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AVRO VULCAN
PICTURES - GALLERY 3

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This page last updated on 20th October 2007

[Survivors 1] [Survivors 2] [Survivors 3]
[Gallery 1] [Gallery 2] [Gallery 3] [Gallery 4] [Cockpit] [Fuselage] [Wings] [Undercarriage] [Weapons]

BREAK A LEG!

This stunning sequence and accompanying text kindly supplied by Bob Mitchell, ex-617 squadron Vulcan crew. The Vulcan pictured here is B.1 XH498 and was appearing at the Gala Air Day at Wellington (Rongotai) airport in New Zealand on its official opening on the 25th of October 1959 when near-disaster struck...

  1. Wind shear causes the aircraft's port wing to dip and the port undercarriages smashes into a bank before the runway. This shot taken seconds after impact with the runway approach. Note the port undercarriage which has snapped at the knuckle joint, swung back up into the wing and ruptured the fuel tank, spraying everyone with fuel. Also note the port aileron, hard down to pick up the wing, too late, too late!
  2. Taken as he climbs away, note that in the excitement the pilot omitted to retract the air brakes, could have been a fatal mistake, but he made it. The port undercarriage can be seen swung to the rear. Look at the dark blob on the inside of the starboard undercarriage door; that is a KIWI, sprayed on at night by the RNZAF! The Kiwi I have to remind you is a flightless bird!!
  3. As above but taken from the the other side of the airport. Note another Kiwi on the inside of port main undercarriage door! After a discussion on what to do once the Vulcan was back in the air, the decision was taken to make a landing at the RNZAF base at Ohakea where more appropriate crash and repair equipment was on hand.
  4. Taken after the crash landing at RNZAF Ohakea. Note the air brakes, still there! Also the canopy has been blown but never really talked about was the fact that the crew in the rear, who had no ejection seats, inserted the safety pins into the pilot's ejection seats, and told them they would get out all together, or not at all.
  5. Another of the same, after the crew had departed leaving the engineers to wonder how the hell they were going to get it moved.
  6. Avro engineers arrived from the UK and set about the repair task. The aircraft was towed into a hanger and after repairs to the undercarriage, it was back on it's wheels and ready to wheel out on 3rd January 1960, except the hanger was too small!
  7. The nosewheel was put up on a trolley to drop the tailplane, the rear radome and top of the tail were removed and it made it by three inches!
  8. Taken at takeoff during test flight from RNZAF Ohakea.
  9. All went well and it was flown back to the U.K. next day. Note: no KIWIS!

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