin Triangle

Specifications (B.Mk 2):
        Engines: Four 20,000-pound thrust Rolls-Royce Olympus 301 turbojets
        Max Takeoff Weight: ~250,000 lbs.
        Wing Span: 111ft. 0in.
        Length: 99ft. 11in.
        Height: 27ft. 2in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 645 mph
            Ceiling: 65,000 ft.
            Range: 4,600 miles with normal bomb-load
        Armament: Up to 21,000 pounds of bombs, carried internally

Number Built: 134

Number Still Airworthy: One (Now taxi-capable only, as of October 2015).

Links:
Avro Vulcan Cold War Archive -- Photos, audio, history and more.
"Thunder and Lightnings" Vulcan Page
Vulcan Restoration Trust (XL426) (UK)
The Vulcan Operating Company (XH558) Operators of the only airworthy Vulcan.
Vulcans in Camera -- A photo-essay of the Vulcan in active service.
Vulcan Shop -- All sorts of Vulcan merchandise.
Vulcan to the Sky Trust -- The home of the charity tasked with maintaining and operating Vulcan XH558, the last airworthy Vulcan.
Vulcan to the Sky Online Store -- Get all your XH558 gifts, memorabilia, and trinkets!
655 Maintenance and Preservation Society (Wellesbourne, UK)
 

 

Avro Vulcan books from Amazon.com:

 

XM607: Falklands' Most Daring Raid:
 




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