vulcan later july jet powered delta wing high altitude strategic bomber operated royal_air_force raf aircraft manufacturer designed vulcan response bombers produced vulcan considered technically advanced option scale aircraft designated produced test delta wing design principles delivered raf deliveries improved vulcan started featured powerful engines larger wing improved electrical system electronic modified accept missile force vulcan backbone airborne nuclear cold war vulcan typically armed nuclear weapons capable conventional bombing missions capability operation black war united_kingdom argentina vulcan defensive weaponry initially relying high speed high altitude flight evade interception electronic employed designated circa change low level tactics mid-1960s mid-1970s adapted maritime radar reconnaissance operations redesignated final years service converted tanker configuration aerial retirement raf example named spirit great_britain restored use display flights air shows whilst kept condition ground runs demonstrations london airport respectively flew time october kept condition robin hood airport development origins origin vulcan bombers linked early british atomic weapon programme nuclear policies britain bomb programme 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 weapon suitable release 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 addition special atomic bomb aircraft capable alternatively carrying conventional bomb load similar required long range bomber nautical miles radius action maximum weight fully loaded requirement considered total companies submit technical specification including required tender end april work began led technical director chief designer type designation obvious design team conventional aircraft satisfy specification knowing little high speed flight unable investigated german second world war swept wing research team estimated conventional aircraft swept wing doubled weight requirement realising swept wings increase longitudinal stability team deleted tail supporting fuselage swept flying wing rudimentary forward fuselage fin vertical estimated weight requirement delta shape resulted reducing wingspan maintaining wing area filling space enabled specification met generally credited pioneer delta wing team followed logical design process initial design submission large stacked pairs buried wing engines bomb bays august killed crash tudor prototype succeeded sir reductions wing thickness impossible incorporate split bomb bays stacked engines engines placed pairs single bomb bay fuselage growing somewhat fins gave way single fin aircraft rival manufacturer received prototype contract crescent winged tender november considered best option contract placement design delayed whilst technical strength established instructions proceed construction prototypes received january insurance measure radical designs failing received contract prototype stringent later named required april vickers received authority proceed type falling short specification conventional design available sooner plane entered service flight experience delta wing company planned smaller experimental aircraft based scale model low speed handling half scale model high speed handling ordered cancelled considered time consuming develop high speed variant designed place flew september crashed later month killing test pilot second low speed built nose section containing seat redesignated flew september piloted test pilot high speed followed july delay programme contribution basic design considered significant highlight need increase length ground degrees attitude proved design validity gave confidence delta second seat constructed played development vulcan prototypes type certification influential design wind tunnel testing performed indicated need wing redesign avoid onset drag restricted maximum speed painted white prototype flew time august piloted flying solo prototype fitted pilot seat conventional control wheel powered rolls engines lbf thrust wing fuel tanks temporary carried bomb bay appearance society air month demonstrated vertical bank appearance future subject speculation strongly recommended ottawa honour company connection weekly magazine flight suggested rejecting apollo chief preferred class bombers announced following month called vulcan roman god fire destruction january grounded installation wing fuel tanks engines lbf thrust systems flew july second prototype flew september representative production aircraft lengthened accommodate longer nose leg featured visual bomb aiming cabin fitted engines lbf thrust suggestion fighter style control stick replaced control wheel prototypes pure delta wings straight leading edges trials july substantially damaged heavy landing repaired fitted engines lbf thrust resuming trials october exploring high speed high altitude flight envelope mild undesirable flight characteristics experienced approaching speed sound including tendency enter dive unacceptable armament experimental establishment solution included phase wing featuring leading edge vortex generators upper surface tested auto introduced nose attitude high speeds control column pushed pulled maintain level flight production flown february original wing september flying second production amazed crowds air executing barrel roll second president tent days flying called service civil aviation authorities ordered refrain carrying dangerous manoeuvre fitted phase wing delivered march trials type initial received following month developments powered lbf thrust early examples metallic finish remained property retained trials development purposes entering raf service delivered operational conversion unit july later aircraft painted anti flash white