british jet powered strategic bomber developed produced served cold war final bombers operated royal_air_force raf bombers vulcan victor developed perform airborne nuclear type retired nuclear mission following discovery fatigue cracks exacerbated raf adoption low altitude flight profile avoid interception number received modifications undertake strategic reconnaissance role employing combination radar cameras sensors nuclear mission given royal_navy submarine launched missiles large bomber fleet deemed surplus requirements consequently surviving converted aerial war victor notably airborne logistics operation repeatedly refuel vulcan bombers way black raids victor bombers retired final aircraft removed service october role type replaced vickers lockheed development origins origin victor bombers heavily linked early british atomic weapons programme nuclear policies developed aftermath second world war bomb programme formally began issued august anticipated government decision january research development work atomic weapons mcmahon act having prohibited atomic knowledge countries collaborated manhattan_project envisaged weapon exceed length diameter weight suitable release time drew requirements bombers replace existing engined heavy bombers new equipped january distributed specification aviation companies satisfy medium range bomber capable carrying bomb target nautical miles base world cruising speed knots mph heights specified maximum weight fully loaded ought exceed weapons load include special gravity bomb free fall nuclear weapon shorter ranges conventional bombs defensive weapons carried aircraft relying speed height avoid opposing fighters similar required long range bomber nautical miles radius action height cruise speed mph maximum weight fully loaded responses received bristol recognised developing aircraft meet stringent requirements technically demanding expensive resulting bomber purchased small numbers result realising majority likely targets require long range demanding specification medium range bomber issued demanded ability carry bomb load target nmi away height speed mph design proposed response given internal designation achieve required performance deputy developed crescent shaped swept wing sweep chord wing decreased distinct steps root tip ensure constant limiting number entire wing consequently high cruise speed early work project included aircraft designs wing tip vertical surfaces instead proposal matured high mounted adopted instead profile shaping crescent wing subject considerable fine tuning alterations early development stages particularly counter unfavourable pitching behavior flight type chosen best proposed designs orders prototypes placed recognised associated designs order placed vickers design fully meeting requirements specification design posed little risk failure reach service earlier crescent wing tested heavily modified given page designation crashed august completing thirty flights little useful data gained brief months existence time ready wing changed longer representative design sufficiently advanced loss little effect programme prototypes built broken factory transported road flight clear route create paths obstacles sections aircraft hidden wooden framing printed southampton appear boat hull transit marred error december piloted chief test pilot maiden flight lasted total minutes days later announced aircraft official victor prototypes performed design led loss july detached whilst making low level pass runway causing aircraft crash loss crew attached fin bolts subject considerably stress anticipated bolts failed metal fatigue additionally prototypes considerably tail heavy lack equipment nose large ballast weights fitted prototypes lengthened nose served crew escape door engine fin shortened eliminate potential attachment changed stronger bolt fixing powered rated lbf initially equipped blue danube nuclear weapon powerful weapon available carried mark nuclear bombs available programme british red beard tactical nuclear weapon total upgraded standard addition red steer tail warning radar enlarged suite radar warning receivers electronic june production victor flown test pilot inadvertently exceeded speed sound let nose drop slightly higher power setting noticed cockpit indication ground observers reported hearing sonic boom victor maintained stability event aviation author claimed broke sound barrier demonstrate victor superiority earlier bombers victor largest aircraft broken sound barrier time victor raf required higher ceiling bombers number proposals considered improved meet demand proposed use lbf engines produce phase bomber followed phase greater wingspan powered rolls conway cancelled heavily modified phase aircraft delayed production interim phase victor proposed accepted powered conway having minimal modifications phase proposal accepted air staff conway engines providing lbf new conway engines required redesigned enlarged provide greater required extended increasing wingspan featured distinctive retractable elephant ear found located rear fuselage forward tail fin fed ram air rat provide electrical power emergency situations engine failure flight prototype serial number maiden flight february flown hours august high altitude engine tests carried armament experimental establishment disappeared radar screens crashing sea coast extensive search operation initiated locate salvage wreckage determine cause crash took november recover aircraft accident investigation concluded starboard head failed causing flight control system force aircraft dive minor changes