Editing Avro Vulcan (section)

===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>