Back in the late 50's my dad was a RAAF pilot doing the British Test Pilot Course. He flew all 3 of the V bombers. He had a story about doing rocket assisted takeoffs in the Victor to see how the air frame would hold up. One particular takeoff produced a loud Bang throughout the plane, so dad did a very slow turn & landed as softly as possible. A quick inspection showed a main wing spar had cracked all the way through. One more bump & the wing would have fallen off. It was classified as a controlled crash landing. Dad also flew the Vulcan through the sound barrier & was told not to do it again.! Subscribed.
THIS... is my favourite cold war bomber... this... comming from a yank, ex B-52G and RC-135 grease monkey... Thanks for the excellent explanations from Commander Phrotero. Keep it rollin'!
Speaking only for myself, I don't care to live in a world where Great Britain is not our close friend and ally. And I'm including the Aussies, Canadians and Kiwis. We've weathered periodic storms and dark days together, yet the friendships, confidence and strength of shared values, culture and history remain. Cheers from the United States of America. Let us remain forever vigilant regarding the forces of darkness.
Good to hear such a friendly attitude from an American. :) Over here in Australia we thoughts you guys had turned away from us during the Trump years. Donald was well known for his dislike of our prime minister (admittedly the British, Canadian and Aussie PMs all didn't like Donald either).
This was done when Britain was much poorer than today...the will to invest has to be there...im sure a whole generation of engineers and expertise came out of these programmes...
The closest I ever got was quite possibly the last time all three 'V's flew together was a very low, fly past at Hendon. With just a few minutes warning over the Tannoy, then everything turned into monumental wall of sound, the smell of kerosene, and the sunlight going into shade.. just thinking about it, takes Me back to that day. Incredible! Airshow's of that period, always had the 'V's displaying. The sound alone stays with you, hopefully, forever!
Was shown around Radlett in about 1961(?) by my uncle who was a designer in Handley Page. The two things that surprised me about the Victor was how high the tail was and how much wiring ran through the bomb-bay. A fantastic aeroplane.
A gorgeous aircraft,I remember being stationed at Patrick AFB. Cocoa Beach IN 1980, and one came in ,it was en route to Wright Patt AFB to get refueling parts for the tanker roll during the Falkland campaign. It was in desert tan .I had the opportunity to talk with a crew member who was shocked that I knew enough about it to hold a conversation about it.
Ive never seen this bomber before and its a real beauty. The designers were artists as well. The 1950's was an era of futuristic visionaries incorporating the jet age with aspirations of space exploration. They really had grand aspirations.
One of my most favorite aircraft, so futuristic at the time when I seen it fly over my school in NZ around 1964 while on tour. I could see the crew on the flight deck it was so low, and maybe the reason I became a pilot ?. Thank you..
I lived in north Watford, not far from HP's Radlett airfield in the 1950s. The Victor that often came over the rear garden, very low, was painted black (or navy blue) with a silver lightning streak along its length...probably 1958. In the early 1960s one could photograph the all-white ones lined up in readiness at Cottesmore, just over the low wire fence, from a field footpath, very close up.
I’ve never had the good fortune to see one of these fly but I did have the good fortune to see a Vulcan in the late seventies at Nellis AFB , Nevada at a Red Flag exercise. That was one loud plane. Good memories, long live the RAF.
We lived in Hertfordshire in the mid 1950's.On occasional train trips to London I would see just the upswept tailplanes of the Victors at Radlett, the actual aircraft being hidden behind a large embankment. . I thought the strange tailplanes must be gliders!
What a beautiful looking aircraft! I remember having a model kit of this that i built as a kid in the mid 80s. It was an attraction when i saw this in the shop that i instantly picked it. Sad that one day me and my brother had a fight and he broke this to the extend it had to be discarded 😔
Mr. Protheroe should indeed be careful what you wish for.....😆 He turned out to be the pilot of the very last Victor flight when this one got airborne during one of these 'fast taxi' runs at Bruntingthorpe. Right man, in the right place at the right time. He saved the day.👍
I remember building a model of the B.2 back in the mid 1970s and thought it was one of the most elegant and beautiful aircraft I’d ever seen, matched only by the XB-70. It looked like something out of the Tom Swift Jr. young boys’ book series and I always wanted to see one in real life.
This aircraft looks like some frightened insect you have never seen before. Like a wasp on steroids it just looks deadly even when it's not moving. Like the spitfire it just looks the part or an etype janguar Just the look of it evokes all sorts of emotions. That's when you have a designer who knows what they are doing. I myself served in the RAF on vulcans another beautiful aircraft. Fond memories.
