Editing Avro Vulcan (section)

==Operational history==
===Introduction===
In September 1956, the RAF received its first Vulcan B.1, XA897, which immediately embarked upon a round-the-world tour. The tour was to be an important demonstration of the range and capabilities of the aircraft, but it also had other benefits in the form of conducting goodwill visits in various countries; during their service, Vulcans routinely visited various nations and distant parts of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] as a show of support and military protection.<ref>Lambert, C. M. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200064.html?tracked=1 "Bomex By Vulcan."]  ''Flight International'', January 1958, p. 66.</ref> This first tour, however, was struck by misfortune; on 1 October 1956, while landing in bad weather at [[London Heathrow Airport]] at the completion of the world tour, [[1956 London Heathrow Avro Vulcan crash|XA897 was destroyed]] in a fatal accident.<ref name="blackman142"/>

[[File:VulcanB2atFilton1960s.jpg|thumb|left|A Vulcan B1A of the Waddington Wing at Filton during a public air display in the 1960s]]

The first two aircraft were delivered to 230 OCU in January 1957 and the training of crews started on 21 February 1957.<ref name="lamingp60">Laming 2002, p. 60.</ref> The first OCU course to qualify was No. 1 Course, on 21 May 1957, and they went on to form the first flight of [[No. 83 Squadron RAF|No. 83 Squadron]].<ref name="lamingp60"/> No. 83 Squadron was the first operational squadron to use the bomber, at first using borrowed Vulcans from the OCU, and on 11 July 1956 it received the first aircraft of its own.<ref name="lamingp60"/> By September 1957, several Vulcans had been handed over to No. 83 Squadron.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%201412.html "Vulcans In Service: A visit to the V-force Delta of No.1 Group in Lincolnshire."] ''Flight International'', 27 September 1957, pp. 502–503.</ref> The second OCU course also formed a Flight of 83 Squadron, but subsequent trained crews were also used to form the second bomber squadron, [[No. 101 Squadron RAF|101 Squadron]].<ref name="lamingp60"/> The last aircraft from the first batch of 25 aircraft had been delivered by the end of 1957 to 101 Squadron.<ref name="lamingp60"/>

To increase the mission range and flight time for Vulcan operations, in-flight refuelling capabilities were added from 1959 onwards; several Valiant bombers were refurbished as tankers to refuel the Vulcans.<ref name = 'brookes49'>Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 49.</ref> Continuous airborne patrols proved untenable, however, and the refuelling mechanisms across the Vulcan fleet fell into disuse in the 1960s.<ref name = 'brookes49'/> Both Vulcans and the other V-force aircraft routinely visited the Far East, in particular [[Singapore]], where a fully equipped nuclear-weapons storage facility had been constructed in 1959.<ref name = 'kev 55'>Darling 2007, p. 55.</ref> These deployments were part of the UK's contribution to [[SEATO]] operations, often to test the defences of friendly nations in joint exercises.<ref name="kev 55" /> During the [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]], Britain planned to deploy three squadrons of V-bomber aircraft and 48 Red Beard tactical nuclear weapons to the region, although this was ultimately decided against. Vulcans trained in the region for both conventional and nuclear missions.<ref name = 'kev 55'/> In the early 1970s, the RAF decided to permanently deploy two squadrons of Vulcans overseas in the Near East Air Force Bomber Wing, based at [[RAF Akrotiri]] in [[Cyprus]]. The Vulcans were withdrawn in the mid-1970s, however, as [[Cypriot intercommunal violence]] intensified.<ref>Darling 2007, pp. 65, 108.</ref>

[[File:RAF Vulcan B.JPEG|thumb|Royal Air Force Vulcan B.2 being prepared for flight on 25 May 1985]]

