The Last Flight of the Victor

watch.planestv...
This is an excerpt from our 'Salute the Victor' programme which is available at the link above.
The video shows the last flight of a Victor - the delivery of Handley Page Victor XH672 to Shawbury on 30th November 1993 for preservation at Cosford Air Museum. The full program also includes the delivery flights of the 2 other preserved Victors to new owners in 1993: XL231, Lusty Lindy, to Elvington and XM715, Teasin' Tina, to Bruntingthorpe.

[@craigallam343]

My father, who died 2 years ago at the age of 92, was the Chief Test Pilot at Handley Page for the "Victor Programme" - I spent many a Saturday sat in the air field's Fire Engine at Radlett watching him come and go - still so vivid. The RAF (he was formerly an RAF Officer) were very generous - they gave him the last seat on this last flight in recognition of his service - he is first out in the video! He had flown every single one produced - we have the log books to prove it! He wept at their being made into saucepans. And thank you Geoff (me too) and so many other below.

[@herseem]

Thanks for sharing that, and perhaps there are additional stories that you feel it might be worth recording while you can remember them. It's important that this history is not lost

[@craigallam343]

@@herseem this is very kind Mike: before his death my father made a recording documenting his life in aviation for the Imperial War Museum: he speaks about the Victor at length and includes much else...they have just removed the Victor Gate Guardian from RAF Marham sadly. They do, however, have a museum there and the Victor features with words and pictures of Dad which is lovely. We intend to donate all of his Victor log books (he flew every single one built), flying suits etc to them so, as you say, they are not "lost". Thank you, Mike for your words.8

[@joebcfcable]

Nice bit of history

[@craigallam343]

@@joebcfcable Thank you Joe, we remain immensely proud

[@swim2kill]

Very very cool. You must be a very proud son

[@MrDaiseymay]

In MY opinion--this is THE most dramatic and fantastic looking aircraft ever built--it not only looks like something that belongs in the depths of the sea, it also looks fit for purpose--the bringer of mass destruction---

[@Scoobydcs]

if batman had a bomber

[@woooster17]

Well..at 3:22, the Bomber did indeed have a Batman! ;-)

[@tracypanavia4634]

waynester71 omg dat joke xD

[@Yvestrum]

waynester71 got me in tears, dude....:D

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

Yeah I remember when these were at RAF Marham, just across the fields from here.....

[@IDontWantAHandle101]

Great creation. Designed by talented engineers using slide rules and drawing boards. Great that the museum guy has a 100 year view. These machines will amaze people for years to come.

[@JerjerB]

This plane haunts my dreams... And I ❤ it!

[@robertknowles2487]

One of the most beautiful aircraft ever built and flown.

[@1chelmert]

I remember towing one of these out of the hangar at RAF Cottesmore in 1959. I was terrified I was going to catch a wing on the door but "Chiefy" made sure I was very careful.

[@tomwestwood5318]

Peter Condon I'd love to fly this or the Vulcan but sadly I can't but they are very good planes

[@Willysmb44]

It's amazing how it looks like something from a sci-fi movie, even now. The Brits sure how to make amazing looking (and performing) airplanes! I saw one of these sitting on the ground at an airshow in the US back in the early 1980s. I wish I could have seen it in the air when it left to re-cross the pond.

[@britsh_weather_has_bipolar8199]

The look of the thing - sooo Cold War, everybody seems to love the Vulcan but its the Victor that does it for me!

[@michaelwarner4323]

Both for me. Vulcan and Victor

[@Orokin31]

I love the Vulcan for the noise, and the Victor for the style.

[@ozzy8286]

A throwback to the days when the RAF still had interesting aircraft!

[@neilbolger2679]

Such a beautiful beast. I've always loved these and the Vulcan too. Gracious aircraft

[@TheIceni]

As is so often the case I did not know just how privileged I was to take a flight in the "sixth seat" of one of these wonderful aircraft with 55 squadron at RAF Marham when I was about 15 as a cadet in 1018 Sqn ATC. Must have been in 1967. We refuelled either Phantoms or Buccaneers over the Hebrides. I was too much in awe of the whole military set up and was almost speechless from nerves the whole day but what a day!. (I did go on to join our University Air Squadron but never did join the RAF proper.)

[@garyschermer5463]

Great story. I was born in 1967.

[@fredfarnackle5455]

What a machine! I had the privilege of seeing all three VEE bombers in the air together. I was on the beach at Southsea (Portsmouth) Hampshire UK when I heard a god-awful roar in the sky. I looked up to see the Victor, Vulcan and Valiant - line abreast, coming right overhead, heading in the direction of the Isle of Wight. I don't know how high they were but it was very low - maybe 500 feet? Probably late 50's I think. What a sight and sound it was!

