Born during the Cold War as a nuclear deterrent, the Handley Page Victor was a British-built strategic bomber. What made the Victor so unique was its very different crescent wing styling. Sources: Goodfon, This Blog Talks, Flikr, Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, ABPic, War Thunder Forum, Air Vectors, RAF Museum. [51] This, combined with the switch of the nuclear deterrent from the RAF to the Royal Navy (with the Polaris missile) meant that the Victors were declared surplus to requirements. This is the first injection-molded kit in 1/72 scale of the bomber version equipped to carry the Blue Steel nuclear missile the only other in this scale is the old Matchbox K2 refueler. B.35/46, was issued to cover development of what Handley Page . With the Valiants gone, the RAF also lost a huge chunk of its tanker fleet, as the aircraft were converted to that role when it was found they werent suited to the conventional bomber role.
Historic Aviation Quiz: Handley Page Victor - Key.Aero [83], The Victor has been described as an agile aircraft, atypical for a large bomber aircraft; in 1958, a Victor had performed several loops and a barrel roll during practices for a display flight at Farnborough Airshow. During 1982, the glazing was reintroduced on some aircraft, the former nose bomb aimer's position having been used to mount F95 cameras in order to perform reconnaissance missions during the Falklands War. These PlaneTags feature a weathered patina in shades of grays, tans, and yellows. It was the third and final V bomber to be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the other two being the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant.
GWH Handley Page Victor B.2 | Finescale Modeler Magazine Ultimately, the specification for the aircraft would call for them to be able to deliver a nuclear payload deep into Soviet territory, such hostilities escalate to that level. It was designed to deliver a nuclear payload deep into Soviet territory. The Blue Steel, which on this occasion weighed 8,165 kg (18,000 lb), was jettisoned into the sea near Port Wakefield and the aircraft landed back at Edinburgh. HP.80 WB771 - the first Victor prototype; Handley Page By mid-1952 the first HP.80 was ready to fly but had to be transported by road to Boscombe Down as Handley Page's airfield at Radlett had too short a runway. Handley Page worked day and night to convert these six aircraft, with the first being delivered on 28 April 1965, and 55 Squadron becoming operational in the tanker role in August 1965.
Handly Page Victor for FSX - Fly Away Simulation She flew for about a half mile down he runway and then half landed on the grass an drifted .
Handley Page Victor | Military Wiki | Fandom [118], A total of four Victors have survived and are on display in the United Kingdom.
Handley-Page Victor by JanKaliciak - Renderosity 893. . Even months later, recalls Hall, The moment I first saw the Handley Page Victor is still so fresh in my mind. The engines are easy to handle and offer lots of "speed stability" once in the air. Read about the Mad Dog Wing Desk that kicked off the collection in January. [17][18] Ten days later, the Air Ministry announced the aircraft's official name to be Victor.
Cold War Bomber: The Handley Page Victor in Photographs In this short video I showcase the Handley Page Victor B.1A that was created as freeware. This plan was abandoned when the U.S. cancelled the Skybolt programme in 1963. Work therefore continued to produce a definitive three-point tanker conversion of the Victor Mk.1. It was conceived in 1945 and after much research and development the Mk 1 entered service in the late 1950s to become part of the UK's nuclear deterrent force. The HP.88 was delivered to Handley Page and on 6 August 1951 was flown to Stansted for further testing. The first aircraft fitted with an over-nose refuelling probe (XA930) was flown on 27 August 1958, and underwing fuel tanks were installed to extend range. The Victor couldnt officially reach Mach 1 in level flight, but it made the bomber the largest aircraft at the time to break the sound barrier. These missions provided valuable intelligence for the retaking of South Georgia by British forces. Airfix 1/72 Handley-Page Victor B. Mk. The Victor though did gain a second lease of life. Spring 1987 - Walter Soplata purchased the nose section shell and transported it to his collection in Newberry, Ohio. [45] With the move to low-level penetration missions, the Victors were fitted with air-to-air refuelling probes above the cockpit and received large underwing fuel tanks.
