Avro Vulcan Near Disaster at Wellington Airshow

An Avro Vulcan B1 bomber came incredibly close to crashing at the Wellington Airport Airshow.
In October of 1959, 3 Avro Vulcan Nuclear Bombers were performing at the opening of the new Wellington International Airport in New Zealand. It was an exciting time for airshows, especially with all the new futuristic jet aircraft on display. However, all these aircraft throwing themselves around the sky may be exciting, but disaster is never very far away. Accidents are rare but at this airshow, disaster was narrowly averted not once….but three times in one day.
Disaster also was averted with a Short Sunderland Flying Boat whilst carrying out a low level flypast along the runway. At the end of the airshow, four de Havilland Vampire Jet Fighters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force display team came within feet of crashing during their display.
Thankfully, disasters at air shows are rare, especially in the modern days, but this air show showed just how easily things can go very wrong.
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[@geofflayton3898]

I was there! 12 year old boy with his plastic Kodak camera, sitting in a scaffolding stand where the terminal now is. I remember all the incidents vividly.

[@brucerideout9979]

That's cool! Dad was RCAF I was taken to countless aviation events as a child. I recall the Vulcan, Vampire, Voodoo, Sabre etc. Did not get to ever see the Sunderland although dad took me to mountain view Ontario to see a Liberator being Stripped of its armaments. I actually sat in the tail turret and pointed the .50 at dads Van. Sigggh 🥳

[@b2baction996]

That’s crazy

[@greghayes9118]

Wow, that would be experience of a life time. I can't think of anything like it that I have ever seen. Maybe the sound of an Airbus under full throttle, climbed and banked sharply over Coolangatta Airport terminal, in the middle of the school holidays was on approach to land while aircraft in front of it was still on the runway.

[@greghayes9118]

@@brucerideout9979 That's awesome. I remember building the model kit of a Short Sunderland when I was about 8. Loved it.

[@darrylkennedy2125]

I was there as well with my father and Grandfather. We were standing on the side about 600 feet from where the Vulcan hit the end of the runway, heard the undercarriage snap, and saw the Avgas start to pour out. If the wing had hit the ground it's likely I wouldn't be here. It passed us climbing less than 60 feet away with the undercarriage swinging. The pilot did a good job not crashing as there were hundreds around us. I'm still in the same house today as I was as a 5 year old and the airport is 400 yards away from my house. If you look from the southern end of the runway there's a marked dip in it. The Sunderland flew straight ok but the runway came up to meet it. When they landed at hobsonville they had to get it onto its cradle before it sank. Remember seeing that as well as the Vampires and the American voodoos with their afterburners on going vertical. Exciting day all in all. Still have the evening post newspaper of the day saved by my father. You can Google the Vulcan accident its on You tube. Thankyou for this video.👍👍

[@marklyable]

I was a 15yo and cycled from Palmerston North (90 miles north of Wellington) to Ohakea airbase (20 miles north of PN) where the Vulcan and other visiting aircraft were stationed while visiting NZ. Without knowing anything about what had happened in Wellington, I saw the Vulcan come in to land at Ohakea when still some distance away from the airbase. It stopped extraordinarily quickly, far too quickly for a normal landing, and I could not understand why - until I heard the next day that it had snapped a wheel strut when trying to do a touch-and-go in Wellington. Thanks for the video.

[@kiwi_comanche]

That Vulcan pilot saved a LOT of lives that day. Incredible skill!!!!

[@PowhiroMus]

I was there that day as a 5yr old with my dad, on the Western side of the airport. The highlight was the Vulcan hitting the perimeter fence and staggering away under full power trailing fuel/hydraulic fluid. We were very close, it was frightening and the fear was that it crash into Cook Strait but it soared away to Ohakea. Very memorable and impressive. At that time my father used regularly go to the Cook Islands on NZ Govt aid programme via those huge, very impressive Sunderland flying boats taking off from Evans Bay. I loved watching those things, great fun! Wellington is a great place for watching light planes fly nearly sideways across the wind, even the big jets often "crab" and only straighten up just before their wheels touch. I never felt comfortable with the hopping from one wheel to another until the pilot finally got it down.

