It's a Victor!

[Homebee]

Source: https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/a-bomber-of-distinction

 

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Britain’s former V-Bomber turned fuel provider

 

This magnificent Gulf War RAF in-flight refuelling scene will grace the box top of the second release from the 1/72nd scale Handley Page Victor tooling

 

The years which followed the end of the Second World War saw aviation develop at an astonishing rate, with the advent of the jet engine determining the future of aircraft design and the nuclear age ensuring an uneasy stalemate between nations, with the deterrent threat of new weapons possessing ever more destructive potential. This ‘Cold War’ period saw the introduction of three mighty jet bombers by the Royal Air Force, each intended to protect Britain by offering an effective nuclear strike back capability against potential Soviet aggression, the third and final of which was the Handley Page Victor. Viewed as something of a radical design, the Victor had a distinctly different appearance to any British aircraft which had gone before it and incorporated a sweeping crescent shaped wing, which had three stepped ‘kinks’ from the wing root to its tip, reducing in angle at each point. The Victor was without doubt, one of the most distinctive aircraft to ever see service with the Royal Air Force and went on to play a significant role in its future.

 

Designed with high speed flight stability as a primary consideration, the Victor had a high T-tail unit, crescent wing and a distinctive pointed front fuselage profile, all of which endowed the bomber with a unique appearance, but certainly not at the expense of its operational effectiveness. The Victor was the last of Britain’s three ‘V-Bombers’ to enter service in April 1958 and is generally regarded as the most capable aircraft of the trio, even eclipsing the capabilities of the much loved Avro Vulcan. The flexibility of the Victor design was to see the aircraft significantly outlast both the Valiant and Vulcan in RAF service, albeit by trading its original bombing role for that of an inflight refuelling platform. In this role, the mighty Victor would see operational service during the Falklands War of 1982 and the Gulf War of 1991, proving to be an invaluable asset to the Royal Air Force during both conflicts and continuing through to their eventual withdrawal from service in 1993. This Cold War nuclear bomber turned inflight refuelling specialist marks a time when British aviation designs were the envy of the world and is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive (many would say beautiful) aircraft to serve during this first 100 years of the Royal Air Force.

 

 

These two computer rendered images feature some of the additional parts included in this new kit, which allowing the K.2 Tanker variant of the Victor to be constructed

 

No collection of 1/72nd scale British aircraft models can be considered complete without a Handley Page Victor sitting majestically in the centre of it and for this reason, the announcement at Scale ModelWorld 2015 that Airfix were intending to produce a newly tooled kit of the Victor for inclusion in the 2016 range was understandably met with some excitement. This initial release (A12008)presented the aircraft as a B.2 bomber version, including the ability to finish your model carrying an under-fuselage mounted ‘Blue Steel’ nuclear missile. We began 2018 by announcing the second release from this magnificent tooling, which this time included additional parts to allow the construction of either an SR.2 reconnaissance Victor, or one of the final aircraft to see RAF service, the K.2 tanker – you may recall that we even brought you a very early exclusive look at the box artwork which had been produced in support of this future release. As Victor A12009 is now fast approaching its September release date, we would like to bring you details of the three scheme options which will be included in this superb new kit and highlight why this release could prove to be even more popular than its predecessor.

 

Handley Page Victor K.2, XL231 ‘Lusty Lindy’, No.55 Squadron, Royal Air Force, ‘Operation Granby’ (Desert Storm), Bahrain, 1991.

 

 

This is the scheme option that many modellers have been looking forward to, Gulf War veteran XL231 ‘Lusty Lindy’

 

As the latest B.2 versions of the Victor bomber began to enter RAF service at the beginning of 1962, earlier machines were considered to be obsolete for the role of strategic bombing. A feasibility study began to see if these earlier aircraft could be utilised as flying tankers, an exercise which became all the more necessary following the grounding of all Vickers Valiant tankers after fatigue was discovered in their airframes – there was now no need to conduct trials and the aircraft were duly converted. Considered the definitive version of the Victor tanker, the K.2 variant was developed following a change in the strategic bombing role of the V-bomber force, from high to low level, an environment which was not best suited to the qualities of the Victor. Leaving remaining Avro Vulcans to fulfil this role, 24 former Victor B.2 were converted to K.2 Tanker configuration, but with the recent demise of the Handley Page company, this work was carried out by Hawker Siddeley, rather ironically at the old Avro factory at Woodford in Cheshire, home of their Vulcan rival. The K.2 tankers would employ the probe and drogue method of delivering fuel in flight, using two refuelling HDUs (Hose Drum Units) mounted one on each outer wing section and a third unit mounted under the fuselage centreline – this unit possessed a much greater fuel flow rate than the wing mounted units. In operation, either the two wing drogues could refuel a pair of aircraft simultaneously, or a single (possibly larger aircraft, even another Victor tanker) could take fuel from the centreline drogue – it was considered unsafe to refuel from the centreline and either of the wing fuel points at the same time and it was never possible for all three to be used at the same time.