Vulcans flew some very long-range missions. In June 1961, one flew 18,507&nbsp;km from RAF Scampton to Sydney in just over 20 hours, facilitated by three air refuellings. Vulcans frequently visited the United States during the 1960s and 1970s to participate in air shows and static displays, as well as to participate in the [[Strategic Air Command]]'s (SAC) Annual Bombing and Navigation Competition at such locations as [[Barksdale AFB]], Louisiana, and the former [[McCoy AFB]], Florida. Vulcans also took part in the large scale [[Operation Skyshield]] exercise in 1961, in which [[NORAD]] defences were tested against possible Soviet air attack, the B-47s, B-52s, and relatively small amount of Vulcans simulating Soviet fighter/bomber attacks against New York, Chicago, and [[Washington, DC]]. The results of the tests were classified until 1997.<ref name="Skyshield">Mola, Roger A. [http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/the-day-nobody-flew-10082383/ "The Day Nobody Flew."] ''airspacemag.com'', November 2006. Retrieved: 5 November 2009.</ref> The Vulcan proved quite successful during the 1974 "Giant Voice" exercise, in which it managed to avoid USAF interceptors.<ref>Sgarlato, Nico. "Avro Vulcan." Aerei magazine, Delta Editions, Parma, November 1996, p. 56.</ref>

===Nuclear deterrent===
As part of Britain's independent nuclear deterrent, the Vulcan initially carried Britain's first nuclear weapon, the ''[[Blue Danube (nuclear weapon)|Blue Danube]]'' [[Unguided bomb|gravity bomb]].<ref>Darling 2007, p. 6.</ref> ''Blue Danube'' was a low-kiloton yield fission bomb designed before the United States detonated the first [[hydrogen bomb]]. These were supplemented by U.S.-owned ''[[Mark 5 nuclear bomb|Mk 5]]'' bombs (made available under the [[Project E]] programme) and later by the British [[Red Beard (nuclear weapon)|''Red Beard'']] tactical nuclear weapon.<ref name="Leitch p55,8" >Leitch ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 2003, pp. 55, 58.</ref> The UK had already embarked on its own hydrogen bomb programme, and to bridge the gap until these were ready the V-bombers were equipped with an Interim Megaton Weapon based on the ''Blue Danube'' casing containing ''[[Green Grass (nuclear warhead)|Green Grass]]'', a large pure-fission warhead of {{convert|400|ktonTNT|PJ|lk=on|adj=on}} yield.<ref name = 'kev32' >Darling 2007, p. 32.</ref>{{refn|According to UK parlance of the time, "megaton range" was understood to correspond to 500&nbsp;kt or greater.<ref name="WoF p48" >Jackson ''Wings of Fame'' 1996, p. 48.</ref> The ''Green Grass'' warhead had a predicted yield of 500&nbsp;kt.<ref name="Leitch p57">Leitch ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 2003, p. 57.</ref>|group=N}} This bomb was known as ''[[Violet Club]]''.<ref name = 'kev32'/> Only five were deployed before the ''Green Grass'' warhead was incorporated into a developed weapon as ''[[Yellow Sun (nuclear weapon)|Yellow Sun Mk.1.]]''<ref name = 'kev32'/>

The later ''Yellow Sun Mk 2'', was fitted with ''[[Red Snow]]'',<ref name = 'kev32'/> a British-built variant of the U.S. [[B28 nuclear bomb|W28 warhead]]. ''Yellow Sun Mk 2'' was the first British thermonuclear weapon to be deployed, and was carried on both the Vulcan and [[Handley Page Victor]]. The Valiant retained U.S. nuclear weapons assigned to [[SACEUR]] under the dual-key arrangements. ''Red Beard'' was positioned in [[Singapore]] for use by Vulcan and Victor bombers.<ref>Darling 2007, p. 19.</ref> From 1963, three squadrons of Vulcan B.2s and two squadrons of Victor B.2s were armed with the [[Blue Steel (missile)|''Blue Steel'']] missile, a rocket-powered stand-off bomb, which was also fitted with the {{convert|1.1|MtonTNT|abbr=on}} yield ''Red Snow'' warhead.<ref>Darling 2007, p. 76.</ref>