needed resolve problem allowing victor enter service february development total aircraft upgraded standard conway engines lbf thrust facilities carry stand nuclear missile wings modified incorporate speed pods anti shock bodies reduced wave drag speeds area rule convenient place house proposed build refined phase victor fuel capable carrying missiles standing airborne patrols proposal rejected agreed victor order fitted carry plan abandoned cancelled programme low level penetration missions fitted air air cockpit received large fuel tanks aircraft converted strategic reconnaissance purposes replace withdrawn wing fatigue delivery beginning july aircraft received variety cameras bomb bay mounted radar mapping system wing detect particles released nuclear testing single aircraft photograph united_kingdom single hour sortie different camera configurations installed bomb bay including survey cameras cameras fitted vertical oblique daylight photography nighttime photography required fitting cameras aerial conversion withdrawal fleet metal fatigue december meant raf line tanker aircraft aircraft judged surplus strategic bomber role refitted duty service quickly possible aircraft converted standard later redesignated receiving point system carried wing bomb bay remained available weapons worked day night convert aircraft delivered april squadron operational tanker role august aircraft provided limited tanker capability suitable fighters wing deliver fuel limited rate suitable bombers work continued produce definitive point tanker conversion victor fourteen fitted permanently fitted fuel tanks bomb bay high capacity unit times fuel flow rate wing designated respectively remaining aircraft suited low level mission profile raf adopted carrying strategic bombing missions vulcan strong delta wing combined switch nuclear raf royal_navy missile meant considered surplus requirements modified standard similar conversions wing trimmed reduce stress bomb nose reintroduced aircraft nose bomb position having mount cameras order perform reconnaissance missions war carry fuel served tanker role withdrawn october design overview victor futuristic looking streamlined aircraft engines buried thick wing roots distinguishing features victor highly swept tail considerable tail planes prominent chin contained targeting radar cockpit nose landing gear unit auxiliary bomb position originally required specification nose section detached high altitudes act escape pod abandoned demand victor man crew comprising pilots seated facing crew navigator navigator radar operator air electronics officer unlike vulcan victor pilots sat level rest crew thanks larger compartment extended way nose bombers pilots provided seats systems operators relying explosive inflated bottle help seats traditional bail event high loading despite escape extremely difficult assigned nuclear delivery role victor finished anti flash white colour scheme designed protect aircraft damaging effects nuclear white colour scheme intended reflect heat away aircraft paler variations raf applied reason bombers assigned low level approach profile 1960s soon green grey tactical camouflage reduce visibility ground observation scheme applied subsequently converted tanker aircraft armaments equipment victor bomb bay larger vulcan allowed heavier weapon loads carried cost range alternative single nuclear bomb required specification bomb bay designed carry conventional armaments including single grand slam earthquake bombs bombs thirty sea mines proposed addition victor capable carrying bombs supplement main bomb bay option pursued addition range free fall nuclear bombs later victor operated missile carriers nuclear missiles intended american missile introduced development cancelled target information input flight advance mission reported intensive work missile carrier revert carrying free fall nuclear weapons conventional munitions hours like sibling victor use navigational bombing system little optical sight installed early aircraft navigation bomb aiming purposes victor employed numerous radar systems included radar airborne ground scanning radar radar radar information onboard bomb aiming apparatus navigation targeting equipment directly descended shared concepts preceding halifax bomber operationally accuracy bomb aiming system proved limited roughly yards deemed sufficient high level nuclear strike operations systems victor fully powered controls flight controls flight surfaces designed pilot control movements transmitted low friction mechanical system setup developed provide capabilities level artificial feel pilot separated hydraulic circuits present aircraft comprised gear flaps nose flaps air brakes bomb doors wheel brakes nose wheel steering ram air turbine electrical system auxiliary power unit significant additions later victor electrical reliability noticeably improved evade enemy detection interception efforts victor outfitted extensive electronic suite operated air electronics officer primary responsibility aircraft electronics communication systems equipment employed disrupt effective use active passive radar vicinity aircraft provide awareness crew enemy communications jammed radar guided missiles era reportedly rendered ineffective victor featured extended area located base tail fin contained cooling systems equipment equipment initially saw use victor original tail warning radar developed earlier english bomber considered near obsolete time victor entered service significant improvements alterations effective deemed critical victor role example introduction capable tail