FighterControl

Hello All

Having just glanced at an old RAF Finningley airshow programme for 1976, and noticed on the flying display list there was only 2 Vulcans taking part in the scramble that year unless it was a printing error!!

Anyone live in Lincoln area in the 70's, I did and a of couple times a month on a Sunday morning a Vulcan would launch from RAF Waddington northbound climbing high often wondered where it was going.

Vulcan74 wrote: ↑

Fri May 22, 2020 6:36 pm

Hello All

Having just glanced at an old RAF Finningley airshow programme for 1976, and noticed on the flying display list there was only 2 Vulcans taking part in the scramble that year unless it was a printing error!!

Anyone live in Lincoln area in the 70's, I did and a of couple times a month on a Sunday morning a Vulcan would launch from RAF Waddington northbound climbing high often wondered where it was going.

It's not a misprint Vulcan74, from 1970 onwards about half of the V-Bomber scrambles at Finningley were by two instead of the more familiar four. The had an unusual 3 x Vulcan scramble in 1973 and a Victor scramble in 1961.

LF

Was this to save money on the fuel cost?

Vulcan74 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:44 pm

Was this to save money on the fuel cost?

I don't think so, not specifically, between 1967 and 1970 the Vulcan force had shed three squadrons, 12, 27 and 83, two more, 9 and 35 had been sent to Akrotiri and there was a move toward a more tactical strike role while still retaining the deterrent (standby) role. This likely put pressure on operational commitments, training etc, but Vulcans for demonstration scrambles at air shows varied, Finningley had another 4-ship in '72 then back to two again until the Silver Jubilee. The last one at Finningley was a swansong, 19 September 1981, that was the final 4-ship

LF









9

Thanks for that much appreciated.

You're welcome sir!

LF

whilst in training at RAF Swinderby in may/june 1980 i witnessed a four ship Vulcan scramble which would have been from Waddington the first and last time i saw one but will never forget it !!

At the Waddington Open day on 30 May 1981 a four-Vulcan scramble was carried out. Here is my inexpert shot of one of the four on its return.

RAF Vulcan B.2 at Waddington by Irish251, on Flickr

Hey it's a Vulcan so never mind the image quality

Still a good shot, I can remember the 1981 Waddington Open day with the Vulcan solo & scramble. Unfortunately never to be repeated!!

Vulcan74 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:16 pm

Still a good shot, I can remember the 1981 Waddington Open day with the Vulcan solo & scramble. Unfortunately never to be repeated!!

Yes it was, just one more time, at Finningley 19 Sep 1981!

LF

My introduction to this mighty beast, was my Passing Out Parade at the end of Technical Training at RAF Halton in December 1977. At General Salute, with the Senior Reviewing Officer on the Dias, it approached from the rear, low level over the famous 'Running Hill' and overhead. Absolutely fantastic