Avro
Vulcan B2 XH555 of No 230 OCU RAF Finningley at Edinburgh, South Australia
in September 1966. Confusingly, the aircraft has a crew entrance door
indicating an aircraft from the Scampton Blue Steel Wing (note the Scampton
badge and the Blue Steel squadrons' badges right) but with its early
narrow intakes and underwing Skybolt blisters, this aircraft is clearly
not a B2 Blue Steel. The door could have been robbed from B2 Blue Steel
XL444 that resided with the OCU from June 1966 to June 1967. Note the
single 'air commodore' star below the roundal. Perhaps the AOC at 1
Group had secured himself a 'jolly'! 555's movements are unfortunately
poorly recorded. Its first flight was circa January 1960 and it was
retained for intensive flight trials until delivered to No 27 Squadron
at Scampton in July 1961. It took part on Operation Skyshield II, testing
the North American air defences later that year. As No 27 Squadron reequipped
with Blue Steel (from November 1962), its earlier aircraft were transferred
— 555 going to No 230 OCU at RAF Finningley. 555 suffered a heavy
landing at Finningley, reportedly in 1968, though there is very good
evidence that it served with the OCU until the following year. In any
event, 555 was declared Cat 5 and used for fatigue and structural testing.
Identification courtesy Craig Bulman, author of The Vulcan B.Mk2 from a Different Angle >>
© Chris Finney. This photograph first appeared on Airliners.Net >>