warning radar introduction victor accompanied new systems including passive radar warning receiver metric radar communications equipment streamlined trailing edges wings house large quantities defensive new additions trials conducted terrain following radar scan mode bombing navigation radar functions integrated operational fleet engines victor powered arrangement armstrong engines engines embedded pairs aircraft wing root high mounted position wing tail adopt high mounting maintain clearance jet situated advantage phenomenon difficulties encountered stationed tropical environments engines destroyed turbine blades striking outer engine victor adopted newer rolls conway conway point held distinction powerful non engine outside soviet_union significantly powerful preceding engines employed victor featured distinct change aircraft engine arrangements incorporated right wing root airborne auxiliary power unit effectively small fifth engine capable providing high pressure air starting main engines providing electrical power ground alternatively air emergency event main engine failures acted reduce need external specialist support equipment turbine driven known ram air turbines rats introduced provide emergency power event electrical hydraulic power lost retractable rear fuselage open feed ram air rats provide sufficient electrical power operate flight controls event engine rats assist crew maintaining control aircraft main engines flight profile victor commonly described having good handling excellent performance favourable low speed flight characteristics flight tests prototype victor proved aerodynamic performance flying handling problems aerodynamic changes prototype production aircraft production aircraft featured automated nose operation counteract tendency aircraft pitch upwards low moderate numbers low altitude victor typically flew smooth comfortable manner flexibility crescent wing unusual flight characteristic early victor self landing capability lined runway aircraft naturally wing entered ground effect tail continued sink giving landing command intervention pilot victor described aircraft large bomber aircraft victor performed loops barrel roll practices display flight greatly enabled light controls quick response aircraft design certain flight surfaces infinitely variable tail mounted victor designed flight high speeds multiple instances occurred sound barrier broken development victor raf stressed concept tactical led effort development given increasing aircraft height range performance operational history victor bombers enter service deliveries operational conversion unit raf based end operational bomber squadron squadron formed april second squadron squadron forming end year fitted reconnaissance radar number passive sensors equip secretive unit radar reconnaissance flight victor bomber force continued build squadron forming march squadron october height victor simultaneously operating squadrons according operational doctrine developed raf deploying large scale nuclear strike victor operated entirely independently crews conduct mission external guidance reliant effectiveness individual tactics reach successfully attack assigned target great emphasis placed continuous crew training peacetime developing sense crew unity considered highly important victor crews typically serve years similar approach adopted ground personnel order maximize operational lifespan aircraft victor crews typically flew single hour training mission week crew member required qualify certificates independently undertake inspection turnaround operations times high international tension bombers dispersed maintained high state readiness order given deploy nuclear strike high readiness airborne minutes point order issued british intelligence estimated soviet radar network capable detecting victor miles away avoid interception victor follow carefully planned routes exploit weaknesses soviet detection network tactic employed conjunction victor extensive onboard electronic increase chances whilst originally victor maintained high altitude flight nuclear strike mission rapid advances soviet anti aircraft warfare capabilities exemplified downing led tactic abandoned low level high speed approach supported increasingly sophisticated adopted place improved victor started delivered squadron squadron forming february second squadron bomber squadrons form order cancelled prospect missiles bomber strike separate targets meant fewer bombers needed government unhappy sir resistance pressure merge company competitors development terminated victor carrier aircraft nuclear missile introduction weapons switch low level flight order evade radar detection said decisive factors successful penetration enemy territory series detachments deployed singapore indonesia borneo conflict detachments fulfilling strategic role giving valuable training low level flight visual bombing september confrontation indonesia reaching peak detachment prepared rapid dispersal aircraft loaded live conventional bombs held hour readiness ready fly operational sorties required fly combat missions high readiness alert finished end month following discovery fatigue cracks developing low altitude usage strategic bombers retired placed storage end raf experienced intense demand existing aerial tanker fleet existing fleet converted earlier retired 1970s decided stored converted prepared modification scheme fitted tip tanks structure modified limit fatigue cracking wings seats provided delayed signing order conversion went contract conversion instead awarded produced simpler conversion