Operationally, RAF Bomber Command and the SAC cooperated in the [[Single Integrated Operational Plan]]  to ensure coverage of all major Soviet targets from 1958; 108 of the RAF's V-bombers were assigned targets under the plan by the end of 1959.<ref name ='brookes14'>Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 14.</ref> From 1962 onwards, two jets in every RAF bomber base were armed with nuclear weapons and on standby permanently under the principle of [[Quick Reaction Alert]] (QRA).<ref name ='brookes14'/> Vulcans on QRA were to be airborne within four minutes of receiving an alert, as this was identified as the amount of time between warning of a USSR nuclear strike being launched and it arriving in Britain.<ref name = 'brookes43'>Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 43.</ref> The closest the Vulcan came to taking part in potential nuclear conflict was during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] in October 1962, where Bomber Command was moved to Alert Condition 3, an increased state of preparedness from normal operations; however, it stood down in early November.<ref name ='brookes14-15'>Brookes and Davey 2009, pp. 14–15.</ref>

[[File:AvroVulcan2008.JPG|thumb| [[XH558]] taking off, 2008 [[Farnborough Airshow]]]]

The Vulcans were intended to be equipped with the Skybolt missile to replace the Blue Steel, with Vulcan B.2s carrying two Skybolts under the wings. The last 28 B.2s were modified on the production line to fit pylons to carry the Skybolt.<ref>Laming 2002, p. 88.</ref><ref>Darling 2007, p. 116.</ref> A [[#Proposals_and_cancelled_projects|B.3 variant]] with increased wingspan to carry up to six Skybolts was proposed in 1960.<ref>Laming 2002, p. 89.</ref> When the Skybolt missile system was cancelled by U.S. President [[John F. Kennedy]] on the recommendation of his Secretary of Defense, [[Robert McNamara]] in 1962, precipitating the [[Nassau Agreement|Skybolt Crisis]], ''Blue Steel'' was retained. To supplement it until the [[Royal Navy]] took on the deterrent role with [[UGM-27 Polaris|Polaris]] SLBM-equipped submarines, the Vulcan bombers adopted a new mission profile of flying high during clear transit, dropping down low to avoid enemy defences on approach, and deploying a parachute-retarded bomb, the [[WE.177]]B.<ref name = 'kev65'/> However, since the aircraft had been designed for high-altitude flight, at low altitudes it could not exceed 350 knots. RAF Air Vice Marshal Ron Dick, a former Vulcan pilot, said "it is [thus] questionable whether it could have been effective flying at low level in a war against ... the Soviet Union."<ref name="mellow200401">{{cite news | url=http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/vulcan.html?c=y&story=fullstory | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130910054135/http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/vulcan.html?c=y&story=fullstory | url-status=dead | archive-date=2013-09-10 | title=God Save the Vulcan! | work=Air & Space | date=January 2004 | access-date=9 September 2013 | author=Mellow, Craig }}</ref>

After the British Polaris submarines became operational and Blue Steel was taken out of service in 1970, the Vulcan continued to carry WE.177B in a [[tactical nuclear weapons|tactical nuclear]] strike role as part of the British contribution to Europe's standing NATO forces, although they no longer held aircraft at 15 minutes' readiness in peacetime.<ref name = 'kev65'>Darling 2007, p. 65.</ref> Two squadrons were also stationed in Cyprus as part of the Near East Air Force and assigned to [[Central Treaty Organization]] in a strategic strike role. With the eventual demise of the WE.177B and the Vulcan bombers, the [[Blackburn Buccaneer]], [[SEPECAT Jaguar]], and [[Panavia Tornado]] continued with the WE.177C until its retirement in 1998.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104032020/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-19787557.html "Royal Air Force loses nuclear arsenal."] ''AP Online'', 31 March 1998.</ref> While not a like-for-like replacement, the multi-role Tornado interdictor/strike bomber is the successor for the roles previously filled by the Vulcan.<ref>Segell 1997, p. 124.</ref>

===Conventional role===
[[File:VulcanblackbuckefJM.jpg|thumb|Vulcan XM597 at the [[National Museum of Flight]], Scotland; note the [[Operation Black Buck]] markings and the small Brazilian flag indicating the aircraft's internment in [[Brazil]].]]
[[File:The Vulcan at RAF_Waddington, 1982.jpeg|thumb|right|Engineers and flight crew with the Vulcan prior to deployment to Ascension Island]]
{{See also|Operation Black Buck}}