 

Built by Handley Page at their Radlett factory in 1961, XL231 was the first Victor B.2 to be taken on strength by the newly re-formed No.139 (Jamaica) Squadron at Wittering early the following year, wearing the distinctive white ‘anti-flash’ scheme designed to protect the aircraft in the event of a nuclear delivery. The adoption of the ‘Blue Steel’ stand-off nuclear missile saw the aircraft return to Handley Page for modifications allowing the aircraft to carry this weapon in its bomb bay - once returned to Wittering, it would not be long before her white scheme was replaced with a camouflage upper surfaces, as the V-Bomber force was required to change from high to low level strike operations, due to the effectiveness of Soviet SAM missile systems. With the design of the aircraft not suited to the rigors of this kind of flying, XL231 was selected as the airframe to serve as the prototype K.2 tanker aircraft and underwent trials at Woodford and Boscombe Down and proved significant in the ultimate conversion of 24 former Victor B.2s to airborne refuelling configuration. After undergoing full conversion herself, she joined the other Victors in the tanker fleet at RAF Marham. Operational demands on these aircraft were high and XL231 would go on to make significant contributions to both the Falklands War of 1982 and the Gulf War (Operation Granby) of 1991. Indeed, during the Gulf conflict, the Victors of No.55 Squadron were the only RAF aircraft to post a 100% serviceability record – quite impressive for an old lady like this!

 

 

This imposing relic of the Cold War is now a star attraction at the impressive Yorkshire Air Museum

 

It was during her time in the Gulf that XL231 acquired some rather distinctive additional artwork and a name which would stick with her to this day, ‘Lusty Lindy’. Reputedly applied in honour of the Crew chief’s wife, the nose artwork inspired a number of other ground crews to similarly adorn their aircraft, which resulted in one of the most popular (and heavily photographed) periods of aircraft presentation in RAF history, once these fascinating aircraft had returned home to the UK. Time was eventually called on the Victor’s RAF career in the autumn of 1993 and XL231 was to take part in the final official RAF Victor flight, when she performed in a station flypast at Marham on 15th October. Just ten days later, she was flown to the former RAF station at Elvington, where she was to go on display as part of the impressive Yorkshire Air Museum. Maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers at the museum to a serviceable and taxiable condition, ‘Lusty Lindy’ regularly thrills visitors to Elvington by firing up her mighty Rolls-Royce Conway engines and has even been known to speed down the length of their huge runway during one of their ‘Thunder Days’ - an experience well worth heading to Yorkshire for.

 

Handley Page Victor K.2 XH669, No.57 Squadron, Royal Air Force, ‘Operation Black Buck’ (Falklands War), Ascension Island, May 1982.

 

 

Every aircraft has its own fascinating story and this Victor played a significant and rather unusual part in support of a Falklands War ‘Black Buck’ mission

 

The effectiveness and general serviceability of the Victor Tanker force was never more in evidence than during the Falklands War of 1982. Even before the Task Force had arrived in the South Atlantic, Victors were performing reconnaissance flights over the region, gathering information on shipping in the area and assessing the general conditions for potential military operations. Their most telling contribution however, was to support Vulcan Bombers on their ‘Black Buck’ strikes against the Argentine held airfield at Port Stanley. The operations to deny Argentine forces the ability to use Port Stanley airfield called for a single Vulcan bomber (with others acting as reserve aircraft) to attack the airfield and render the runway unusable to Argentine aircraft and therefore helping to protect the British Task Force. With the nearest suitable airfield available to the British being on Ascension Island some 3,800 miles away, the Vulcan would have to rely on the in-flight refuelling support of Victor tankers and would have to undergo the refuelling operation many times during the flight, if they were to successfully accomplish their objective. This impressive feat of airmanship and aviation logistics would go on to become the longest bombing mission in history. The complex refuelling plan to support the Port Stanley Vulcan attack would call upon the services of no fewer than eleven fully fuel ladened Victor tankers, each one taking off from Ascension at the same time and all needed to provide fuel for both the Vulcan and the other Victors in a carefully planned fuel management programme. Once the attack had been completed, five more Victors would be needed if the Vulcan was to make it back to Ascension safely. The operation proved to be a success and even though huge strain was placed on the men and machines of the UK tanker force, each aircraft played its part and returned safely to its temporary South Atlantic island home.