The Handley Page Victor: A V-Bomber That Delivered [109] Originally reconnaissance Victors were equipped for visual reconnaissance; it was found to be cheaper to assign Canberra light bombers to this duty and the cameras were removed in 1970. [28][29], On 1 June 1956, a production Victor XA917 flown by test pilot Johnny Allam inadvertently exceeded the speed of sound after Allam let the nose drop slightly at a high power setting. The Handley Page Victor is a British jet-powered strategic bomber, developed and produced by Handley Page, which served during the Cold War. It had the highest load carrying capacity of the British V-bombers, being able to uplift some 35 453 kg (1,000 lb) bombs or a single 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) weapon. Subsequently, radar-based reconnaissance was emphasised in the type's role.
Handley Page Victor: The Bomber That Became An Aerial Refueler [48], With the withdrawal of the Valiant because of metal fatigue in December 1964 the RAF had no flight-refuelling capability, so the B.1/1A aircraft, by then surplus in the strategic bomber role, were refitted for this duty. The Victor was a four-engine jet, with a unique crescent wing, designed by Godfrey Lee. Handly Page Victor for FSX Add-ons Microsoft Flight Simulator X Military Aircraft FSX Handly Page Victor Handly Page Victor B2 white+camo, with and without Blue Steel, K2 (hemp+camo) and SR2. [111][112] At the time, these missions held the record for the world's longest-distance bombing raids. [9] The other parts of the aircraft which accelerate the flow, the nose and tail, were also designed for the same critical mach number so the shape of the HP.80 had a constant critical mach number all over. The first production Victors were ordered in June 1952 and the first Victor B.1 flew on 1 February 1956. Due to its technological sophistication and superior capabilities, the Victor was the last of the V-bombers to be retired from service on 15 October 1993. Most of the wreckage had been recovered by November 1960, following an extensive search and recovery operation. [89] The first operational bomber squadron, 10 Squadron, formed at RAF Cottesmore in April 1958, with a second squadron, 15 Squadron, forming before the end of the year. [72] The introduction of the Victor B.2 was accompanied by several new ECM systems, including a passive radar warning receiver, a metric radar jammer and communications jamming equipment. Operationally, the accuracy of the bomb-aiming system proved to be limited to roughly 400 yards, which was deemed sufficient for high-level nuclear strike operations. Read more about MotoArts Soplata Collection PlaneTags . The Victor joined the Vulcan and Valiant in the high-altitude nuclear bomber role in the late 1950s, powered by four Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire ASSa.7 turbojets. In October 1960, it returned to Handley Page at Radlett, Hertfordshire for conversion to a B1A status. The Valiant, Vulcan, and Victor all switched to the low-level bomber roles. [7] Aviation author Bill Gunston described the Victor's compound-sweep crescent wing as having been "undoubtedly the most efficient high-subsonic wing on any drawing board in 1947". Buttler, Tony. On June 1, 1956, a Victor bomber being flown by a test pilot exceeded the speed of sound to become the largest aircraft that had broken the sound barrier. The origin of the Victor and the other V-bombers can be traced back to the end of the Second World War as a British deterrent to the Soviet Union. Three of these were produced and were known as the V-Bombers. Permission to use photo given by Andrew Read. This historic jet-powered strategic bomber has undergone a meticulous five-year restoration project, which is now . Two week removal process for Marham gate guardian, Exclusive in-depth articles and analysis, videos, quizzes added daily, A fully searchable archive boasting hundreds of thousands of pieces of quality aviation content. The B.2 was able to perform a 2G turn at Mach 0.95 at 16,760 m (55,000 ft), the extra power of the Conway engines stemming from operational requirements to carry guided missiles, such as the Blue Steel, in both offensive and defensive roles. In April 1982 Victors were based at Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island during the war over the Falkland Islands with Argentina, where they refuelled Hawker Siddeley Harriers, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Lockheed Hercules tactical transports, other Victors used on ultra-long-range reconnaissance missions, and Avro Vulcans using iron bombs, anti-radiation Shrike missiles, and airburst bombs which were used against troop concentrations. The Handley Page Victor, the last of the British V-Bombers, entered the Cold War fray during the 50s and served with the RAF years beyond the lifetime of the manufacturer itself. Journalist - Mark is an experienced travel journalist having published work in the industry for more than seven years. On display at RAF St. Athan, September 1984. Fast taxi with aborted take off performed after short hold. [49][91] At its height, the Victor was simultaneously operating with six squadrons of RAF Bomber Command. As a result, the long-range bomber idea was dropped in favor of a medium-range aircraft that could be deployed from one of the RAF's bases in the United Kingdom or abroad. ", "The Falkland Islands: A history of the 1982 conflict. The only remaining Handley Page Victor aircraft has been reassembled and displayed at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, following its five-year restoration. Despite the loss of one of the prototypes, WB771, in an accident, the Victor proved itself in its early test flights and the B.1 version of the jet entered Royal Air Force service in April 1958. January 1, 1985 - Transferred to 55 Squadron. Like the others in the Soplata Collection, such as the, With the 20th anniversary coming up next year, MotoArt has many exciting things in store for the months leading up to it. To get some tankers into service as quickly as possible, six B.1A aircraft were converted to B(K).1A standard (later redesignated B.1A (K2P)[49]), receiving a two-point system with a hose and drogue carried under each wing, while the bomb bay remained available for weapons.