Although in operational use the Vulcan typically carried various nuclear armaments, the type also had a secondary conventional role. While performing conventional combat missions, the Vulcan could carry up to 21&nbsp;{{convert|1000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} bombs inside its bomb bay.<ref name ='stbull84'>Bull 2004, p. 84.</ref> From the 1960s, the various Vulcan squadrons routinely conducted conventional training missions; the aircrews were expected to be able to perform conventional bombing missions, in addition to the critical nuclear strike mission.<ref>Darling 2007, p. 63.</ref>

The Vulcan's only combat missions took place towards the end of the type's service in 1982. During the [[Falklands War]], the Vulcan was deployed against [[Argentina|Argentinian]] forces which had occupied the [[Falkland Islands]]. The missions performed by the Vulcan became known as the ''[[Operation Black Buck|Black Buck]]'' raids, each aircraft had to fly {{convert|3889|mi|km|abbr=on}} from [[Ascension Island]] to reach [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]] on the Falklands. [[Handley Page Victor|Victor tankers]] conducted the necessary air-to-air refuelling for the Vulcan to cover the distance involved; approximately {{convert|1100000|impgal|L|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} of fuel was used in each mission.<ref name="Falklands">[http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/bb.html "The Falkland Islands: A history of the 1982 conflict."] ''Royal Air Force'', 29 April 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070318044222/http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/bb.html |date=18 March 2007 }}</ref>

Engineering work to prepare the five Vulcans that would conduct the missions began on 9 April.<ref>Darling 2007, pp. 116–117.</ref><ref name="braybrook 17">Braybook 1982, p. 17.</ref> Each aircraft required modifications to the bomb bay, the reinstatement of the long-out-of-use in-flight refuelling system, the installation of a new navigational system derived from the [[Vickers VC10]], and the updating of several onboard electronics. Underneath the wings, new pylons were fitted to carry an ECM pod and [[Shrike missile|Shrike]] antiradar missiles at wing [[hardpoint]] locations.

[[File:Vulcan bomber 18 May 1982.JPG|thumb|left|A Vulcan flying over Ascension Island on 18 May 1982]]

On 1 May, the first mission was conducted by a single Vulcan (XM607) that flew over [[Port Stanley]] and dropped its bombs on the airfield, concentrating on the single runway, with one direct hit, making it unsuitable for fighter aircraft. The Vulcan's mission was quickly followed up by strikes against anti-air installations, flown by [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier]]s from Royal Navy aircraft carriers.<ref>Hearn 2007, p. 268.</ref> A further two missions saw missiles launched against radar installations and two additional missions were cancelled.<ref name="Falklands"/> At the time, these missions held the record for the world's longest-distance raids.<ref name ='stbull84'/><ref>White 2006</ref> The Vulcans' ECM systems proved to be effective at jamming Argentine radars; while a Vulcan was within the theatre, other British aircraft in the vicinity had a reduced chance of coming under effective fire.<ref>Darling 2007, p. 118.</ref>

On 3 June 1982, Vulcan B.2 XM597 of No. 50 Squadron took part in the "Black Buck 6" mission against Argentinian radar sites at Stanley airfield on the Falkland Islands. While attempting to refuel for its return journey to Ascension Island, the probe broke, leaving the Vulcan with insufficient fuel, forcing a diversion to [[Galeão Air Force Base]], [[Rio de Janeiro]], in neutral [[Brazil]]. En route, secret papers were dumped along with the two remaining AGM-45 Shrike missiles, although one failed to launch. After a [[mayday]] call, the Vulcan, escorted by [[Brazilian Air Force]] [[Northrop F-5]] fighters, was permitted an emergency landing at Rio with very little fuel left on board.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wdM5wJlVhpcC&pg=PA119 Kev Darling, ''RAR Illustrated: Avro Vulcan Part 1''], Big Bird Publications 2007, {{ISBN|978-1-84799-237-6}} (p.119)</ref> The Vulcan and her crew were detained until the end of hostilities nine days later.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6gcWXswKueAC&pg=PA92 Chris Chant, ''Air War in the Falklands 1982''], Osprey Publishing Limited 2001, {{ISBN|1841762938}} (p.92)</ref>