[@johnmadden2421]

I regularly flew in and out of Wellington in the 80s. One of these early morning arrivals was the last flight in before the place was closed because of the weather. Bloody terrifying, aircraft flexing so much the overhead lockers were popping open. As we touched down near sideways I noticed a airport Land Rover chasing a rolling bouncing 44 gallon drum down the runway, trying to divert it away from landing aitcraft. Eventually it nudged it off to the side where it bounced off a parked car and disappeared.

[@darrylkennedy2125]

It hit the concrete end of the runway. Wheel touched down on the dirt about 3 meters before the runway. Dad, Grandad, and I went to look at where it'd hit. The end of the runway was about 2 feet thick so landing short was a no no.

[@lauriejackson8223]

I was an RNZAF navigator, posted to Bassingborne, an RAF base near Cambrige, UK. We had a visit from aircrew of 617 Sqdn several weeks before they left to go to this airshow. Wellington Airport had a reputation for wind and turbulence, and I personally warned the 617 guys to be very careful as the runway was very short. I arrived back in NZ in a B12 Canberra to see the Vulcan on the grass at Ohakea.

[@speedmachine69]

My old man, Wing Commander AA Smailes was pilot of the aircraft involved in the undershoot, not an incident he was ever particularly happy talking about but it's fair to say I owe my existence to his skills getting the thing in the ground. There's a few shots floating around online of the aircraft on the ground at Ohakea with braking parachute deployed and a very f&cked off looking dad in flight overalls stomping around the.wreck.....

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Oh wow. Thanks so much for leaving a message. He certainly did show amazing skills and courage that day in not only saving his life, his crew but also those in the crowd. He did a great job.

[@speedmachine69]

@@TheNorthernHistorian He cut his teeth in WW2 flying Hurricanes, Spits and later P51 Mustangs with 213 sqdn.

[@speedmachine69]

@@TheNorthernHistorian thanks for publishing the clip and keeping the history alive!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

You're very welcome. I'm ex RAF myself so love telling these old stories

[@yyxy.oncesaid]

That's awesome mate

[@diggernator]

As a Wellingtonian who thought he "knew" this story I can say this is exceptionally well put together and explained. I knew about the "failed" third pass but not the RNZAF's subsequent flirt with disaster or the Vulcan's calamitous return to Ohakea ..., I have shared it with other Wellingtonians ... thank you sincerely to The Northern Historian

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

You're very welcome.

[@grahamfisher5436]

I'm a "Newarker" 🤗🤗🤩🥰 SO got frontseats

[@VulcanBomber101]

To my mind there will NEVER be an aircraft as beautiful as our 'Tin Triangle' Vulcans. I loved my tour with them.

[@kesfitzgerald1084]

I could not think of a worse place to have an airshow.

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

Well known even today as windy Wellington.

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

Yet there was then plenty of room for a decently long airport at Paraparaumu only 56km from Wellington, and it was in use. There’s even rail infrastructure in close proximity. Currently Kapiti Coast Airport. Whereas Wellington airport is a constrained little hub when all the logistics are taken into account. Just why, when today we think nothing of travelling twice that distance to go shopping or to work? But it was probably a sound, but myopic decision then.

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

An excellent description of the air show. I was eight years old and watched it from the hills overlooking the airport on the eastern side. Thank you for a great video. All the best from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

@@TheNorthernHistorian yes, I enjoyed it very much. Your descriptions were as I remembered it.

[@olefaustrup2294]

S@@TheNorthernHistorian

[@richardlinter4111]

Me too, except I was five (and watching from the lounge window of our Marewa road home). A moment never forgotten.

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

@@richardlinter4111 I think you would have had a great view from there.

[@billradford2128]

'Those were the days!' Huge contrast to the slick management of air shows today but it was these early experiences that helped make the shows safer today. I was at Foxton Beach just south of Ohakea Air Base and saw the Vulcan fly low over us with the broken leg clearly dangling and my parents hoped that it would be OK. One of the repair crew sent out from the UK must have liked the life because he later returned to NZ as Superintendent of the newly built New Plymouth Power Station in the 70s.