powered lbf thrust began enter squadron service july quickly modified standard ultimately rated lbf thrust far begun development rated lbf thrust fitted introduced requiring redesign wing decision proceed versions vulcan anticipated 45th aircraft order able achieve greater heights targets believed operational flexibility extended provision flight equipment tanker aircraft increasing soviet air defences required fitting electronic equipment vulnerability reduced introduction stand missile development order develop proposals second vulcan prototype rebuilt larger thinner phase wing improved flying control surfaces engines flying configuration august plans hand equip 16th aircraft onwards flight receiving equipment allocated development work development later new electrical system including tail cone tail warning radar 46th production aircraft flew september fitted engines lbf thrust months delivered march rebuilding considered rejected cost extend service life upgraded standard including features equipment flight receiving equipment radio second flew january powered production lbf thrust representative production aircraft fitted flight probe tail cone subsequent initially lacking tail fitted showed retaining narrow engine air anticipating powerful engines air deepened 11th subsequent aircraft early aircraft retained trials 12th delivered raf july coincidentally vulcan service raf retired 26th production batch ordered february vulcan apart development aircraft capable carrying missile aircraft delivered raf modifications version cancelled favour douglas air launched missile december fittings changed anticipation new missile wing cancelled november aircraft delivered later aircraft onwards delivered engines lbf thrust earlier aircraft engined trials development work seven aircraft converted circa delivered type served till whilst service continuously updated modifications including rapid engine starting bomb bay fuel tanks wing strengthening fatigue life enable aircraft fly low level tactic introduced upgraded navigation equipment terrain following radar common nuclear weapon improved equipment strengthened withdrawn modified maritime radar reconnaissance role airborne tanker role proposed developments cancelled projects type proposal delta winged military transport based type carry troops passengers powered engines proposal announced june passenger delta winged based type type proposal development vulcan powered junior engines unlike proposed low level bomber steel bomber dating cancelled completion prototype type showed vulcan heritage vulcan phase vulcan air staff approached request study patrol missile armed missiles capable mission length hours submission phase vulcan built aircraft fitted enlarged wing span increased fuel capacity additional fuel tanks dorsal spine new main carry weight lbf thrust amended proposal october inserted plug forward fuselage capacity crew members including relief pilot facing forwards seats aft fan versions export proposals countries expressed interest purchasing bombers foreign sales australia early australia recognised english electric canberra outdated evaluated aircraft vulcan potential replacements political pressure canberra replacement rose head point modern types north american available raf transferred bombers including interim use raaf purchased raaf selected argentina early 1980s argentina approached proposal buy number application september requested early availability suitable aircraft reluctance ministers approved export single aircraft emphasised clearance given sale larger number letter british foreign january stated little prospect seen happening argentine interest interest genuine face strike aircraft entirely suitable attack argentina invaded months later design overview despite radical unusual shape airframe built traditional lines highly stressed parts structure manufactured standard grades light airframe broken number major assemblies centre section rectangular box containing bomb bay engine bays bounded rear wing transport joints centre fuselage fuselage incorporating pressure cabin nose outer wings leading edges wing trailing edge tail end fuselage wings sealed directly fuel carried fuel void spaces wings single swept tail fin single rudder trailing edge man crew pilot pilot navigator radar navigator air electronics officer accommodated pressure cabin levels pilots sitting seats whilst lower level crew sat facing abandon aircraft entrance door original specification sought crew compartment requirement removed subsequent amendment rear crew escape system issue controversy practical refit scheme rejected rudimentary sixth seat forward navigator radar provided additional crew member additional seventh seat opposite sixth seat forward seats harness oxygen facility visual bomb compartment fitted blue devil space housed vertically mounted camera assessing simulated low level bombing runs fuel carried bag tanks centre fuselage rear bay outer wing tanks split groups equal capacity normally feeding respective engine cross feeding possible centre gravity automatically maintained electric pumps tanks aircraft fitted additional fuel tanks bomb bay despite designed low radar cross section stealth factors consideration technical note stated aircraft far studied vulcan appeared far simplest radar echoing object shape components contributed significantly echo aspect compared types colour schemes prototype finished white early vulcan left factory natural metal finish half nose painted black rear half painted silver line vulcan finish anti flash white raf type line similar type pale adoption low level attack profiles mid-1960s given glossy sea grey medium dark green pattern camouflage upper surfaces white type vulcan onwards delivered