Handley Page Victor B.2 in 1/72 by Matchbox - Leigh Edmonds little box Twenty-eight conversions were made from the SR.2 fleet, the first of this model flying on 1 March 1972. Based in Alicante, Spain. Handley Page produced a series of aircraft which included the O/100, the O/400, and the V/1500. The HP.88 crashed on 26 August 1951 after completing only about thirty flights and little useful data was gained during its brief two months of existence. The accident investigation concluded that the starboard pitot head had failed, causing the flight control system to force the aircraft into an unrecoverable dive. The Handley Page Victor was the last of the Royal Air Force V-bombers to enter service. On Friday the 23rd March 1962, Victor XL159 left Boscombe Down for further low-speed trials. Only the Vulcan, with its strong delta wing, was able to carry out the conventional bomber role successfully. Handley Page produced a series of bomber designs including the Heyford, Hampden, and Halifax, as well as other aircraft, for the war effort. Some of the navigation and targeting equipment was either directly descended from, or shared concepts with, those used on Handley Page's preceding Halifax bomber. It served in the tanker role until withdrawn in October 1993. In 1958, the first Royal Air Force squadron was completely re-equipped with new bombers. Because of the mid wing position, the tail was mounted at the tip of the fin to keep clear of the jet efflux. [28] Hence, 24 B.2 were modified to K.2 standard. Remaining airborne for more than 24 hours. April 26, 1982 - Transferred to 55 Squadron. The Handley Page Victor, the last of the British V-Bombers, entered the Cold War fray during the '50s and served with the RAF years beyond the lifetime of the manufacturer itself. In spite of preservation attempts as of December 2020 most of the airframe had been scrapped.
Handley Page Victor B.1A - Showcase #9 - YouTube With the introduction of the Blue Steel stand-off bomb the British Government decided it needed fewer aircraft and cut back orders for the B.2. Flying under the Humber Bridge. 29 February 1988: Landing accident at USAF Offutt AB-hydraulic failure resulted in the aircraft running off the runway. [5] Responses to OR.230 were received from Short Brothers, Bristol, and Handley Page; however, the Air Ministry recognised that developing an aircraft to meet these stringent requirements would have been technically demanding and so expensive that the resulting bomber could be purchased only in small numbers. The speed brakes can be posed open or closed. [73] While trials were conducted with terrain-following radar and a side scan mode for the bombing and navigation radar, neither of these functions were integrated into the operational fleet. Allam noticed a cockpit indication of Mach 1.1 and ground observers from Watford to Banbury reported hearing a sonic boom. It was the third and final of the V-bombers operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF); the other two V-bombers being the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. [57][58][N 4], While assigned to the nuclear delivery role, the Victor was finished in an all-over anti-flash white colour scheme, designed to protect the aircraft against the damaging effects of a nuclear detonation. The origin of the Victor and the other V bombers is heavily linked with the early British atomic weapons programme and nuclear deterrent policies that developed in the aftermath of the Second World War. Retractable scoops in the rear fuselage would open to feed ram air to them enabling them to generate sufficient electrical power to operate the flight controls. The V/1500 did have the range needed to reach Berlin but the war ended just as it entered service. The Handley Page Victor: The Most Innovative Of The V-Bombers By Henry Kelsall Published Sep 12, 2021 It was designed to deliver a nuclear payload deep into Soviet territory, via Goodfon During the Cold War, the development of military aircraft reached almost unheard-of levels. [150] In February 2021, the RAF released the time-lapse footage of this airframe being dismantled. His labor of love eventually amassed almost 20 incredibly rare airplanes, 50 different engines, and decades of history.