[@pattate9636]

Great knowledge there Bill, those were the days indeed.... Can't imagine the RAF sending that many aircraft down to NZ to perform these days. You're very lucky to have witnessed the Vulcan.

[@mikecreagh6094]

I was there, aged twelve. I remember being amused by Sunderland error but shocked by the Vulcan incident. I didn’t think that it was going to end well. Earlier in the day there was the strange sight of an aircraft (I think it was an Auster) flying backwards over the airfield. Airspeed less than wind speed!

[@musoseven8218]

I was lucky enough to fly in an Auster. My father was on a test flight of a light GA type aircraft with Marshalls' (UK) test pilot. They took off from the numbers, the test pilot 'JBB' said "watch this". They went airborne and then landed back on the numbers again such was the windspeed straight down the runway. So it is possible 😉😄👍✌️

[@yyxy.oncesaid]

Haha,yeah good old Wellywood

[@beagle7622]

@@musoseven8218 I have been an Auster & we did it . I was flying with an instructor. There was a strong wind at 1000 ft so he stuck full flap out the nose up .I had the plywood door open referencing some power line .Quite impressive flying backwards. We went for about 40 seconds then just flew on but it was slow progress, the old Austers wasn’t exactly quick.

[@musoseven8218]

@@beagle7622 The first thing I noted was all the cables rattling around in the fuselage on the take off run, quite alarming, even for an uneducated, but aviation mad, teenager, like me😲😄😄😄👍✌️ happier times though 😊😊👍

[@boldtkent]

Yuuuttg

[@eltonblackley313]

My dad and I were there that day. Watched all three incidents unfold. It was certainly a day I wont forget. The skills of the flight crews certainly saved the day on all three occassions

[@steveperreira5850]

I have a different take as a pilot myself. Get rid of pilots, they are the biggest danger to safe flight, and we have computers, artificial intelligence, and automation, all of which is much better than the pilot. Let’s get rid of them. It should’ve happened decades ago, the technology was there, I know, I worked on these automated planes Designed in the 1950s (F106)…. Pilots are not needed …. They are, In fact, a hindrance.

[@matthewcuratolo3719]

Open the pod bay doors please Hal.

[@simonolsen9995]

Good on you. My Dad was there and saw it all happen at 29 years of age, I remember his recounts well. Now I've seen it for myself. Thanks.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@aapi1253]

amazing to see in my home town 20 years before i was born thanks for the broadcast

[@jdew7789]

Vulcan - just THE most awesome and iconic aircraft! Wonderful footage - thank you!

[@johnstirling6597]

New Zealander Les Munro was a pilot in 617 squadron on the dam buster raid in WW2.

[@devondetroit2529]

Cant beleive they have footage of all this, incredible

[@soppdrake]

Thoroughly gripping story! I was at the edge of my seat throughout.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@soppdrake]

I did indeed! You gave the impression of being there; both on the ground AND in the air 🙂 My dad witnessed the Farnborough crash in '52 and your film gave me a dread that must have brought in the crowds in those days.

[@allgood6760]

My dad was there.. thank you 👍🇳🇿

[@paulbrouyere1735]

Nice to see so many people in the reactions have direct links with this event, and keep on carrying in memory. Great video!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I agree.

[@davewood9888]

Thanks for an interesting video, however just a couple of small points of detail if I may. Re the American refuelling fly past formation, along with the F101 Voodoo you described this as including an F86 sabre which was incorrect, it was in fact a F100 super sabre on that left wingtip. At the rear was a US Air Force B-66 Destroyer which was a derivative of the US Navy’s carrier borne A-3 Skywarrior. And just prior to that, the footage of the landing and taxing in aircraft was labelled as the F27 Friendship but was actually the HP Dart Herald. Sorry don’t mean to be pedantic but though it worth mentioning. Thanks for taking the time and effort to post these videos.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I appreciate the corrections. The original commentary was very difficult to understand as it had that typical 1950s newsreel music over the top. I watched it over and over to decipher it but obviously didn't quite get it. Glad you enjoyed the video though.

[@davewood9888]

Yes definitely enjoyed the vid, great work from you and especially appreciated as I am a northern lad myself.

[@alaingadbois2276]

I would further point out the refueling aircraft is a KB-50J, not a KB-29.