factory mid-1970s vulcan received similar scheme camouflage light aircraft grey low visibility received similar scheme half longer painted black beginning received wrap camouflage dark sea grey dark green red flag exercises defending sam forces found grey painted vulcan visible ground high angles bank original vulcan radio fit channel receivers channel receiver featured receiver initial radio fit similar ultimately fitted receiver receiver collins navigation bombing system comprised radar navigation bombing computer nbc navigation aids included radio compass radar determine drift angle radio radar replaced replaced continuous display aircraft position maintained ground position indicator vulcan eventually fitted twin free running heading reference system based platform missile integrated system missile carried navigator heading unit provided enabled navigator adjust aircraft heading little degrees additionally fitted navigation system original fit fitted voice communications metric red shrimp band passive warning receiver red steer tail warning radar window bulk equipment carried large extended tail cone flat aerial plate mounted starboard later equipment included band replacing red shrimp band replacing green palm improved red steer red gave squared fin controls aircraft controlled fighter type control stick rudder bar operated powered flying controls single electro hydraulic powered flying control unit rudder running artificial feel form pitch provided auto flight instruments traditional included artificial zero reader flight display instruments features incorporated pilots components beam director fitted terrain following radar built commands fed director elevators replaced vulcan fitted electrically operated position medium drag high drag upper centre section lower originally lower deleted aircraft entered service brake parachute installed inside tail cone electrical hydraulic systems main electrical system supplied engine driven generators backup power provided batteries connected series providing secondary electrical systems single phase phase driven main system system backed single battery greater efficiency higher reliability main system changed phase supplied engine driven constant speed standby supplies event main failure provided ram air turbine rat driving operate high altitude airborne auxiliary power plant gas turbine driving started aircraft altitude secondary electrical supplies similar change system significant improvement vulcan powered flying controls powered flying control unit hydraulic pump driven electric motor manual total electrical failure result loss control standby batteries designed power minutes flying time proved optimistic aircraft crashed result main hydraulic system provided pressure raising lowering trim steering fitted bomb doors opening closing air lowering hydraulic pressure provided hydraulic pumps fitted nos engines electrically operated hydraulic power pack operate bomb doors brake compressed air later nitrogen system provided emergency lowering engine originally known flow powered vulcan vulcan engines buried wings positioned pairs close centre fuselage engine design began intended power rival design vulcan arrangement air cause vulcan distinctive engines approximately power heard aircraft performs public prototype vulcan ready flight prior available flew rolls engines lbf thrust quickly replaced engines lbf thrust later flying test bed second prototype flew lbf thrust subsequently engined engines lbf thrust flew phase wing fitted engines lbf thrust early engined later aircraft delivered lbf thrust overhaul ultimately lbf thrust flew second generation lbf thrust design began subsequent engined lbf thrust lbf thrust designated fitted rapid air starter engine later developed powerplant cancelled strike bomber passenger transport operational history introduction september raf received vulcan immediately embarked round world tour tour important demonstration range capabilities aircraft benefits form conducting goodwill visits countries later life routinely visited nations distant parts british_empire support military protection tour struck october landing bad weather london airport completion world tour destroyed fatal accident aircraft delivered january training crews started february following months aircraft delivered course qualify course went form flight squadron squadron operational squadron use bomber borrowed july received aircraft september handed squadron second course formed flight squadron subsequent trained crews form second bomber squadron squadron aircraft batch aircraft delivered end squadron order increase mission range flight time vulcan operations flight capabilities added onwards bombers refurbished refuel continuous airborne patrols proved mechanisms vulcan fleet fell 1960s force aircraft routinely visited far_east particular singapore fully equipped nuclear weapons storage facility constructed indonesia malaysia confrontation britain planned deploy squadrons bomber aircraft tactical nuclear weapons region ultimately decided trained region conventional nuclear missions britain regularly deployed far_east contribution operations test defenses friendly nations joint exercises early 1970s raf decided permanently deploy squadrons overseas bomber wing based cyprus withdrawn violence intensified mid-1970s long range missions june took sydney long journey flown bit hours air frequently visited united_states 1960s 1970s participate air shows static displays participate annual bombing locations louisiana florida raf crews representing later strike command took operation exercises defences tested possible soviet air attack soviet fighter bomber attacks new_york chicago washington results tests classified vulcan