Avro Vulcan XM594 photos

Avro Vulcan Cold War Archive

Vulcan B2 XM594

XM594 can be found at Newark Air Museum

These photographs were taken in October 2007. Please click any of the images to enlarge it.

All photographs on this page copyright G. Bartlett.

If you wish to use them please contact me. I rarely say no.

My thanks go to the staff who kindly allowed be access to the cockpit of this aircraft. Something which is usually forbidden.

Vulcan XM594 was delivered to Newark Air Museum on 7th February 1983

Note the "lump" just behind the tail fin. This contains the brake chute

A Blue Steel nuclear missile. Note the bottom fin appears bent.
This would automatically straighten when the missile was launched

The Blue Steel would be carried in the bomb bay with the bomb doors open as it was too big to carry with them shut

Blue Steel posed a problem for ground crew as it's propellant fuel was not easy to store and highly toxic

A transporter used to bring the Blue Steel missiles from their storage to the Vulcan prior to fitment

Note the size of the Blue Steel Missile in comparison to the size of the Vulcan

Note the small aerial just visible on the top of the fuselage to the left. This allowed the Vulcan crew to receive and transmit using a VHF radio

The canopy of the Vulcan could be jettisoned in an emergency to allow the captain and co-pilot to eject.
The crew in the back did not have ejector seats

This is an internal fuel tank. It would be installed within the bomb bay and allow the Vulcan a greater range if required

The rear view of the internal bomb-bay fuel cell

Note the strange "lump" on the right.
This is cooling duct used to channel cool air over the electrical components housed at the end of the fuselage

A better view of the cooling duct

Note the squared-off shape at the top of the tail. This housed the Radar Warning Receiver.
It would help tell the Vulcan crew when their aircraft had been "illuminated" by enemy radar or missiles

This Vulcan has a mid-air refuelling probe attached to her nose

A closer view of the TFR and the Refuelling Probe

The protrusion just below the RAF roundel is a pitot tube.
This was used to measure the air speed of the aircraft when in flight

A close up view of the front wheels.
These could be moved by the captain to allow the Vulcan to be steered on the ground

The "blister" under the fuselage was used as a visual check by the bomb aimer when the Vulcan dropped ordinance. It was seldom used

The "lump" under the refuelling probe houses the terrain following radar (TFR).
This was especially useful during low-level flight

The camouflage / white paint scheme was used to minimise the chances of the enemy observing the Vulcan
when she was either in flight, or on the ground

This insignia, painted on the crew hatch, is of 27th Squadron.
The Elephant is a reminder that they were stationed in the Middle East & India for over 25 years