planned wingspan shortened reduce wing bending stress extend airframe life victor permanently based units stationed overseas temporary deployments frequently conducted ceremonial capacity participate training exercises competitions victor squadrons dispatched extended deployments far_east short term deployments canada conducted training purposes point early 1960s south_africa showed considerable interest acquisition bomber end victor serve operator raf victor converted strategic reconnaissance mission following retirement capacity service type primarily surveillance atlantic capable surveying square miles hour mission sample fallout french nuclear tests conducted originally reconnaissance equipped visual reconnaissance found cheaper assign canberra light bombers duty cameras removed subsequently radar based reconnaissance emphasised type role reconnaissance remained use followed standard bombers tanker conversion line handful modified assumed maritime radar reconnaissance role place bombers victor vulcan played high profile role war order cross vast distance atlantic_ocean single vulcan required times victor total bombing missions flown argentine forces deployed approximately million gal million fuel consumed mission time missions held record world longest distance bombing raids deployment assets theatre lockheed hercules required support victor tanker fleet temporarily relocated campaign victor undertook reconnaissance missions missions provided valuable intelligence british forces following invasion kuwait neighbouring iraq total victor deployed provide flight support raf coalition aircraft subsequent gulf war raf strike aircraft tornado frequently use tanker refuel prior launching cross border strikes inside iraq shortly gulf war remaining victor fleet quickly retired point bombers operational service retiring years vulcan vulcan survived longer original role bomber variants prototype aircraft built victor strategic bomber aircraft built bomber aircraft updated red steer tail warning radar suite converted point flight tanker retaining bomber capability converted victor point flight tanker renamed bombing capability removed converted victor point flight tanker renamed converted bomber aircraft built victor capable aircraft conway engines converted victor strategic reconnaissance aircraft converted victor flight tanker converted proposed military transport new fuselage carrying troops civil project built proposed version remotely operated tail guns powered conway engines rejected favour military transport version built proposed phase bomber powered engines built project military civil transport powered conway engines capacity troops military version passengers double fuselage proposed phase bomber designed standing patrols carrying missiles proposed military tactical transport based fitted blown flaps rejected favour operators royal_air_force squadron raf operated april march squadron raf operated september october squadron raf operated october moving receiving replaced july squadron continuing operate tanker role disbanding october squadron raf operated march squadron raf operated september jamaica squadron raf operated february december squadron raf operated july january squadron raf operated december operational conversion unit raf radar reconnaissance flight accidents incidents july prototype crashed test flight england crewmen died witnesses reported entire tail assembly ripped away height feet april trials experienced collapse rear bomb bay bulkhead cycling bomb bay doors damaging hydraulic electrical systems aircraft successfully returned base following incident service restrictions place opening bomb doors modification applied aircraft august lost head sea june squadron caught fire air abandoned near norfolk march stalled house lincolnshire june squadron lost power engines abandoned approach june squadron runway broke following aborted takeoff october squadron engine fail takeoff engines failed approach aircraft crashed miles crew board pilot survived march squadron stalled takeoff june squadron giving demonstration flight press television aircraft high speed circuit flying low wide arc return airfield starboard wing seen break away rest aircraft burst flames crew killed aircraft enter service squadron released evidence suggests august squadron collided near norfolk bad weather crew members victor died bounced landing exploded march victor squadron involved collision simulated hit victor causing victor crash sea east wear crew killed squadron aborted runway bird strike crew escaped injuries aircraft caught fire damaged repair october squadron suffered turbine failure early run aircraft stopped crew evacuated aircraft injuries debris turbine penetrated fuselage fuel tank starting fire destroying aircraft damaging runway june squadron approach bad weather hamilton ontario fast taxi run brief flight reaching height maximum aircraft permit fly stated conducting investigation pilot failed reply command pilot control confusion temporarily disrupting firm control aircraft survivors total survived display museums sole survive victor national cold war exhibition gate guardian norfolk victor home york prototype conversion currently condition tina currently condition data general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight max takeoff weight powerplant armstrong lbf performance maximum speed mph knots range nmi service ceiling armament bombs yellow sun free fall nuclear bomb notable appearances media painting titled depicts victor lost accident
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