Photograph
by Charlie Stagg
Avro Vulcan B2s of the Scampton Wing at RAF Luqa in June 1970. The nearest aircraft is B2 Free Fall XM574 and the middle aircraft is B2 Blue Steel XL317. The fin markings indicate the aircraft were being operated by No 617 Squadron which at the time was converting from Blue Steel to free fall. 574 had been coverted to free fall December 1969-January 1970 and 317 began its conversion to free fall in January 1971. 317 was the first production Blue Steel aircraft to fly and 574 the first Blue Steel aircraft to fly with Olympus 301 engines.