===Reconnaissance===
In November 1973, as a result of the planned closure of the Victor SR.2 equipped [[No. 543 Squadron RAF|No. 543 Squadron]], No. 27 Squadron reformed at RAF Scampton equipped with the Vulcan as a replacement in the maritime radar reconnaissance role.<ref name="Jones V p158-9">Jones ''V-Bombers'' 2007, pp. 158–159.</ref>{{refn|The other two squadrons of the Scampton Wing, No. 35 and 617 Squadron, also had a secondary maritime reconnaissance role.<ref name="WoF p67">Jackson ''Wings of Fame'' 1996, p. 67.</ref>|group=N}} The squadron carried out patrols of the seas around the British Isles, including the strategically important [[GIUK gap]] between Iceland and the United Kingdom, flying at high level and using the Vulcan's H2S radar to monitor shipping. In peacetime, this could be followed up by visual identification and photography of targets of interest at low level. In the event of war, a Vulcan would leave visual identification of potential targets to [[Blackburn Buccaneer|Buccaneers]] or Canberras and could coordinate attacks by Buccaneers against hostile shipping.<ref name="WoF p67,78">Jackson ''Wings of Fame'' 1996, pp. 67, 78.</ref> Though initially equipped with a number of B.2 aircraft,<ref name='Bulman87'>Bulman 2001, p. 87.</ref> the Squadron eventually operated nine B.2 (MRR) aircraft (also known by the unofficial designation SR.2).<ref name="Brookes83"/><ref name="jones V p159"/> The aircraft were modified for the role by removing the TFR (and its thimble radome) and adding the [[LORAN]] C radio navigation aid. The main external visual difference was the presence of a gloss paint finish, with a light grey undersurface, to protect against sea spray.<ref name='Brookes83'/>

The squadron also inherited its secondary role of [[National technical means of verification#Materials intelligence and Air Sampling|air sampling]] from No. 543 Squadron.<ref name='Brookes83'/> This involved flying through plumes of airborne contamination and using onboard equipment to collect [[fallout]] released from both above ground and underground nuclear tests for later analysis at the [[Atomic Weapons Establishment|Atomic Weapons Research Establishment]] at Aldermaston.<ref name="brookes vic p70">Brookes 2011, p. 70.</ref> Five aircraft had small pylons fitted to the redundant Skybolt hardpoints, which could be used to carry sampling pods modified from [[drop tank]]s.{{refn|Some sources state that the pods were modified from [[de Havilland Sea Vixen]] drop tanks.<ref name='Brookes83'/> while others claim that they were based on [[Hawker Hunter]] tanks.<ref name="jones V p159"/>|group=N}} These pods would collect the needed samples on a filter, while an additional smaller "localiser" pod was fitted to the port wing, inboard of the main pylons.<ref name="WoF p67"/><ref name="jones V p159"/><ref name='Bulman90'>Bulman 2001, p. 90.</ref>

The squadron disbanded at Scampton in March 1982, passing on its radar reconnaissance duties to the RAF's [[Hawker Siddeley Nimrod|Nimrod]]s.<ref name="jones V p159">Jones ''V-Bombers'' 2007, p. 159.</ref>

===Aerial refuelling role{{anchor|Vulcan K.2}}===
After the end of the Falklands War in 1982, the Vulcan B.2 was due to be withdrawn from RAF service that year.<ref name="polmar261">Polmar and Bell 2004, p. 261.</ref> The Falklands campaign, however, had consumed much of the airframe fatigue life of the RAF's Victor tankers. While [[Vickers VC10]] tanker conversions had been ordered in 1979<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201186.html?tracked=1 "Defence."] ''Flight International'', 14 April 1979, p. 1136.</ref> and [[Lockheed TriStar (RAF)|Lockheed TriStar]] tankers would be ordered after the conflict,<ref name="Frawley Military">Frawley 2002, p. 44.</ref> as a stopgap measure six Vulcans were converted into single-point tankers. The Vulcan tanker conversion was accomplished by removing the jammers from the ECM bay in the tail of the aircraft and replacing them with a single hose drum unit.<ref name="braybrook 17" /> An additional cylindrical bomb-bay tank was fitted, giving a fuel capacity of almost {{convert|100000|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name="braybrook 17" /><ref name="VulcanAdventure244">Halpenny 2006, p. 244.</ref>

