Aircraft Videos and Images

[335th_GRAthos]

For those interested....



Falklands' Most Daring Raid in Channel4

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/f...st-daring-raid

On 30 April 1982, the RAF launched a secret mission: to fly a Vulcan bomber to
the Falkland Islands and bomb Port Stanley's runway, putting it out of action
for Argentine fighter jets. The safety of the British Task Force depended on
its success.

However, the RAF could only get a single crumbling, Cold War-era Vulcan 8000
miles south to the Falklands, because one bomber needed an aerial fleet of 13
Victor tanker planes to refuel it throughout the 16-hour round-trip. At the
time it was the longest-range bombing mission in history.

From start to finish, the seemingly impossible mission was a comedy of errors,
held together by pluck and ingenuity.

On the brink of being scrapped, only three of the ageing nuclear bombers could
be fitted out for war, one to fly the mission and two in reserve. Crucial spare
parts were scavenged from museums and scrap yards: one vital component had been
serving as an ashtray in the Officers' Mess.

In just three weeks, the Vulcan crews had to learn air-to-air refuelling, which
they hadn't done for 20 years, and conventional bombing, which they hadn't done
for ten.

The RAF scoured the country for Second World War iron bombs, and complex
refuelling calculations were done the night before on a £5 pocket calculator.

With a plan stretched to the limit and the RAF's hopes riding on just one
Vulcan, the mission was flown on a knife-edge; fraught with mechanical
failures, unreliable navigation, electrical storms and not enough fuel.

Of the 21 bombs the Vulcan dropped, only one found its target. But it was
enough to change the outcome of the war.

Astonishingly, this great feat has been downplayed into near obscurity by
history, but this documentary brings it back to life, providing a thrilling and
uncharacteristically upbeat account from the Falklands War: the Dambusters for
the 1980s generation.

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~S~

[PeterPanPan]

Was first aired last week. EXCELLENT program - incredible story.
PPP

[arthursmedley]

"Of the 21 bombs the Vulcan dropped, only one found its target. But it was
enough to change the outcome of the war."

Absolute TV history bullsh#t!

[PeterPanPan]

Originally Posted by arthursmedley

"Of the 21 bombs the Vulcan dropped, only one found its target. But it was
enough to change the outcome of the war."

Absolute TV history bullsh#t!

Agreed re that bit . Why do they feel the need to write that stuff?! Never-the-less an amazing story, very well told IMHO.

[No1 Cheese]

Gents i think the post was trying to say it was a great mission? and if you agree or not on the war it was a great mission.

Cheese

[JG52Uther]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlBKYXHSuhc

[MB_Avro_UK]

Thanks for posting.

And shot down by a Defiant?

[Sternjaeger II]

it's gonna be a helluva restoration job if they manage to recover it in one piece.
The Do-17 wing surface is HUGE, so recovering it in one bit will be quite a challenge, especially considering how thin the tail section is. Even if they manage to recover it though, there will be a massive and extensive restoration job needed to bring it back to its original shine, and there might be a case where they will have to decide whether to leave it as it is (once they stop corrosion) or give it back its original shine.

[Osprey]

I hope they bring her up to the surface for a restoration. I remember reading that the wreck was known about for some time and some people have pinched the guns from it - the RAF say it's MoD property and want them back.

[Sternjaeger II]

Originally Posted by Osprey

I hope they bring her up to the surface for a restoration. I remember reading that the wreck was known about for some time and some people have pinched the guns from it - the RAF say it's MoD property and want them back.

I can't imagine them being in any nick good enough to be used, so it's not a security threat, but these kinda folks really grind my gears!

As for the claims of the MoD, LOL! Come on chaps, you find a unique relic in shallow waters and not expect somebody reckless enough not to have a go at it?

Anyway why is it considered MoD property? I don't know much of the UK legislation on the matter.