proved successful giant voice exercise managed avoid nuclear britain independent nuclear vulcan initially carried britain nuclear weapon gravity bomb low yield bomb designed united_states detonated hydrogen bomb supplemented bombs available programme later british red beard tactical nuclear weapon previously embarked hydrogen bomb programme bridge gap ready bombers equipped based blue danube containing large pure yield bomb known deployed green grass incorporated developed weapon later fitted british built variant british weapon deployed carried vulcan retained nuclear weapons assigned dual key arrangements pre positioned singapore use vulcan victor bombers squadrons vulcan squadrons victor armed missile rocket powered stand bomb fitted yield operationally ensure coverage major soviet targets aircraft raf assigned targets end onwards jets major raf base armed nuclear weapons standby permanently principle quick reaction alert standby airborne minutes receiving alert identified time warning ussr nuclear strike launched arriving britain closest vulcan came taking potential nuclear conflict cuban missile crisis october moved alert condition increased state normal operations stood early november intended equipped missile replace vulcan carrying wings modified production line fit carry variant increased wingspan carry proposed missile system cancelled president recommendation secretary defense retained supplement royal_navy took role submarines vulcan bombers adopted new mission profile flying high clear transit dropping low avoid enemy defences approach deploying parachute bomb aircraft designed high altitude flight low altitudes exceed knots vice marshal vulcan pilot said questionable effective flying low level war soviet_union british submarines operational taken service vulcan continued carry tactical nuclear strike role british contribution europe standing nato forces longer held aircraft minutes readiness peacetime squadrons stationed cyprus assigned strategic strike role eventual demise vulcan bombers continued retirement like like replacement multi role tornado strike bomber successor roles previously filled vulcan conventional role operational usage vulcan typically carried nuclear armaments type secondary conventional role performing conventional combat missions vulcan carry bombs inside bomb bay 1960s vulcan squadrons routinely conducting conventional training missions expected able perform conventional bombing missions addition critical nuclear strike mission vulcan normally performed vulcan combat missions took place end type service war vulcan deployed forces occupied conflict occasion bombers participate conventional warfare missions performed vulcan known black raids aircraft fly reach stanley victor conducted necessary air air vulcan cover distance involved approximately imp gal fuel mission selected participate operation order aircraft receive minute adaptations including modifications bomb bay long use flight system installation new navigational system derived vickers onboard electronics underneath wings new fitted carry pod anti radar missiles wing locations originally installed purpose carrying cancelled nuclear missile engineering work begun april mission conducted single vulcan flew port stanley dropped bombs airfield concentrating single runway direct hit making unsuitable fighter aircraft vulcan mission quickly followed strikes anti air installations flown nearby royal_navy carriers vulcan missions flown airfield missions missiles launched radar installations additional missions cancelled time missions held record world longest distance raids systems board proved effective argentine radars vulcan theatre british aircraft vicinity greatly reduced chance coming effective fire june vulcan squadron took black mission radar sites stanley airfield attempting refuel return journey probe broke leaving vulcan insufficient fuel forcing diversion rio_de_janeiro neutral brazil route secret papers dumped remaining missiles failed launch vulcan escorted fighters permitted emergency landing rio little fuel left board vulcan crew detained end hostilities days later reconnaissance november result planned closure victor equipped squadron squadron reformed equipped vulcan replacement maritime radar reconnaissance role squadron carried patrols seas british isles including strategically important gap iceland united_kingdom flying high level vulcan radar monitor shipping peacetime followed visual identification photography targets interest low level wartime vulcan leave visual identification potential targets coordinate attacks hostile shipping initially equipped number aircraft squadron eventually operated aircraft known unofficial designation aircraft modified role removing terrain following radar adding radio navigation aid main external visual difference presence paint finish light grey protect sea spray squadron inherited secondary role air sampling squadron involved flying airborne contamination onboard equipment collect fallout released ground underground nuclear tests later analysis aircraft small fitted redundant carry sampling pods modified drop tanks pods collect needed samples filter additional smaller pod fitted port wing main squadron disbanded march passing radar reconnaissance duties raf aerial role end war vulcan withdrawn raf service year campaign consumed airframe fatigue life raf victor tanker conversions ordered lockheed ordered subsequent conflict measure converted single point vulcan tanker conversion accomplished removing bay tail aircraft replacing single additional cylindrical bomb bay tank fitted making total giving fuel capacity ahead converting aircraft given days ordered vulcan tanker delivered vulcan operated squadron vulcan support