B.1A(K2P) XH648 at Duxford, 17th April 2005; author	K.2 XH672 at Cosford, 8th May 2003; author

Starting off with a Mk. 1 Victor, we have XH648 at Duxford. One obvious difference between this Victor and all the other preserved examples is the colour scheme and the lack of the large fairings on the wings (these being on Mk. 2s only). It's also lacking the big fuel tanks fitted to many Mk. 2 examples. XH648 was in the fourth batch of B.1s produced (later converted to B.1A then K.1A), served with 57 and 15 squadrons, the Honington Wing, then 55 squadron and finally ended its days as it began, with 57 squadron again. XH648 is quite unusual in that it was one of six B.1s converted to two-point (yes, two - not three) tanker status. This meant it retained the ability to go and bomb something if need be, and resulted in a change of designation from K.1A to B.1A(K2P). The plan is to move XH648 into the extended super hangar (the "Airspace" exhibition), in 2005/2006, and work has begun on smartening up the airframe in preparation for the move undercover. Information current as of 17/04/2005.

Moving up to Cosford we find XH672, a K.2 and an Operation Granby veteran. XH672 was initially ordered as a B.1 but produced as a B.2 in the first batch of them, converted to SR.2 (the fifth such conversion), she was later the final K.2 conversion. Served with 543, 57 and 55 squadrons. Maid Marian is her moniker and she carries artwork and mission markings on her port nose. She has spent 12 years outdoors at Cosford but has recently been repainted in preparation for going undercover in the new 'Landmark' building currently being constructed at Cosford. Information current as of 21/05/2005.

K.2 XH673 at RAF Marham, 5th April 2006; author	K.2 XL231 at Elvington, 20th May 2001; Bob Lawson

RAF Marham was the last home of the Victor force, and when they sadly left service in 1993 one was earmarked for preservation at the station. XH673 now graces the area outside the SHQ, so you need to be inside the station to get a picture (or high above it!). She was repainted in 1999 and has the cockpit glass covered with black panels to protect the cockpit interior - the perspex was apparently fogging over too. Externally at least she was in excellent condition when I last visited in 2000, but rumours abound that her future at the station is looking bleak. Information current as of 06/04/2006.

Now here's a rather luckier Victor! XL231, above, is owned by businessman Andre Tempest and is pampered by Roger Brooks and his crew at Elvington. XL231 carries out occasional taxi runs at special events when they have enough money for fuel (so if you visit, chuck a few quid in the appropriate bucket, eh!). She wears her Granby nose art with pride and goes under the name of 'Lusty Lindy'. More recently the name 'Spirit of Godfrey Lee' was applied as a tribute to the late HP designer often regarded as 'Mr. Victor'. Elvington is also home to the Yorkshire Air Museum if you need any added incentive to visit. Information current as of 02/2005.

K.2 XM715 at Bruntingthorpe, September 15th 2002; author

This is XM715; another one not just parked out in the rain as a dead static exhibit, no! She's a living, breathing example of the Victor, and regularly performs engine runs, and fast taxi runs on open days at Bruntingthorpe. XM715 was produced in the fourth B.2 batch and served with 139 and 100 squadrons, 232 OCU, 543 squadron, 232 OCU again and was converted to K.2 standard (ninth such conversion) and ended up with 55 squadron before being sold to the Walton family and preserved at Bruntingthorpe aerodrome. British Aviation Heritage keep her in tip-top condition. Watching XM715 screaming off in a cloud of blue smoke and disappearing into the distance with with her huge brake chute billowing is truly a sight and sound worth experiencing! Not only does she sport her Granby nose art ('Teasin' Tina'), she also sports some rather more unusual nose art on the port side - a certain television character... Victor Meldrew of course! Over the summer of 1998 XM715 was completely repainted but seven years later she's beginning to look a bit faded once more. Information current as of 02/2005.

NOSE/COCKPIT/OTHER SECTIONS

B.1A XH592 at Bruntingthorpe, 21st September 1997; author	K.2 at Elvington, October 15th 1999; author

Keeping XM715 company at Bruntingthorpe is the nose of XH592. XH592 served with 15 squadron, the Honington Wing, 232 OCU, TTF, 232 OCU again and then spent some time at St. Athan before being scrapped. The owner received the nose in rather poor state, but has been restoring it slowly to the generally good state it is now in. The underfloor area had suffered particularly badly from moisture and the attentions of various wildlife but the panelling down there has been replaced to stop any further infiltration. The cockpit interior (pictures on the cockpit pictures page) is generally good towards the front but restoration continues on the rear crew area. Information current as of 02/2005.

This K.2 simulator is resident at the Yorkshire Air Museum, having come from RAF Marham along with a Victor rear cockpit procedures trainer elsewhere in the museum. The sim has been loaned to the Yorkshire Air Museum and is being re-commissioned for 'hands-on' display (under strict supervision ) by a small team of ex-Redifon workers (including a man who worked on the simulator at Marham for about eight years) and an ex-policeman. Information current as of 15/10/1999.

K.2 XL160 at Walpole, October 24th 1999; author	K.2 XL164 at the Gatwick Aviation Museum, April 1st 2000; author

Decidely un-photogenic underneath that tarpaulin is the somewhat battered remains of XL160. Owned by the HP Victor Association, it resides with the Blyth Valley Aviation Collection and is under restoration, though the pace of restoration is rather slow! Information current as of 24/10/1999.

This is XL164, which hasn't been quite so lucky. Badly damaged during the scrapping of the complete aircraft, the nose section has most of the bottom ripped out and several holes punched in the sides. Saved from total destruction by Peter Vallance, let's just hope Saucy Sal eventually gets restored and the local council don't force Peter's collection out of its current home. Information current as of 01/04/2000.