[@thephantom2man]

Good vid, i love all the archive footage that 100% collaborates story too. Those photos of the vulcan with its collapsed gear, streaming fuel are absolutely fantastic!

[@brucestuart2892]

My best mates mum was at that air show in Wellington & remembers that Vulcan there landing then something happening before high tailing out of there. I’ve never seen this video until now & I never knew the Vulcans were based here. I’ll be showing this video to her, she’s 85 years old now. Thank you for a fantastic video. Greetings from NZ

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks Bruce. I think the Vulcans were on an overseas tour rather than being permanently based in NZ

[@brucestuart2892]

@@TheNorthernHistorian Thank you, I thought that afterwards, I wish I was a child then. My friends mum went with her father & sister on the Sunday as the weather was better. I spoke with her & her son this morning & they too stumbled across your video a couple of days ago. Bought back memories of a lovely family day out, that could’ve been horrific. Thanks again

[@brucegibbins3792]

I remember the opening of Wellington Airport at Rongotai well. I still have the programme that was delivered free to each household with the evening newspaper. During the reconstruction, the aerodrome at Paraparaumu was used, but being located around thirty miles north of the Capital and Rongotai, traveling to and from the city was a lengthy process.

[@Spaceseeker]

I live in Wellington - one of the most windy cities on earth - pilots have to be skilled to land here on windy days - its quite a sight. I can think of better places to have an air show!

[@babyblueeyes7177]

@@V8VORLICH of course you can. You can do anything,if you put your mind to it.

[@siyz250]

Fantastic video. I have a painting of the Vulcan in question captured just after the LH gear contact. Si, Christchurch, New Zealand.

[@edwardhugus2772]

Thank you for a wonderful video. I was 6YO at the time in the U.S. I had heard of this incident, but to actually see video of the show was amazing.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks very much.

[@AVMamfortas]

Most dramatic and well shown to us all. Thank you.

[@jjaus]

I was lucky enough to see the Vulcan at Farnborough in 2008. The wonderful noise!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

It's some noise isn't it!

[@petermontgomery8707]

I’d say nearer to awesome rather than wonderful.Definitely something hugely powerful with some slightly unearthly threat in it.

[@simonrawson9500]

I was there too, aged 9. I remember it being reported that it was not intended for the Vulcan to land originally, but the RAF wanted not to be outdone by the US. My understanding was that the runway was just no way long enough to land the Vulcan so every inch was critical. The aircraft was to touch down on the grass at the embankment end as I recall but got it all wrong when trying to cut it too fine. I remember seeing the divot in the embankment for ages after the event. As soon as the Vulcan had died off a RAF Comet took off with some senior officer on board wanting to get to other base before the Vulcan crash landed. The papers reported that the Vulcan pilot was instructed not to attempt the landing until the senior officer had touched down but the Vulcan nevertheless landed before the Coney arrived, I assume because of the fuel situation.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I would assume that the vulcan would take priority over everything else.

[@BrianMorrison]

It's interesting that a newly built 'international' airport didn't have runways long enough for a comfortable Vulcan landing run.

[@darrylkennedy2125]

@@BrianMorrison only propeller airliners in those days not jets. The comet had no trouble landing and taking off but in those days the old NAC didn't have the money for those. Also there wasn't enough room for a longer runway and it's still the same today only now the Airport company wants to extend it but wants the Wellington city ratepayers to pay for it hence no action.

[@ryanm.191]

the copilot who logged the touch and go in the flying boats got a pretty good sense of humour

[@bigdmac33]

Aaah, those were the days! Excellent presentation.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardbrown1189]

Fascinating bit of history. Both of my parents were serving in the RNZAF at Ohakea in 1958 so the Vulcans would have been a familiar sight.

[@andrewrobinson5837]

In regard to the three crew baling out, the issue wasn't the damaged leg, but the nose leg being in the way. The undercarriage couldn't be retracted due to the damage, and the crew escape hatch is immediately in front of it. Thank you for such a brilliant presentation!!!!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Very good point. I was using testimony from the navigator who spoke of the damaged main leg, but you're right, the nose leg would have been a serious problem

[@jamesurbanik5913]

OP lo jo jo

[@neilfoster814]

In such situations, the rear crew were briefed to grab either the left or right hydraulic ram on the exit hatch as they slid down, doing that 'in theory' was supposed to swing the exiting crew member around the nose wheel leg

[@sixstringedthing]

@@neilfoster814 After you Sir.