I saw one in 2005. It must have been in flying condition as it was on the continent. But I may be wrong... I need to check the photo archive. Nope! It was a Nimrod. I built a model of the Victor in the late 90s. Beautiful plane!
I don't think I've ever seen another jet bomber or any airplane that looks even close to this design! It's the coolest/scariest-looking jet I've ever seen and looks like it could easily land on LV-426 to check out any strange 'Alien'' radio beacons(!) I hope they saved a nuke in the bomb bay to deliver from orbit on the Engineer's derelict ship...it's the ONLY way to be sure you got that xenomorph! Or, return thus jet to Flash Gordon. Thanks!
This antique bomber will be very suit for British war museum in London! Bomber in Museum is a great asset for museum and will give very good experiences to guest.
Does anyone else think that the even when on the ground the Victor is telling everyone “ If you p)ss me off, I’m going to rip your head off and sh)t done your throat.
Marham had the last 2 operational Victor Sqns. 55 and 57. I think 57 disbanded in about 1986-7 with 55 going on to 1993. Someone might correct me but I think 55 was the only RAF Sqn to achieve 100% mission completion during gulf war 1. Pleasure to work on the last of the V bombers! 1988-1993.
You British Peoples, you once were the best in everything. You had the best Airforce and Marine, you build the best planes, boats, cars and castles. I say, it is about time....
It's hard to believe now that Britain were ever capable of producing the most advanced aircraft in their era now that Britain is a deindustrialised manufacturing backwater .
No worries. Just buy American (with some minor British components). The future of American politics is either Trump or Ramaswamy. Both are dedicated to the "five eyes nations", even if they do not say so publicly.
The VICTOR was the best performing of the V Bombers and a beauty to behold, but the VULCAN will always be my favourite. Looking at the Cockpit of the VULCAN, it seemed so cramped and dark, while the Cockpit of the VICTOR appeared far more user friendly.
most badass possible bomber ever.. that center console is nuts. the old man . pilot looks like he's a total unit. even at his age , almost runs up the ladder. Far out!
That centre console I thought that it might be the " Fuel tray" a similar thing is in the Vulcan. Which has an even tighter cockpit but on watching again I don't think it is, as there are not enough gauges lol
No matter the country - so many military planes seem designed by people who would never have to fly long missions in them! What great guys - these former crew mates!
My grandfather Peter Clarke flew these aircraft. He flew back when they were part of the nuclear deterrent rather than recce or AAR It’s interesting what they wer3 saying at the end - he told us that if the scramble was the real deal, he’d not be coming home - because there’d be nothing to come to. I’m not sure if it’s because what his crew were dropping meant that to be the case, or that the retaliation would be home before him, but he did say he believed (or knew) he had details of where to go in the event it went noisy.
I understand Bob sadly passed away earlier this year.
RIP Bob and thank you for keeping our country safe.
Fly high on your golden wings.
Probably the sexiest thing ever designed. That comment about it 'making Mach one while standing on the ground', totally to the point.
The beautiful, stunning Victor - she looks like something straight out of Star Wars. Incredible British machine.
Quite a "alien" looking aircraft... could easily have been designed today! Beautiful !
She is a beauty!! They don't do them like that anymore.
My favourite V bomber and
the fastest.
One of the most distinctive
Jet bombers ever... a fusion of organic curves and cut angles .... 😎👍🏼 🇬🇧🧙♂️
Didn't one kill Ming the Merciless?
My thought as well: this jet looks like it came off the Nostromo and is ready to land on LV-426. Where's Ripley?
@@neiloflongbeck5705 ya with help from the hawk men. I haven't thought about that movie in years!! lol
Back in the late 50's my dad was a RAAF pilot doing the British Test Pilot Course. He flew all 3 of the V bombers.
He had a story about doing rocket assisted takeoffs in the Victor to see how the air frame would hold up.
One particular takeoff produced a loud Bang throughout the plane, so dad did a very slow turn & landed as softly as possible.
A quick inspection showed a main wing spar had cracked all the way through. One more bump & the wing would have fallen off.
It was classified as a controlled crash landing. Dad also flew the Vulcan through the sound barrier & was told not to do it again.!
Subscribed.
We found cracks in the wing spares of the C-119's we were flying as aerial firefighters back in the 1980's, had to ground all of the planes!