air defence activities disbanded march vulcan display flight disbandment squadron continued flying raf air displays vulcan display flight based administered squadron based initially displaying aircraft sold having replaced began displays continued finishing operations determined costly run light budget cuts aircraft subsequently entered preservation survived kept reserve years later scrapped engine test beds prototype engines replaced lbf rolls conway transferred rolls conway test bed flew world fatal crash september vulcan flight vulcan fitted engines spring intensive flying trials aircraft crashed july routine test flight vulcan flew engines standard plus destined aircraft destroyed ground fire december vulcan withdrawn raf service june transferred converted test bed thrust cancelled february scrapped converted vulcan withdrawn raf service landing accident rebuilding replaced conway test bed fitted inner replaced flying time configuration october vulcan surplus trials converted similar layout flight test installation flight october testing continued june april flew rolls destined tornado engine included thrust functions fly retired february vulcan developing flew larger engine returned refurbished raf variants initial production aircraft straight leading edge later phase wing early examples finished silver later changed anti flash white converted standard raf service retired flight engine march electronic system new larger tail cone unlike undergo extensive wing strengthening low level flying withdrawn service developed version larger thinner wing wing fitted engines lbf engines lbf auxiliary airborne power plant auxiliary power unit rat similar nose fitted aircraft new radar warning receiver tail fin giving square mid-1970s converted maritime radar reconnaissance deleted aircraft modified distinctive finish light grey underside converted air air mounted semi tail cone deleted fitted bomb bay drum tanks mark vulcan fuel emergency proposed version intended long endurance missile carrier capable carrying flights hours duration built production total production assembled design models delivered raf january operators armament experimental establishment aircraft trials evaluation royal_air_force squadron raf operated squadron raf operated squadron raf operated squadron raf operated squadron raf operated squadron raf operated squadron raf vulcan squadron operated squadron raf operated squadron raf operated operational conversion unit raf unit operate vulcan provided conversion type operational training vulcan vulcan flying currently based robin hood airport sheffield aircraft operated times direction trials evaluation blind landing experimental unit bases raf cyprus base operational squadrons squadron moved returned squadron moved returned base operational squadrons squadron formed operate moved squadron formed operate moved squadron formed operate moved base operational squadrons squadron moved moved squadron moved disbanded squadron moved moved raf squadron formed second operational squadron moved moved moved base operational squadrons different times squadron formed operate disbanded reformed operate variant squadron squadron reformed operate disbanded squadron formed operate reformed operate disbanded moved disbanded base number operational squadrons different times operational vulcan base squadron moved disbanded squadron formed operate converted disbanded squadron formed operate converted flew tanker version disbanding squadron formed operational squadron operate reformed later year unit squadron moved converted disbanded formed train vulcan crews moved bomber dispersal airfields event transition war bomber squadrons deploy aircraft short notice pre prepared dispersal airfields united_kingdom early 1960s raf ordered communication aircraft crews dispersal airfields importance aircraft brief diminishing primary nuclear switched royal_navy missile accidents incidents october vulcan delivered crashed london airport operation flight flag waving trip australia new_zealand approach bad weather struck ground short runway engine power applied impact probably broke drag links main allowing forced backwards damaged wing trailing edge initial impact rose air pilot squadron leader pilot sir bomber command ejected survived occupants including spare pilot representative killed aircraft hit ground broke vulcan attached armament experimental establishment acceptance testing unintentionally flown number crew reached speed commander raaf pilot raf tasked fly mph taking aircraft load factor climbed intending reach target speed approaching target altitude closed elevator applied continued pitch nose contemplated pushing forward inverted rolling upright instead opened speed brakes maximum operating speed speed brakes undamaged slow aircraft came past vertical leveled reports sonic boom unlikely true number reached rear bulkhead found deformed september vulcan flown test pilot engine performance sortie fly past battle britain home display flew main runway started roll starboard climbed slightly starboard wing main collapsed went dive starboard wing fire struck ground killing occupants controllers crew board proposed causes structural failure included pilot error metal fatigue air intake vibration inadequate maintenance october vulcan squadron crashed east detroit michigan usa complete electrical failure occurred backup system provided minutes emergency power allowing reach airports area backup power lasted minutes short circuit service locking controls went steep dive crashing leaving crater ground later excavated wreckage despite extensive property damage ground fatalities person ground hospitalized crew members killed including pilot ejected pilot seat found lake body recovered