Cold War nuclear bomber goes on display at IWM Duxford - BBC All done without the cranes and machinery used today to dismantle an airplane. [25] The prospect of Skybolt ballistic missiles, with which each V-bomber could strike at two separate targets, meant that fewer bombers would be needed. Victor XM715 is one of only two surviving Handley Page Victor K2 Tankers that is in serviceable condition, capable of taxiing at full speed. The Sapphire 9 was cancelled and the heavily modified Phase 3 aircraft would have delayed introduction, so an interim "Phase 2A" Victor was proposed and accepted, to be powered by the Conway but with minimal modifications. [102], Following the discovery of fatigue cracks, developing due to their low-altitude usage,[99] the B.2R strategic bombers were retired and placed in storage by the end of 1968. [81] One unusual flight characteristic of the early Victor was its self-landing capability; once lined up with the runway, the aircraft would naturally flare as the wing entered into ground effect while the tail continued to sink, giving a cushioned landing without any command or intervention by the pilot. Receive exclusive content, offers, competitions and more. They are etched with the Victors image on one side, and the back is ready for custom information to be added. [93] In order to maximise the operational lifespan of each aircraft, Victor crews typically flew a single five-hour training mission per week. Two turbine-driven alternators, otherwise known as ram air turbines (RATs), had been introduced on the B.2 to provide emergency power in the event of electrical power being lost. The web portal flugzeuginfo.net includes a . Gunston, Bill.
Accident Handley Page Victor B.2 XL159, 23 Mar 1962 One of them, XL191 RAF, faithfully flew with the 55 Squadron as an aerial fuel tanker. None are flightworthy. Victors began to enter service November 1957 as part of Britain's nuclear deterrent force, capable of delivering atomic bombs to targets within Russia. The Handley Page (HP) company had started work on the design of such an aircraft as early as February 1946 and had designated the project HP.80. ap Rees, Elfan. 232 Operational Conversion Unit RAF based at RAF Gaydon, Warwickshire taking place in late 1957. January 20, 1982 - Sent for a major overhaul at Saint Athan. A separate hydraulic circuit was used for each of the following: landing gear, flaps, nose flaps, air brakes, bomb doors, wheel brakes, nose-wheel steering, ram-air-turbine air scoops. No defensive weapons were to be carried, the aircraft relying on its speed and altitude to avoid opposing fighters. This involved equipping it with new electronic countermeasure . The Victor was finally withdrawn from service with No 55 Squadron at RAF Marham in October 1993 after 35 years of service. This evening I took a bimble in the setting sun through some clouds in this splendid Handley Page Victor, for me one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made. However, the added skin friction drag meant an overall slight drag increase. "Handley Page Victor: Part 1". [8] The sweep and chord of the wing decreased in three distinct steps from the root to the tip, to ensure a constant critical Mach number across the entire wing and consequently a high cruise speed. June 19, 1986 - Crash-landed short of the runway at Hamilton, ON, during the Hamilton airshow. The Victor didnt fare much better, with fatigue cracks soon emerging in the crescent winged bombers as well. The first production B.2 (XL188) was delivered on 2 November 1961, this model entering service with No 139 (Jamaica) Squadron at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. [10] The profile and shaping of the crescent wing was subject to considerable fine-tuning and alterations throughout the early development stages, particularly to counter unfavourable pitching behaviour in flight. The plane needed a range of 1,500 nautical miles carrying a 10,000 lb bomb and a cruising speed of 580 mph at an altitude between 35,000 and 50,000 feet. In operational service with the RAF, a maximum payload of 35 1,000lb bombs could be carried.
Handley Page Victor: A complete history - Key.Aero Fourteen further B.1A and 11 B.1 were fitted with two permanently fitted fuel tanks in the bomb bay, and a high-capacity Mk 17 centreline hose dispenser unit with three times the fuel flow rate as the wing reels, and were designated K.1A and K.1 respectively. In 1968, the Royal Air Force converted the Victor once again, into an aerial refueling tanker. [90] Four Victors, fitted with Yellow Astor reconnaissance radar, together with passive sensors, were used to equip a secretive unit, the Radar Reconnaissance Flight at RAF Wyton.
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