[@margarita8442]

My father was the pilot of the vulcan - I was only 8 but I saw it !!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Oh wow! I bet he told you some interesting stories.

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Then you are about the same age as me. My father was a builder who used to fly around the country to meetings and things. To have a father who actually flew Vulcan bombers, well, that’s something else…wow! I lived near Wellington Airport and a lot of boys at my school had fathers who flew in ww2, one boy actually had his ppl before he had a drivers license

[@davidcook2750]

Great report I was there aged 8. I have a photo somewhere and remember Vulcan problem.

[@DucatiMTS1200]

What a super video - thanks for taking the time and effort to create. What a great atmosphere ... it feels like one is there in real time on the day! Well done.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@spadgm]

This the best coverage I have ever seen of this incident. My Father was there and will never forget it!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks very much.

[@steveflaun]

Its a rehash of an original video posted that time by a New Zealander kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIWxXqtoZrxlobM

[@spadgm]

@@steveflaun Thanks for this vid, I will watch it soon!

[@adamskinner5868]

I've lived in Wellington since 71 when my family moved from Auckland after immigrating to NZ. I knew a Vulcan had a minor accident at Wellington and was amazed that any of the V bombers had even been to NZ. I've always had an interest in military aircraft, ships etc but until the internet made everything so much more accessible getting information and seeing stuff was a great deal harder being on a (beautiful) little island at the bottom of the world. It was a real treat seeing this film of Wellington in the 50s and all the great aircraft. I remember my Dad taking me to see a flying-boat land but I didn't know they were run by the RNZAF or that they had Vampires, I'm really pleased to learn that, I don't know why but I'm still wearing the silly grin I got when I saw them. Thanks for this, it's only the 2nd vid I've watched from your channel but they have both been excellent. I'll be sharing this around to others who I know will find it interesting too, thanks again.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks Adam. I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.

[@cloudmansteve]

@@TheNorthernHistorian Thanks for this. Very Interesting. I remember being in Christchurch in early 1973, having emigrated in 1972. prior to that I had lived very close to RAF Finningley in Yorkshire and knew the Vulcan howl well. Imagine my surprise, on cycling home from work for my lunch, to hear that howl as a Vulcan at about 1500 feet powered down Pages road towards the ocean at New Brighton! It did it twice. No idea what it was doing in NZ, but its a memory I retain some 50 years later.

[@darrensmith6999]

Great Video Thank you. Saw a Vulcan in the air in 1992 at RAF St Athen air show God what a sight and sound i will never forget it!!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it. I was fortunate to see one when I was working at RAF Leuchars in the 90s. Such a sight and sound.

[@darrensmith6999]

@@TheNorthernHistorian Yes you could feel it in your chest Haha

[@thamesking]

Excellent video and commentary. Just one correction at 4:10-4:26 it's a Handley Page Herald taxying in, not a Fokker F27 Friendship as labelled. The commentary mentions both, but the Herald is easily recognised by its dihedral wings and square tail fin. My dad was a pilot and flew them in the 1960s with an airline at Luton Airport. It was the first plane I ever flew on when my dad took one from Luton to the Biggin Hill Air show as a static exhibit in 1967. Incidentally he also flew F27s later in his career.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks for the correction.

[@richardthornton3775]

Another brilliant video. Thanks mate👍

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidh2608]

Brilliant and informative video, I was glued to it from start to finish! Subscribed so I can watch them all!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Awesome, thank you!

[@grantlassing7055]

I remember my father in law telling me he was drenched in the fuel from the Vulcan

[@lochlainnmacneill2870]

617 Squadron were the 'Dambusters' from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. I spent a week there with 1089 Squadron Air Training Corps in 1963 on our annual camp.