Fatigue absolutely destroys aluminum. The new composite materials do better in this regard.
My wife said that the Victor looks so “organic”. I think that she is 100% correct! Beautiful! Thank you!
respect from germany for this great machine
Such a striking aircraft, always thought it wouldn’t look out of place in a Gerry Anderson TV show.
I was thinking the same thing while watching this video.
Pure Klingon.
This plane looks like something from the future. One of the most beautiful aeroplanes ever made.
The prototype was developed from a model for a Gerry Anderson television series. FAB
Hardly beautiful. More evil looking.
an horror
🤮🤮🤮
A fine looking aircraft that Britain could be justly proud of. Most enjoyable video enhanced by the two gentlemen ex aircrew.
THIS... is my favourite cold war bomber... this... comming from a yank, ex B-52G and RC-135 grease monkey... Thanks for the excellent explanations from Commander Phrotero. Keep it rollin'!
They made it so cool the bombs didn’t want to leave it!
I remember watching Victors landing at Akrotiri in the 70's. Massive brake chute!
Strangely beautiful airplane and very futuristic looking
Speaking only for myself, I don't care to live in a world where Great Britain is not our close friend and ally. And I'm including the Aussies, Canadians and Kiwis.
We've weathered periodic storms and dark days together, yet the friendships, confidence and strength of shared values, culture and history remain. Cheers from the United States of America. Let us remain forever vigilant regarding the forces of darkness.
Good to hear such a friendly attitude from an American. :) Over here in Australia we thoughts you guys had turned away from us during the Trump years. Donald was well known for his dislike of our prime minister (admittedly the British, Canadian and Aussie PMs all didn't like Donald either).
@@PaulStewartAviation No way. Where was he when the Battle of the Coral Sea was being fought. He probably couldn't find it on a map.
That is one of the most wicked-looking aircraft ever created. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.
It's also just one of the coolest looking bombers ever. Almost sci-fi-esque
2023 and still looks Fantastic and Modern
It makes you very proud to be British, just think about it, we designed and built it in the fifties! That’s 70 years ago!
And only around 40 years after the 1st aircraft took to the skies.
the only thing make me regconize this aircraft is the fact that its one of the robot in the game war robot under the name of griffin lmao
Simply fantastic. Getting such a detailed rundown was awesome.
Awesome Aeroplane. Made in a time when Britain was still Great. Looks very modern still. Like a Spaceship.
This was done when Britain was much poorer than today...the will to invest has to be there...im sure a whole generation of engineers and expertise came out of these programmes...
@@johntheball 4:06
Fully agree because our governments of today just make money for themselves
The closest I ever got was quite possibly the last time all three 'V's flew together was a very low, fly past at Hendon. With just a few minutes warning over the Tannoy, then everything turned into monumental wall of sound, the smell of kerosene, and the sunlight going into shade.. just thinking about it, takes Me back to that day. Incredible! Airshow's of that period, always had the 'V's displaying. The sound alone stays with you, hopefully, forever!
Was shown around Radlett in about 1961(?) by my uncle who was a designer in Handley Page.
The two things that surprised me about the Victor was how high the tail was and how much wiring ran through the bomb-bay.
A fantastic aeroplane.
My grandpa use to be at handley page at radlett as the resident architect and contract manger till the end of the
A gorgeous aircraft,I remember being stationed at Patrick AFB. Cocoa Beach IN 1980, and one came in ,it was en route to Wright Patt AFB to get refueling parts for the tanker roll during the Falkland campaign. It was in desert tan .I had the opportunity to talk with a crew member who was shocked that I knew enough about it to hold a conversation about it.
My favourite of the "V" bombers, although generally less appreciated than the Vulcan.
Wouldn’t look out of place chasing the Millennium Falcon 😉😉
I read about it in a magazine when I was a child. I always thought it was super-futuristic and it still looks like it today.
Thanks to You and Your Crew for The Service You gave us in The Free World 👍🇬🇧
That is one amazing looking Aircraft!!
Ive never seen this bomber before and its a real beauty. The designers were artists as well. The 1950's was an era of futuristic visionaries incorporating the jet age with aspirations of space exploration. They really had grand aspirations.
Thank you Wing Commander it is an AEROPLANE & not a bleedin' Airplane as you rightly say ✈️🇬🇧
They used to fly over my house all the time back in the 80s when I was a kid truly awesome aircraft...