following spring buried oak ridge cemetery michigan alongside raf student pilots killed second world war accidents nearby naval air station july vulcan crashed electrical failure engine test shortly crew observed generator warning lights loss voltage aircraft commander climbed steering away airfield populated areas attempted solve problem clear control regained harrison instructed rear compartment crew exit aircraft pilot crew survived making complete vulcan crew successfully escape aircraft crashed near kingston hull october vulcan participated marking opening wellington international airport airport touch landing runway came stop landing wind shear caused land short runway threshold port leg embankment point southern end damaging wing engine fuel lines main landing gear drag link unable support aircraft port wing tip nearly runway surface able lift fuel crowd pilot actions prevented possible disaster spectators present western apron flew safe emergency landing nose starboard landing gear little damage repair team returned january departed remaining service october september vulcan damaged runway garage allocated test engine delivered approaching poor weather conditions aircraft touched halfway runway braking parachute streamed realising aircraft stop time captain opened round runway garage took force jet blast property damage sustained petrol pumps blown flat street light knocked blown multiple cars shattered aircraft diverted flying days later december vulcan squadron crashed exercise scotland flying ground struck ground climbing slightly cause likely poor visibility crashed demonstration aircraft entered spin low speed high rate descent demonstrated landing parachute deployed stopping spin briefly began spin aircraft commander instructed crew abandon aircraft commander pilot ejected successfully rear compartment crew presumably forces spin july vulcan crashed explosion caused engines shut explosion caused failure bearing engine starboard wing extensively damaged pilot insufficient power indications highly inaccurate crew successfully abandoned found minutes rescued october crashed power practice approach executed power approach engines producing thrust idle checked squadron commander unfamiliar aircraft commenced moved power engines producing power reached power quickly engines idle resultant thrust exceeded available rudder authority causing aircraft spin crash crew perished vulcan crash landed causing written year delivery february vulcan wing crashed low level exercise aircraft struck ground near summit northeast crew members died time snow covered cloud extended april vulcan burnt runway beginning run aircraft carrying missile training round crew including cadet escaped aircraft flames totally destroyed accident caused failure turbine disc engine reached power january vulcan crashed following loss control rear crew members killed pilots ejected captain ejected late stage survived deploying parachute power cables accident caused failure turbine disc aircraft returned airfield following indications bomb bay january vulcan crashed blade fatigue failure engine damaging fuel system causing fire crew abandoned aircraft safely crashed october vulcan squadron lost left damaged airframe runway malta aircraft broke village turning emergency landing pilot pilot escaped seats crew members killed large aircraft pieces fell village woman killed electric cable injured january vulcan squadron crashed near lincolnshire practice emergency descent bomb bay fire warning light followed engine fire warning light captain shut engine reported flames coming area engine deployed ram air turbine rat fire intensified captain ordered aircraft abandoned rear crew members escaped ordering pilot captain ejected control lost cause rat electrical burning hole adjacent fuel pipe setting fuel fire august vulcan squadron crashed air display naval air station illinois united_states crew authorised carry display airport captain elected carry display low level run probably aircraft pulled executed resulting low level stall crash killing board june broke probe attempting refuel flight returning mission insufficient fuel reach base pilot discarded classified information atlantic_ocean diverted rio_de_janeiro shortly entering brazilian sent escort british plane landed air force base led high level diplomatic talks brazil remained neutral war seven days vulcan crew allowed return home condition played conflict vulcan suffered failure port engines starting roll airport bags inadvertently left air intake maintenance second increasing power port engines immediately destroying remaining port engine debris engine destroying fire prevention systems proved effective airframe control systems suffered damage pilot difficulty bringing aircraft safe stop having remained ground july returned flight surviving aircraft survive housed museums united_kingdom north_america vulcan spirit great_britain display aircraft raf vulcan display flight grounded later restored flight vulcan displayed civilian aircraft retired second time engineering reasons retirement retained base robin hood airport taxi able aircraft role performed survivors based airport based specifications vulcan data characteristics crew pilot pilot navigator radar navigator length wingspan height wing area weight including crew max takeoff weight powerplant lbf performance maximum speed mph altitude shallow dive cruise speed miles hour range service ceiling thrust weight armament pounds conventional bombs nuclear gravity bomb nuclear gravity bomb mark nuclear gravity bomb supplied project nuclear gravity bomb gravity bomb red beard nuclear gravity bomb parachute nuclear gravity bomb comparison 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Avro Vulcan