[@jpoleandsons]

What a fabulous story and vid to come across. Lovely and interesting. I’ve subscribed. Tremendous

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you very much

[@raybame5816]

Good show. I love YT channels and yours is very well done with interesting subject matter. Thanks.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Much appreciated!

[@darrylkennedy2125]

Remember that day we'll. Was there with my father and Grandfather on the western side about 600 yards from the end of the runway that it hit. Remember the noise as it accelerated away, the undercarriage swinging, and the smell of the fuel. If the wing had dug in I probably wouldn't be here along with hundreds of other people. Remember the Sunderland scrape the runway as well. Most of all it was the sight of all the marvelous aircraft there that day most of which we never saw again like the Blackburn Beverly and the voodoos. Great video. 👍

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks for watching it. I'm sure your first hand experience was quite different.

[@paullacey2999]

Superb video.Fascinating!

[@twofacedmctwoface4876]

A wonderful video... thank you for a very well put together video and narration.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gh8447]

"A steep vertical dive...". Yep, you don't get much steeper than vertical.

[@livetillyoudielovelife2299]

The Vulkan was fitted with a system that let the engines spool up very fast, this and a bloody good pilot saved the day

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

You're right. It had a 'rapid start' for emergency scrambling in the event of a soviet attack.

[@awuma]

Excellent re-edit of an old film. I still have the "Weekly News" glossy paper photos of this air show. At the time, NAC was deciding between the Fokker F27 and the Handley Page Dart Herald... they chose the Friendship. Although I wasn't at the show, three years earlier I had watched from the Lyall Bay hills the NAC Herons flying in and out of Rongotai. There is a dreadful litany of air show disasters, well described in "British Military Aircraft Accidents: The Last 25 Years", by David OIiver (1990). I had borrowed this book from the library and was halfway through reading it on Labour Weekend 1995, while living on my boat at Ontario Place Marina in Toronto. The annual Air Show was in progress, and I was sitting on the deck watching an RAF Nimrod fly out over the lake and begin turning to come back for its wingover move, when to everybody's horror it dipped down and crashed in a huge hemispherical plume of water. The reek of jet fuel and bits of yellow styrofoam in the water persisted for hours. Seven airmen died that day. The cause was simply flying too slowly and stalling in a low sharp turn.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

The Nimrod accident was truly awful.

[@haroldland4620]

Great work thanks ! I was aware of the Vulcan snafu but not the Vampires...heck that was close

[@JDam6014]

Thanks Dec - very informative

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

My pleasure

[@musoseven8218]

Cracking mini docu - thank you. Health and Safety would be beside themselves if those circumstances were to occur in the 21st century😄😄👍 Lucky no one was hurt✌️👍

[@Gruntol5]

Fantastic video - thanks!

[@WightonIT]

The weather was missing, nope that is the weather in Wellington :) Great video and lots of history about an airport I regularly used.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks very much.

[@geoffwilliams2454]

I have vivid memories as a young 7year old going to the opening of Rongotai with my father who was ex RNZAF and worked for Civil Aviation, we lived in Calabar rd, so we walked across the Rd from home, I was so fascinated with aircraft, but never really understood the serious of the situation, I just love all the planes, I watch from our gate when the bulldozers and euclid's were building the runway and have photos in the family albums of all the construction work.

[@freddy7700]

Great video. Thanx for uploading.

[@jackpickford6439]

I remember it well, I was seated in the Grandstand (I must had been cheeky because I didn't have a ticket). It was so very close to being a terrible disaster, but the pilot did a great job gave the plane full power. One could see that the starboard undercarriage was at a 30 degree angle with the fuel pouring out.

[@Grahamgusbull]

Wow,superb pictures and commentary..Airshows were the business in those days.. I was at Speke when Blondin hit a local cabbage patch!

[@Grahamgusbull]

Just read in my Vulcan book,it was repaired at Ohakea and flown out seven months later,resuming service with 617.

[@SgtWayneNilesLSA]

My parents were there that day. They never forgot it.

[@matthewwain9958]

My old man helped design the nose on the concord, but the Vulcan is my favorite aircraft. Awesome video. Thanks for putting it together.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you liked it.