 

Handley Page Victor XH669 was constructed as a B.2 in 1959, making its maiden flight at the beginning of August. Before entering squadron service the aircraft was loaned back to Handley Page, so they could display the Victor at the 1960 SBAC Farnborough show, where it was seen wearing its distinctive all-over anti-flash white scheme. She was later converted to B.2R standard and modified to carry the ‘Blue Steel’ missile, going on to serve with the Victor Operational Conversion Unit at Wittering. XH669 was one of the 24 airframes selected for conversion to K.2 tanker configuration at Woodford and joined the rest of the tanker fleet at RAF Marham in the colours of No.57 Squadron, where like all the other Victor tankers, she traded her white anti-flash scheme for camouflaged uppers. One of the many Victors to take part in the Falklands War, XH669 had a rather dubious claim to fame – whilst taking part in one of the ‘Black Buck’ missions, in support of Avro Vulcan XM607, this Victor was taking fuel from another aircraft to leave it as the sole fuel support for the Vulcan. Unfortunately, the fuel probe broke off during the transfer procedure and the Victors had to trade places, with XH669 now having to give fuel to the other Victor (XL189), before making a hasty return to Ascension.

 

Handley Page Victor XH669 ended its RAF career with No.55 Squadron at Marham and was not one of the eight aircraft which took part in the Gulf War. In June 1990, she made an emergency landing at Waddington, after reporting an engine issue which had caused damage to the flying controls – although no engine fire broke out, the aircraft was not deemed cost efficient to repair and was eventually scrapped, with just the nose section saved for future renovation.

 

Handley Page Victor SR.2 XL193, No.543 Squadron, Royal Air Force, ‘Operation Attune’, Lima Airport, Peru, 1971.

 

 

The Strategic Reconnaissance version of the Victor B.2 was an extremely capable aircraft and further highlighted the versatility of this distinctive aircraft

 

Another consequence of the fatigue cracks found in Britain’s Vickers Valiant fleet was the loss of the RAF’s strategic reconnaissance fleet, a role for which the Victor B.2 had already been earmarked. The permanent grounding of the Valiant fleet in 1964 resulted in an acceleration of this work and saw the first Victor SR.2 taking to the air in February 1965. Modifications incorporated in this variant included the adoption of ‘Yellow Aster’ radar and a combination of up to 15 F49, F89 and F98 film cameras in the altered bomb bay, along with 108 photo flash flares, carried in three bespoke containers. These aircraft could also carry equipment housed in the front of the wing tanks, specifically designed to collect air samples whilst flying over the sites of nuclear test detonations. Only eight Victor B.2s were converted to this reconnaissance configuration, with a further airframe being something of a hybrid, having been partially converted, whilst also retaining the ability to carry a ‘Blue Steel’ missile.

 

Handley Page Victor SR.2 XL193 was one of three RAF No.543 Squadron aircraft sent to operate out of Lima International Airport in Peru, in support of ‘Operation Attune’. Between 1966 and 1974, the French had been conducting atmospheric nuclear tests in French Polynesia, detonating devices on barges in the sea, whilst suspended from helium balloons, or dropped from aircraft. These denotations released clouds of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, with the prevailing winds carrying them towards the coast of South America. These specially modified reconnaissance Victors were deployed to assess the contamination levels, flying over these dust clouds and gather samples in canisters designed by engineers at AWRE Aldermaston. As they could potentially be flying in hazardous conditions, the crew were also had the benefit of radiation sensors to warn them of dangerously high concentration levels and additional air filtration for the cabin conditioning system. The Lima airport detachment consisted of three Victor SR.2 aircraft and their support personnel, deployed for a 5 month period, rotating at the halfway point. These reconnaissance Victors were extremely effective aircraft in this role, capable of conducting long, wide ranging sorties and gathering a bewildering amount of information – it was said that a single Victor SR.2 could map the entire Mediterranean region in a single sortie.

 

In 1/72nd scale, the Handley Page Victor is an impressive model by any standards and the September debut of the second release from this newly tooled kit, presents us with three fascinating, yet contrasting scheme options in which to finish our example of this distinctive aeroplane. Whether we decide to finish our Victor as one of the most impressive preserved aircraft in Britain, as a famous Falklands ‘Black Buck’ support tanker, or as one of only eight specialist reconnaissance versions of this mighty jet, we will certainly end up with a fitting centrepiece model for our aviation displays. Victor K.2 A12009 is still currently available for pre-order, but with just a few weeks to go until its scheduled release date, this situation could change very quickly – it will certainly be interesting to see how many of these kits end up passing through the gift shop at the Yorkshire Air Museum.

 

V.P.

[PhantomBigStu]

Getting close, and looks like its proven popular on preorder so I looks like I won't be able to buy the tanker spue from airfix spares for a good while, so maybe Ill have to settle for camo/flash white bomber now I've sorta got the hang of spraying white.

Edited August 10, 2018 by PhantomBigStu

[Homebee]

Released  - ref. A12009 - Handley Page Victor K.2

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/handley-page-victor-k-2-1-72.html

V.P.

Edited August 30, 2018 by Homebee