It looks so other-wordly, like an airplane from a parallel reality of human history. Definitely one of my favorite airplanes.
It's old but it's so cool. I mean it's like one of them Thunderbirds.
I saw Vulcan flying 3 times but good old British tech and industry and these magnificent people just look at them beautiful
One of my most favorite aircraft, so futuristic at the time when I seen it fly over my school in NZ around 1964 while on tour. I could see the crew on the flight deck it was so low, and maybe the reason I became a pilot ?. Thank you..
I heartily salute these gentlemen that flew this wonderful aircraft. Bravo Zulu, chaps.
I lived in north Watford, not far from HP's Radlett airfield in the 1950s. The Victor that often came over the rear garden, very low, was painted black (or navy blue) with a silver lightning streak along its length...probably 1958. In the early 1960s one could photograph the all-white ones lined up in readiness at Cottesmore, just over the low wire fence, from a field footpath, very close up.
My favorite among the v bombers. Looks like nothing else, radical in every bit, what a machine. Many thanks for the interviews.
I’ve never had the good fortune to see one of these fly but I did have the good fortune to see a Vulcan in the late seventies at Nellis AFB , Nevada at a Red Flag exercise. That was one loud plane. Good memories, long live the RAF.
We lived in Hertfordshire in the mid 1950's.On occasional train trips to London I would see just the upswept tailplanes of the Victors at Radlett, the actual aircraft being hidden behind a large embankment. . I thought the strange tailplanes must be gliders!
What a beautiful looking aircraft! I remember having a model kit of this that i built as a kid in the mid 80s. It was an attraction when i saw this in the shop that i instantly picked it. Sad that one day me and my brother had a fight and he broke this to the extend it had to be discarded 😔
I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath and remember these aircraft
Mr. Protheroe should indeed be careful what you wish for.....😆 He turned out to be the pilot of the very last Victor flight when this one got airborne during one of these 'fast taxi' runs at Bruntingthorpe. Right man, in the right place at the right time. He saved the day.👍
I expect the arse kicking he got for it was none too pleasant!
@@22pcirishno, even the CAA weren’t that bothered when told I don’t think they even counted it as a flight.
Looks like a aeroplane made by the tv series Thunderbirds, so futuristic looking.
This is the first time I have ever seen this air craft. Wow! She’s beautiful! Glad we didn’t have use her!!! Thank you all who served.
Brits sure made some beautiful jets back in the day.
Fabulous looking aircraft
This V bomber was beautifully designed, along with the Vulcan and Valiant. But there's just something menicing about it's looks.
We used to park next to this aircraft when we were testing our prototype supercar at Bruntingthorp back in the early 2000s
I remember building a model of the B.2 back in the mid 1970s and thought it was one of the most elegant and beautiful aircraft I’d ever seen, matched only by the XB-70. It looked like something out of the Tom Swift Jr. young boys’ book series and I always wanted to see one in real life.
This aircraft looks like some frightened insect you have never seen before.
Like a wasp on steroids it just looks deadly even when it's not moving.
Like the spitfire it just looks the part or an etype janguar
Just the look of it evokes all sorts of emotions.
That's when you have a designer who knows what they are doing.
I myself served in the RAF on vulcans another beautiful aircraft.
Fond memories.
The V Bombers were such beautifully designed aircraft. Easily 20 to 30 years ahead of their time.
I saw one in 2005. It must have been in flying condition as it was on the continent. But I may be wrong... I need to check the photo archive.
Nope! It was a Nimrod. I built a model of the Victor in the late 90s. Beautiful plane!
I don't think I've ever seen another jet bomber or any airplane that looks even close to this design! It's the coolest/scariest-looking jet I've ever seen and looks like it could easily land on LV-426 to check out any strange 'Alien'' radio beacons(!) I hope they saved a nuke in the bomb bay to deliver from orbit on the Engineer's derelict ship...it's the ONLY way to be sure you got that xenomorph! Or, return thus jet to Flash Gordon. Thanks!
Outstanding video! Love the beautiful Victor, Vulcan and Nimrod! Brits made beautiful aircraft during the Cold War! 👍🏻🎅👍🏻🇺🇸
Many thanks. I totally share your feelings about these extraordinary aircraft
The most aggressive best looking military aircraft ever. Period
It's the smell that gets you, as soon as you climb in!
This antique bomber will be very suit for British war museum in London!
Bomber in Museum is a great asset for museum and will give very good experiences to guest.
I respect the Vulcan immensely for it capabilities, but the Victor for me was JUST beautiful.