[@mrhilma]

Amazing story, well presented

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@grantrobertson4267]

Yes also there in front of the Airforce hanger on the western side of the runway, my pilot father telling me we had a narrow escape

[@deanmoncaster]

I once got deafened by one of these while I had metal detecting headphones on.

[@SimonWallwork]

Nice video. Not to nitpick, but that formation was a KB-50, an F-101 and an F-100 Super Sabre- a different type, despite a similar name, to the F-86 Sabre.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I was going off the original commentary but have received many corrections since. I'm glad you enjoyed the video, Thanks.

[@peterwilliams9348]

I was 14 and loved every moment. It was a chance for the English to show their passenger aircraft against the Fokker…..who won the day and soon NZ had a whole fleet.

[@bremnersghost948]

Imagine the Vulcan and Victor with Modern Avionics, Engines and Stealth Coats!!

[@mikey9999]

Thanks for posting this. Ex RNZAF Avionics.

[@lucabragaglia183]

Really impressive!congrats for excellent video and channel!keep on

[@billramsey2564]

The Vulcan front cockpit shown at around minute 12 is in fact a modified B2 (XH558) photographed at RNAS Yeovilton c2014.

[@Tuhoeterra]

never thought i'd see a video about my neck of the woods on your channel and great job might i add.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you liked it.

[@tysoncott7402]

wow! super cool video, thank you for making & sharing

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@johncunningham4820]

The V bombers all , were gorgeous Aircraft . But the Vulcan was just something Special . Most Advanced Heavy Bomber of its Time , by a Mile . 8 of them , in exercise , managed to " Nuke " the Mainland U S A . Twice . Look it up . That was Classified information for a LONG time . Excellent Production @The Northern Historian .

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I agree with you about the Vulcan. Awesome aircraft. Thanks very much.

[@kiwidiesel]

Lets not forget that absolutely spine chilling Howl that only the Vulcan can amaze us with, One of those few sounds in life that you could never tire of hearing, Like an inline V12 or a Radial.

[@davidelliott5843]

Vulcan XH558 flew airshows during its final years of flight. The pilot ran by slowly with the underside facing the audience the sewing machine sound of the engines was utterly amazing then he opened the taps and went near vertical. You could hear the crowd going "WOW" until the four Olympus engines drowned us out. Something built to deliver the nastiest weapons ever made was utterly beautiful to behold.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Hi John---did you go to Uplands Road school ?

[@daviddunsmore103]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sky_Shield

[@RobBCactive]

If you witnessed a Vulcan scramble you don't forget it, it actually caused ribs to vibrate

[@routmaster38]

Around 1952 me and my mates used to cycle down Bridle lane close to Woodford Avroes main runway to watch Vulcans and 707,s take off and land.The first proto types had strait leading edges to the wing then.In 1954 I joined the work force as an apprentice.

[@awuma]

Before Americans accuse you of anachronism, let's remember that the Avro 707 was a one-third scale experimental test aircraft for the Vulcan design 🙂

[@ziggurat-builder8755]

Thank you, that was a gripping narrative!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiwidiesel]

Only the legendary Vulcan could stumble like that on landing and howl its way back into the sky without flinching. was always gonna hurt at Ohakea tho.

[@ovepayne]

Brilliant documentary of an era long gone! I sure miss the opportunity to see the "Great aluminum overcast" and it´s "howl" live. I have only seen the Vulcan on display in museums in the UK which is of course very impressing and even had the pleasure of visiting the cramped cockpit!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MoatenGat]

Thanks! Another great video.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you very much Sean, greatly appreciated!

[@swingmanic]

It would appear that a repair team was sent from the UK to return the Vulcan to airworthiness and it left NZ on the 4th of January 1960, and remained in service until 19th October 1967.

[@ujijin3099]

FOD after the Sunderland scrape!!! 💥 Excellent, thank you. Aloha from HNL!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Aloha! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@suestreet9934]

I’d heard about this but never seen footage. My father always pretended to be disappointed that I didn’t remember it - Don’t you remember the Vulcan hitting the runway? I was 3 months old dad

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I think at 3 months old you probably had other priorities haha.

[@paulbrouyere1735]

I remember the landing on the moon when I was about 1 year old. But I only realized it when I was much older. All my family were jumping around like crazy, they got me out of my bed and the only thing I really saw was a lot of snow on an old television screen. But I wasn’t 3 months old.

