Of all the aircraft shown at Farnborough in 1960, the Hawker Hunter was by far the most successful. Of the almost 2,000 aircraft produced, the Lebanese Air Force was the last to fly the Hunter, retiring the last four in 2014. With a record of 61 years in service (although they were stored for about 20 of those years), it's a record for jet combat aircraft unlikely ever to be equalled let alone broken. No other British combat aircraft came close to the production of the Hunter. That BAE Hawk, with about 1,000 produced so far, is the only other British aircraft to come close, but it's not a true combat aircraft. The Harrier is probably about the most successful combat aircraft after the Hunter The Vulcan bomber was the most successful of the three "V" bombers of the 50's. The Vulcan was the only really successful aircraft of the trio, with the Valiant being withdrawn from service by 1965 due to fatigue problems. The Victor was a successful tanker while the few remaining Vulcans were finally withdrawn in 1964, leaving Britain with no strategic bombers. None of the commercial aircraft were very successful. The British were building turboprops when the world was already moving to jets in 1960. The Vickers Viscount four engine turboprop was the biggest commercial success with 445 units built, and the first turboprop airliner to market in 1948. The Black Arrows never flew again after 1960. The RAF tried to reform them around the Lightning but found the slab sided supersonic fighter was just too difficult to fly in close formation. The RAF reformed their new aerobatic team in 1964, flying Folland Gnats. They were all painted red because the tiny fighters were too difficult to see painted black like the Hunters. Due to this operational requirement, they new team became the Red Arrows. The Red Arrows continued to use the Gnat until 1979, when they switched to the BAE Hawk. This was due to the Gnats being worn out, and there were no new Gnats being produced. They have continued to fly updated version of the Hawk to this day, and remain one of the top military aerobatic teams in the world.
Weren't the Vulcans operational in the Falklands in the early 1980s? Also, with the advent of the Polaris submarine, the strategic role of the Vulcan was lessened. I am awed by the formation flights of the Black Arrows. As a pilot I can appreciate the skill and practice and dedication of these pilots. As shown in this film, they hold formation flying in and out of cloud; dazzling sunlight one instant, cloud the next, back to sunlight. The visual tricks this can play is frightening. Yet, a superb show of skill. Eighteen aircraft no less.
@@MrLikeke I was an year old, 11 miles east of Farnborough. Not much went on in the sky that I didn't see. I remember looking down the road I lived on, and seeing the top half of that loop! I knew it was special. I also remember the maiden flight of the Vanguard, it went over my house, and driving past Blackbush, and seeing countless Lockheed Electras. Happy days, I went on to get a PPL. Yes the Vulcans did take part in the Falklands.
I was at that airshow as a 4 year old with my Dad. The Vulcan take off at 3 minutes 12 seconds is just incredible.
Love the Vulcan and the Lightning!
Ah, the good old days of British aviation. Thanks for sharing!
Looked like a tail strike at 4:32 from the Lightning fighter.
Of all the aircraft shown at Farnborough in 1960, the Hawker Hunter was by far the most successful. Of the almost 2,000 aircraft produced, the Lebanese Air Force was the last to fly the Hunter, retiring the last four in 2014. With a record of 61 years in service (although they were stored for about 20 of those years), it's a record for jet combat aircraft unlikely ever to be equalled let alone broken. No other British combat aircraft came close to the production of the Hunter. That BAE Hawk, with about 1,000 produced so far, is the only other British aircraft to come close, but it's not a true combat aircraft. The Harrier is probably about the most successful combat aircraft after the Hunter
The Vulcan bomber was the most successful of the three "V" bombers of the 50's. The Vulcan was the only really successful aircraft of the trio, with the Valiant being withdrawn from service by 1965 due to fatigue problems. The Victor was a successful tanker while the few remaining Vulcans were finally withdrawn in 1964, leaving Britain with no strategic bombers.
None of the commercial aircraft were very successful. The British were building turboprops when the world was already moving to jets in 1960. The Vickers Viscount four engine turboprop was the biggest commercial success with 445 units built, and the first turboprop airliner to market in 1948.
The Black Arrows never flew again after 1960. The RAF tried to reform them around the Lightning but found the slab sided supersonic fighter was just too difficult to fly in close formation. The RAF reformed their new aerobatic team in 1964, flying Folland Gnats. They were all painted red because the tiny fighters were too difficult to see painted black like the Hunters. Due to this operational requirement, they new team became the Red Arrows. The Red Arrows continued to use the Gnat until 1979, when they switched to the BAE Hawk. This was due to the Gnats being worn out, and there were no new Gnats being produced. They have continued to fly updated version of the Hawk to this day, and remain one of the top military aerobatic teams in the world.
Weren't the Vulcans operational in the Falklands in the early 1980s? Also, with the advent of the Polaris submarine, the strategic role of the Vulcan was lessened.
I am awed by the formation flights of the Black Arrows. As a pilot I can appreciate the skill and practice and dedication of these pilots. As shown in this film, they hold formation flying in and out of cloud; dazzling sunlight one instant, cloud the next, back to sunlight. The visual tricks this can play is frightening. Yet, a superb show of skill. Eighteen aircraft no less.
@@MrLikeke I was an year old, 11 miles east of Farnborough. Not much went on in the sky that I didn't see. I remember looking down the road I lived on, and seeing the top half of that loop! I knew it was special. I also remember the maiden flight of the Vanguard, it went over my house, and driving past Blackbush, and seeing countless Lockheed Electras. Happy days, I went on to get a PPL. Yes the Vulcans did take part in the Falklands.
Type-0 in the title - 1960 FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW - delete extra 's'