The go-ahead for converting the six aircraft was given on 4 May 1982.<ref name=VulcanAdventure243 >Halpenny 2006, p. 243.</ref> Just 50 days after being ordered, the first Vulcan tanker, ''XH561'', was delivered to [[RAF Waddington]].<ref name = 'braybrook 17'/><ref name="VulcanAdventure243"/> The Vulcan K.2s were operated by No. 50 Squadron, along with three Vulcan B.2s, in support of UK air defence activities until it was disbanded in March 1984.<ref>Darling 2007, p. 124.</ref>

===Vulcan Display Flight===
[[File:Red Arrows Farewell to Vulcan MOD 45159089.jpg|thumb|Vulcan B.2 in formation with the [[Red Arrows]], 2015]]
{{Main|Vulcan Display Flight}}
After the disbandment of No. 50 Squadron, two Vulcans continued flying with the RAF in air displays as part of the [[Vulcan Display Flight]], based at Waddington but administered through No. 55 Squadron, based at [[RAF Marham]]. Initially displaying using [[XL426]], in 1986 that aircraft was sold, having been replaced by [[XH558]], which began displays in 1985. The VDF continued with XH558 until 1992, finishing operations after the Ministry of Defence determined it was too costly to run in light of budget cuts. Both aircraft subsequently entered preservation and survived, although a third, XH560, kept in reserve in the first years, was later scrapped.

===Engine test beds===
* The first prototype VX770 had its Sapphire engines replaced with four {{convert|15000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} Rolls-Royce Conway RCo.7 turbofans in 1957. It was transferred to Rolls-Royce as the Conway test bed.<ref name="Vul" >Jackson 1990, pp. 409–411.</ref> It flew with the Conways, the first [[turbofan]]s in the world, until its [[#Accidents_and_incidents|fatal crash]] in September 1958.<ref name="Vul2" >Jackson 1990, p. 411.</ref>
* The first Vulcan B.1 XA889 was used for the flight clearances of the Olympus 102 and 104.<ref>Baxter 1989, p. 44.</ref>
* Vulcan B.1 XA891 was fitted with four Olympus 200 engines in the spring of 1958 for intensive flying trials. The aircraft [[#Accidents_and_incidents|crashed]] in July 1958 during a routine test flight.<ref>Baxter 1989, p. 50.</ref>
* Vulcan B.1 XA894 flew with five Olympus engines, the standard four Mk.101s, plus a reheated Olympus 320 destined for the BAC TSR-2 in an underslung nacelle. This aircraft was destroyed in a ground fire at Filton on 3 December 1962.<ref name="Vul2"/>
* Vulcan B.1 XA896 was withdrawn from RAF service in June 1964 and transferred to be converted to the test bed for the [[Bristol Siddeley BS100]] vectored thrust turbofan for the [[Hawker Siddeley P.1154]]. The P.1154 was cancelled in February 1965 and XA896 was scrapped before being converted.<ref name="brookes15">Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 15.</ref>
* Vulcan B.1 XA902 was withdrawn from RAF service after a landing accident in 1958. After rebuilding, it replaced VX770 as the Conway test bed, fitted with four RCo.11s. The two inner Conways were replaced with [[Rolls-Royce Spey]]s, flying for the first time in this configuration on 12 October 1961.<ref name="Vul2" />
* Vulcan B.1 XA903, surplus to Blue Steel trials, was converted to a similar layout to XA894 to flight test the Olympus 593 Concorde installation. The first flight was on 1 October 1966 and testing continued through to June 1971.<ref>Austin 2009, pp. 111–113.</ref> In April 1973, XA903 started flying with an underslung [[Rolls-Royce RB.199]] turbofan destined for the Panavia Tornado. XA903 was the last B.1 to fly, being retired in February 1979.<ref>Austin 2009, p. 113.</ref>
* Vulcan B.2 XH557 was used by BSEL for developing the Olympus 301 and first flew with the larger engine in May 1961. It was returned to [[Woodford Aerodrome|Woodford]] in 1964 to be refurbished for the RAF.<ref>Baxter 1989, pp. 60, 64.</ref>