When Avro Vulcans flew over Southland

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Bomber came to visit but couldn't land

By LLOYD ESLER - The Southland Times | 2:41PM - Monday, 10 February 2014


VULCAN BOMBER: The first one visited New Zealand in 1956.

THE largest jets to visit Southland in the 1950s and 1960s were RAF Vulcan bombers which made occasional low passes over Invercargill but were unable to land.

They were retired from service in 1984 but one remains airworthy.

The first to visit New Zealand was on a round-the-world trip in 1956. Unfortunately it crashed on its return to London.

In 1959 a Vulcan dragged a wing at Wellington Airport and spent 10 weeks at Ohakea being repaired.

This picture was taken in Invercargill on February 26th, 1973.

www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/culture/in-the-south/9590904/Bomber-came-to-visit-but-couldn-t-land

[baronbeeza]

I think we may have discussed this flight a few months ago. I saw that machine overhead Westport about 10am that morning. We then had someone mention it was low level over Te Anau a little later so Invercargill a few minutes later again possibly.

What worries me is 26th Feb was a Monday. Without looking up the other thread I had a feeling it was a little later in the week.
No doubt I will be doing an edit when I come back in after mowing the lawns.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Russell Glendinning (of Kingston Flyer steam train fame) has a large, framed photograph taken by a member of the crew of that Vulcan bomber during the overflight of Southland on 26th February 1973. They flew low over the Kingston Flyer and captured a photograph looking down on the train with the delta-shaped shadow of the Vulcan covering the train.

The framed photograph was sent to him by the RAF a few months after the overflight, and I saw the photo hanging on the wall of his office at Kingston Railway Station a few years ago (although he would have been based at Lumsden when the photograph was taken in 1973). Russell was the driver of the train when the Vulcan overflew it and took that photograph.

[baronbeeza]

rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/2193/rnzaf-plane-on-airshow-scene?page=3

I am guessing more than one of those Vulcans on that trip did a circuit of the South Island. I would put my money on the Westport aircraft being a little later in the week. I doubt it was a Monday morning.

[machpants]

Like most of his books it is a bit on the positive/PR side but Rowland White's Vulcan 607 is a nice look into the world of the Vulcan.

[Mustang51]

My very good friend, photographer and author here across the ditch, Neville Parnell went to NZ on his honeymoon. Stipulation was that there were "No Aircraft" on the entire trip. That agreement no doubt Purgatory for him. While cruising down Milford Sound observing the seals what should roar down just above them........... a Vulcan. Lovely pic he has of it as well.......

[errolmartyn]

Jet Bomber's Brief Visit

A Royal Air Force Vulcan bomber made a farewell appearance over Invercargill as it darted briefly out of the clouds at 1.10 p.m. yesterday.

Most shoppers missed seeing the delta-wing jet bomber as it swooped over the city, disappearing quickly in a steep climb and leaving a deep thunder in its wake.

The Vulcan is one of four visiting New Zealand for an Air Force exercise. The ageing bomber is being phased out of the R.A.F. to make way for more modern aircraft.

(The Southland Times, Tue 27 Feb 1973)

Errol

[beagle]

Feb 12, 2014 12:38:27 GMT 12 kiwithrottlejockey said:

Russell Glendinning (of Kingston Flyer steam train fame) has a large, framed photograph taken by a member of the crew of that Vulcan bomber during the overflight of Southland on 26th February 1973. They flew low over the Kingston Flyer and captured a photograph looking down on the train with the delta-shaped shadow of the Vulcan covering the train.

The framed photograph was sent to him by the RAF a few months after the overflight, and I saw the photo hanging on the wall of his office at Kingston Railway Station a few years ago (although he would have been based at Lumsden when the photograph was taken in 1973). Russell was the driver of the train when the Vulcan overflew it and took that photograph.

would love to see that image..

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I've been searching online to see if anybody has uploaded it to a site somewhere, but no luck.

I know the photograph exists, because I have seen it on the wall of Russell Glendinning's office at Kingston Railway Station.

I know Russell and was paying a social visit while some friends of mine were boarding the Flyer (I was going to drive to the other end of the Flyer journey and pick them up).

I'm also fairly certain I have that photograph in a book somewhere, although I wouldn't have a clue which book.

However, while searching online, I have discovered that the photograph was published on page 145 of a book called “AVRO Vulcan” by Robert Jackson, and that the Vulcan was XH562.

[phil82]

I was at Ohakea on the day of what I believe may have been the very last visit of a Vulcan to NZ, around 1979-80? On departure he took off on 27, stayed low and turned left towards SH1, then came back over the airfield aiming for the tower, and went LOW, so low we were looking down the intakes, then he pulled up and went very steep at full power for Australia. It was a calm day and I recall the anemometer on top of the tower was barely moving until the Vulcan went over head, the it went frantic! Utterly brilliant departure!

[machpants]

"The Vulcan is one of four visiting New Zealand for an Air Force exercise. The ageing bomber is being phased out of the R.A.F. to make way for more modern aircraft.

(The Southland Times, Tue 27 Feb 1973)"

That was a looooong phasing out of service!

