On Sunday 30th April 2017 at the Cold War Jets Museum we are commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the Black Buck 1 bombing mission of 30th April 1982. 18 Victor K2 and 2 Vulcan B2 sorties were flown to accomplish the task and recover all aircraft safely to Ascension Island. Our day will contain a photo shoot of Victor XM715, an aborted take off demonstration and a mission briefing. Several mission participants are expected to attend. The day will start at 1030 and conclude around 1600. Watch our web site for booking information.
Author: Mike Beer
Another great display
The run by Tina at the Open Day was right in the block hole. 715 behaved impeccably this time supervised by the world’s oldest AEO riding in the back- Ian “Sparky” Stewart. The AAPP rewiring worked and normal engine starts were followed by a faultless aborted take off run. Congratulations to the hard working ground engineers in making this possible. Not to bde out done, and after a great deal of hard diagnostic and rectification work, Nimrod 226 gave her bvest- another faultless display, albeit shorter due to the rudder damage. Well done all of you!!
Open Day Prep
The team got the pressure washer out for a bath. Completed Tina at the same time so all are smelling like Fr….. tarts. A bit of AAPP wiring to complete by our knitting master this week end. We plan to combine an anti det run and systems check on the Saturday afternoon prior to the Open Day as we position to the threshold.
Nimrod XV226 also got a bath and an anti det run was completed on 14 August. The problem with the hydraulic braking system has eased although there is still an adjustment needed in the nose wheel bay- particularly difficult to access. No 2 engine behaved at first but still closed down when the throttles were being adjusted normally. It would seem that the throttle needs caressing like a Stradivarius rather than plucked like George Formby’s uke. The upshot is that Bob T has declared 226 a runner for the Open Day and has put his uke away.
All set to go. The sales team will be selling our branded goodies and the raffle tickets to support Tina from our tent in the franchise area. First prize is the guided cockpit visit sitting in the deactivated ejection seat plus many other attractive aviation prizes. The crew will be around the Victor merchandise tent during the day with Bob signing his book “Contact”. Mike will be around the threshold from 8.45-ish to talk about Tina to anyone or himself. See you there.
An evening with……
Sunday 30th April 2017 is the 35th anniversary of the launch of Black Buck 1 from Ascension Island to attack Port Stanley Airfield. We are proposing to hold a celebratory afternoon/evening at Bruntingthorpe on that day to include an aborted take off demonstration by XM715 followed by a photo opportunity, memorabilia sales and signings. The current crew of XM715 were part of Black Buck 1 and will give a mission presentation to guests. We also hope to include an ex-Victor aircrew reunion which may develop into a bit of a party. Fuller details will be announced later but presentation seats will be limited to the venue size.
Next Tina Run
The next Cold War Jets public Open Day on Sunday 28th August at Bruntingthorpe is fast approaching. Teasin’ Tina is healthy and will take part alongside all the other exhibits making their public displays. There will be our usual variety of branded merchandise for sale in the Victor support tent and the aircrew will be present during the day for a chat and any signings. Why not come along and get close up and friendly with the jets?
Bob’s Book Signing at CWJs Open Day
Bob Tuxford took a break from the take off demonstrations to be in the Victor tent to promote and sign copies of his autobiography ” Contact”. His publisher, John Davies, of Grubb Street Publishers, was on hand all day selling copies. In fact, John enjoyed himself so much he aims to be back for the August Open Day.
Glyn and Mike were on hand lending support and adding their signatures when requested.
A Poignant Occasion
In the early hours of the 10th May 1973 Victor SR2 XL230 of No 543 Squadron crashed during an approach in bad weather at RAF Wyton. Unfortunately all 6 crew members were killed. The Copilot was Flight Lieutenant John Phillips and his daughter, Hannah, who never knew her Father, contacted Chris Long, a friend of John’s from pilot training and the squadron, to discover more about her Father. Chris was able to get a number of No 543 Squadron colleagues with personal reminiscences in contact with Hannah. This culminated in a visit by Hannah and partner Greg to the CWJ Open Day on the 29th May. Hannah was given a guided tour of Teasin’ Tina by Mike, who also served with John. In a former life XM715 was also an SR2 on No 543 Squadron. Hannah spent time in the cockpit in the seat her Father would have occupied and looking at the view he would have had. It was a privilege to facilitate such a poignant event.
The Winner of our Raffle
Living the Dream
On Sunday at the Open Day the Teasin’ Tina crew were able to make one mans dream come true. Chris Gilson, the editor of the excellent aviation magazine for restored aircraft, “Flypast” had, since childhood, harboured the dream of a ride in a Victor. As thanks for his recent superlative article on Victor XM715, the team invited him to ride during the aborted take off demonstration at the CWJ Open Day on Sunday. In his own words when I asked him on Monday if he had stopped smiling yet he said:
“I have to be honest and say no, I haven’t stop smiling yet. I can’t thank you and Bob, Glyn and Terry enough for my ride. As I said at the time, it was genuinely a boyhood dream – from climbing all over the K1 that was on the fire dump at St Athan many years ago as an air cadet I’ve loved Victors, and that really was the icing on the cake.”
We enjoyed the ride as well as seen in the photo.
Great run by Teasin’ Tina
The preparations
What a blast on Sunday. Teasin’ Tina was awesome, enthralling an exceptionally large crowd at the Cold War Jets Open Day. A perfect aborted take off demonstration by the flight crew made possible by the
extreme hard work over previous weekends by the dedicated and appreciated ground crew. Bob Tux took her up to 100mph before cancelling the roll and streaming the shoot for ample photographic opportunities. Great work by all!!!