It's the most beautiful airplane ever !!!! Look the "Blake and Mortimer" strips... ❤😊
Wonderful content. You have set the bar high. Keep up the good work. Cheers, dd
Does anyone else think that the even when on the ground the Victor is telling everyone “
If you p)ss me off, I’m going to rip your head off and sh)t done your throat.
Such a badass looking beast
Genial! Ihr Briten habt schon immer tolle Flugzeuge gebaut. Und dieser spacige Vogel ist sehr ästhetisch! Respekt!
I love early jet aircraft. I seem to remember Victors at RAF Marham in the 1980s.
Marham had the last 2 operational Victor Sqns. 55 and 57. I think 57 disbanded in about 1986-7 with 55 going on to 1993. Someone might correct me but I think 55 was the only RAF Sqn to achieve 100% mission completion during gulf war 1.
Pleasure to work on the last of the V bombers! 1988-1993.
Superb video with a great narrative from both gents. Many thanks
There was always a very menacing look about the Victor. Beautiful but deadly.
That thing's a brute. It looks like it's about to pick you up by the collar and say, "You lookin' at me, son? You want some of this!?"
Thanks guys. That was brilliant.
Beautiful aircraft.
One of the most beautiful planes ever made! Alongside the TU95 Bear and TU34 of course 😁
You British Peoples, you once were the best in everything. You had the best Airforce and Marine, you build the best planes, boats, cars and castles. I say, it is about time....
For me it is the most beautiful aircraft ever, nothing before or after can compete for shear drama and presence.
На нем лежит печать Английской школы самолетостроения) К ветеранам уважение за их позицию по атомному оружию.
Probably the most sinister looking aircraft ever, quite suiting its role...
The prototype was developed from a model for a Gerry Anderson television series. FAB.
The only one of the three V bombers to have exceeded the speed of sound....twice!
Thank You Commander. Well Done Sir.
Such a cool aircraft.
When seeing the plane from the front, Star Wars comes mind!
what an elegant aircraft
This 1950ies airplane looks like a spacecraft!
It's hard to believe now that Britain were ever capable of producing the most advanced aircraft in their era now that Britain is a deindustrialised manufacturing backwater .
No worries. Just buy American (with some minor British components). The future of American politics is either Trump or Ramaswamy. Both are dedicated to the "five eyes nations", even if they do not say so publicly.
The VICTOR was the best performing of the V Bombers and a beauty to behold, but the VULCAN will always be my favourite. Looking at the Cockpit of the VULCAN, it seemed so cramped and dark, while the Cockpit of the VICTOR appeared far more user friendly.
The Air Ministry had a long history of doing down H-P. Dad worked on the prototype and many subsequent - I have an oil painting of XA918.
1982年のフォークラン諸島まで片道6800kmを何度も往復してブラックバック作戦を遂行した実機を初めて見た。素晴らしい、大英帝国の底力を見た。
From the inside, more futuristic than the Space Shuttle Flight Deck.
Wonderful design from Handley Page. It still looks sci-fi today.
What a Sci-Fi looking bomber.
The prototype was developed from a model for a Gerry Anderson television series. FAB
Very interesting also the commander is very smart 👍🇬🇧
Amazing looking craft, glad none of us had to use nuclear training so far
These look like something from 1950's science fiction. :-)
most badass possible bomber ever.. that center console is nuts.
the old man . pilot looks like he's a total unit. even at his age , almost runs up the ladder.
Far out!
That centre console I thought that it might be the " Fuel tray" a similar thing is in the Vulcan. Which has an even tighter cockpit but on watching again I don't think it is, as there are not enough gauges lol
By the sound of it you're about 16 from that comment
Best Flash Gordon aircraft ever. I rest my case your honour. 😉
No matter the country - so many military planes seem designed by people who would never have to fly long missions in them!
What great guys - these former crew mates!
My grandfather Peter Clarke flew these aircraft. He flew back when they were part of the nuclear deterrent rather than recce or AAR
It’s interesting what they wer3 saying at the end - he told us that if the scramble was the real deal, he’d not be coming home - because there’d be nothing to come to. I’m not sure if it’s because what his crew were dropping meant that to be the case, or that the retaliation would be home before him, but he did say he believed (or knew) he had details of where to go in the event it went noisy.
got lucky enough to sit in xm715 while the engines were running when i was in the atc in the 1990s
Loved the look of it !
What a lovely landing