[@lorditsprobingtime6668]

I so wish so many great old aircraft like the Vampires, and those awesome Flying boats I used to watch takeoff and land at Rose Bay in Sydney when I was young were magnificent and I'd especially LOVE to see Vulcans still flying around. Even the now old F111s were an amazing aircraft and they were pretty versatile, fast and it seems to me that apart from modern stealth design they should still be in production, at least keep all ones that aren't wrecked serviceable and keep making the spares they need if nothing else. To me at least, they seem a very fast and capable aircraft but for night time exhibitions, seeing one of them do a dump and burn fly by is a sight you'll never forget.

[@craiggilchrist4223]

Nice to hear Declan Donnelly indulging himself in his aviation hobby.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I have to keep myself busy somehow when not in the jungle haha

[@DafyddPhillips]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks you

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tahustvedt]

Consider that the Blackburn Beverley and the C-130 Hercules were developed at the same time. What a difference.

[@stevecommons3822]

1963 Living in married quarters at RAF Coningsby, my friends an I would sit on a low grassy bank (now fenced off) at Google Maps GPS 53.089084, -0.187255 and watch the Vulcans come in. Particularly impressive at night with these great howling beasts, landing lights blazing, coming SO low over our heads. On reflection, I'm surprised the RAF Police didn't turn up to shoo us away. Incidentally, I learned to drive on that runway on a couple of Sunday mornings.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Sadly, the vulcan had retired before I served. I'd have loved to see it as a regular visitor to Leuchars and Leeming where I spent my time.

[@DiabloOutdoors]

I liked the video and subscribed.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Cheers

[@billhanna8838]

I was sprayed with Kero from the Falcon , I remember getting home & mum was upset at the smell in all my cloths - I loved it , 50 feet from the incident , The best was the Vampires hell it was close , I honestly thought he was going to crash & the huge (In those days) Sunderland scraping the deck = What a day out for a 12 year old , Couldnt wait to go to school the next day ?

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Exciting day out for a 12 year old!

[@gerardkavanagh144]

Vulcan; wow what a design nightmare. Ask any former crewmembers who were located in the rear compartment; their only exit in an emergency was out a hatch directly in front of the engine intakes (good luck with that).

[@hondacxrider]

the escape hatch was by the front undercarriage leg, if the undercarriage was down you couldn't get out.

[@waynepettett2551]

I was there in a highchair perched on our shed roof just 2 years old and I can remember it well. 15 Years later I was in the RNZAF posted to Ohakea Avionics bay I think it was and a photo of the crashed Vulcan was on the wall!!

[@prudencepineapple9448]

In fairness, Wellington is an extremely windy city most of the year.

[@cvsdigital]

Excellent, descriptive, video with some great archive footage. I wonder how you are converting old 4:3 aspect ratio footage into 16:9 with such clarity!?

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks very much. I just expand it to fill the 16:9 ratio in my editor. I lose a bit top and bottom but I feel it looks better than 4:3

[@markwallis7199]

It's nice to hear someone who talks like what I do :-)

[@mikeburch6057]

I too was there, aged 15, My mother had been one of the earliest women pilots at Wellington's old Rongotai aerodrome in the 1930s, and was keen to take me to see the formal opening of the huge upgrade of the place as a proper airport. We both got sprayed with kerosene as the Vulcan roared away from its inadvertent ground contact. Had that wingtip touched the runway the plane would have ground-looped straight into us in the crowd, so I could well owe my life to Wing Commander Smailes' quick reactions. I seem to remember reading that that particular aircraft eventually crashed fatally on a night landing when back in England, because the pilot mistook the light colour of an adjacent crop field for the runway.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

It certainly was a narrow escape for those on the ground as well as on board.

[@darrylkennedy2125]

Was on the same side as you. Remember the smell of the fuel and my dad putting his hands over my ears as it roared off. Yes we were lucky that wing didn't dig in alright otherwise I probably wouldn't be here as well.

[@jackjones7504]

At 4.34 it is a F100 Super Sabre in the film and not as stated a F86 Sabre .