[snaphead]

I recall the day fairly well (from the mists of time). We nearly cooked a GTC-85 that day. We were tasked with providing air to start the massive engines. We were advised of the amount of air required, which was about the top of what the GTC could proved. The pilot wanted to start all 4 engines at once, but we "requested" a single engine start then use bleed air to start the remaining 3. Unfortunately the captain was in a hurry so started all 4 at once. The poor little GTC hemorrhaged and the JPT went to the red line. We were about to abort the start when all the engines caught. There was quite a low resonance as it was catching up to idle.

A question: Did the Vulcan have a cross bleed system for engine starts?? I would have thought so.

Was this not also the occasion the "someone" painted a Kiwi on the fuselage roundel. I vaguely recall a similar bit of excitement.

[snaphead]

I recall the day fairly well (from the mists of time). We nearly cooked a GTC-85 that day. We were tasked with providing air to start the massive engines. We were advised of the amount of air required, which was about the top of what the GTC could proved. The pilot wanted to start all 4 engines at once, but we "requested" a single engine start then use bleed air to start the remaining 3. Unfortunately the captain was in a hurry so started all 4 at once. The poor little GTC hemorrhaged and the JPT went to the red line. We were about to abort the start when all the engines caught. There was quite a low resonance as it was catching up to idle.

A question: Did the Vulcan have a cross bleed system for engine starts?? I would have thought so.

Was this not also the occasion the "someone" painted a Kiwi on the fuselage roundel. I vaguely recall a similar bit of excitement.


The flight over the airfield was quite stimulating. She came in low,we had climbed onto the 75 sqd baggies "joe" room roof. We were looking down on the top of the massive wing, the in front of 3 hangar she went pure vertical, the jet blast nearly knocked us down.


OOPs, added this as a post script.

[thomarse]

I too have been searching for that fantastic photo as well. I swear I originally saw it in "Wings" magazine at the time?

Flyer perfectly enshrouded by the Vulcan's shadow. Magnificent.

[bae]

Have a copy of that photo - will scan in the morning and send to anyone who wishes to pm an email address on the understanding that they will post to this site.
Cheers bae

[alias]

Hi folks,
this rang a bell so I looked back through all my old Aeroplane Monthly's, sure enough there is a centerspread in an issue which shows a Vulcan scorching low level up Milford Sound, complete with Kiwi roundel!
I will attempt to scan it and put it here.

[Ian Warren]

Hi Vulcanites, now 1973 may have been the date - Avonhead Primary School, Christchurch, I would have just turned 11 and may have been the first one on the paddock, one thing that stuck in my brain case is what the teacher said ... " Now children the reason you cannot hear it is that is how it sneaks up on its enemy's haahahahah

[Ian Warren]

Mar 6, 2014 12:29:52 GMT 12 alias said:

Hi folks,
this rang a bell so I looked back through all my old Aeroplane Monthly's, sure enough there is a centerspread in an issue which shows a Vulcan scorching low level up Milford Sound, complete with Kiwi roundel!
I will attempt to scan it and put it here.

I do hope you can scan that photo, I'll equal it with a flight simulation model - the Real Versus Simulation

[nuuumannn]

The aircraft in the shot is most likely Vulcan B.2 XH562 of IX Sqn, which was indeed the aircraft that was zapped with the Kiwi in the roundel on the nose. I'm also pretty certain it's the one in the Aeroplane Monthly photo in Milford Sound; I too, have the same picture somewhere. She was scrapped in 1984 after serving on the fire dump at Catterick. There are a few pics of it floating around the net of it with the Kiwi roundel:

topbirdsandeveryfing.typepad.com/top-birds-everyfing/2010/12/rnzaf-avro-vulcan-bomber-at-rnzaf-wigram-believe-it-or-not-the-royal-new-zealand-air-force-operated-one-avro-vulcan-bomber.html

Note that it has IX Sqn's bat emblem on the fin in red, whereas its normally depicted in green. And this one, which has appeared on this forum before, note the 75 Sqn zap on the undercarriage door:

www.avrovulcan.org.uk/vulcan_people/562_kiwi.htm

A few interesting points about the image posted by Kiwithrottlejockey - a picture paints a thousand words; she wears the low level camouflage topside after the V Bomber role changed from high to low altitude penetration of enemy air space, also, note that just outboard of the kink in the leading edge outboard of the intakes, just inboard of the leading edge are two small fairings, both staggered, under each wing. These indicate that the aircraft was modified with internal plumbing for the carriage of the Skybolt air launched ballistic missile. The external pylons attached to the wing at exactly that point.

Like most of his books it is a bit on the positive/PR side but Rowland White's Vulcan 607 is a nice look into the world of the Vulcan.

Good book. You could also read my article in NZ Aviation News about XM597, which White barely touches on, the other Black Buck Vulcan, the one that diverted to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - a fascinating story about a continuously overlooked facet of the Black Buck operations, since every man and his dog focusses on XM607. '597 was the aircraft on which all the weapons trials were carried out, as well as the experimental pylons that were devised especially for the Black Buck raids.

[Dave Homewood]

Errol Martyn has asked me to post this photo, and these are his words:

"I took this on the occasion of XH562's Invercargill flyover on 1 March 1972.

There is also a nice photo on the cover of the March 1972 issue of 'Wings'
magazine showing the aircraft making a take off at the Royal New Zealand
Aero Club's pageant at Hamilton on 5 March.

The 'Kiwi' roundel is clearly visible on both images."