[@davidwedlock2622]

I remember when I was a kid of about 7 years old riding my bike (with no gears) with a friend from home in Harrow to the Hanley Page factory at Radlett, just to see new Victor's parked up. About 30 plus miles round trip, but worth it.....

[@pilotgeoff]

The Victor was another fantastic British design aircraft. The others should Not be scrapped, they should go to other museums so our children can see what used we to build in this country.

[@MattVinesh]

An Aircraft which still looks awesome in 2014 ! Immense sense of presence and power ! Shame it is no more .

[@misteryummyearth1055]

December 2022 to be precise, merry christmas

[@camillaprothero4402]

My Dad loved every second in accidental flight - it was second nature to him to take her back down safely. ❤

[@donweimer9264]

Beautiful old girl! I wish the National Museum of the United States Air Force Museum could have gotten hold of a Victor and a Vulcan. We Yanks appreciate beauty in flight too. Those of us who love all things aviation will miss them.

[@larrycooper9487]

Doesn't belong in that museum at all. Besides, this is/was a horrible aircraft. Poor range, poor offload capability, poor performance all around. Basically a flying bucket of bolts.

[@ProjectUnsoundDineen]

+Larry Cooper are you hi lool you must know nothing about planes if you mean that

[@larrycooper9487]

Project Halo wars I suppose you're right. That is if you disregard my degree in Aerospace Engineering, my stints as an aerospace and electrical engineer, my conversations with Tex Johnston on the subject, my years piloting the NKC/EC/KC-135 and instructing and flight test in the EC-18/B-707. I suppose that is not enough to qualify me to make an informed comment on an air refueling platform.

[@richkingb01]

+Don Weimer As far as i know there are three vulcans still on display in the states if it helps. XM573 - Strategic air and space museum, ashland, nebraska XM605 - Castle AFB museum, atwater, california. XM606 - 8th air force museum, barksdale AFB, louisiana.

[@donweimer9264]

+Larry Cooper First of all, impressive resume and thank you for your service. But wasn't the Victor designed as a bomber? It was converted to the tanker role. l wonder how well the B 52 would perform if converted to a tanker? Wasn't the kc135 built on the 707 airliner airframe which Boeing redesigned and built from the ground up as tankers? I don't believe Boeing converted airliners to tankers. This airframe also carries the AWACS mission. For what it's worth, the 707 platform has been wonderful in every role it played. That they are still in use speaks volumes about the design. As for the short range of the Victor, the Soviet Union is not that far from England and the RAF pilots probably knew their nuclear mission was going to be one way. I believe it's a damned good thing they didn't have to find out!

[@johnbenton4488]

They may be old, they may be obsolete, but the V bombers were bloody magnificent. We lost more than a few kites when these machines were grounded or sold off for scrap, and largely forgotten.The same could be said for so many other iconic aircraft!

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

+John Benton It's extremely sad how the British aircraft industry were treated in the end. Britain produced many iconic as well as innovative and all very good flying aircraft in the day. Of course the same can be said of the car and motorcycle industries there too. Seems almost like a government conspired to take these industries away, with all the jobs and market share..

[@Myrmecia]

+Oldbmwr100rs Vickers produced the Valiant, Avro the Vulcan and Handley-Page the Victor. Our aircraft industry was fully up to the Cold War threats. The industry had leaders, designers, engineers, maintenance staff - and programmes to train more of each. Now we are sucked into buying the F-35 pig-in-a-poke. And we probably couldn't produce a matching aircraft. All we have is betting shops, nail parlours, tattoo & piercing artists, 24-hour booze and world class obesity.

[@johnbenton4488]

But faced with politicians, it folded, like virtually all our industry.

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

+Myrmecia Ha! Everything you say is the same here in the states! To think the same company that at one time designed the SR-71 without using computers and built it under budget and in time is now lost making the F-35 fiasco. Britain had a magnificent domestic aircraft industry, all destroyed by the Labor government, Canada had the same thing happen to them as well. As far as aircraft being too old, look at our B-52, still flying and projected to be doing so for another 20 or more years. Our A-10 is a product of the early 70's and the F-16 is slightly later, both are still flying, the A-10 finally doing what it was designed for.

[@johnbenton4488]

Which bit do you assemble from imported bits to make another bigger bit? Where I live we had nothing but factories. Now we have everything but factories. Go figure!

[@chorleycake7942]

Still looks incredible, like something out of Flash Gordon. Love it.

[@knightfox1461]

What a frankenstein. Unique and intimidating. In other words a perfect military plane

[@davidbirt8486]

A beautiful aircraft, my favorite V bomber. Always reminds me of a powerful shark, while the Vulcan is a giant manta ray.

[@socratease1432]

The Victor, earthquakingly superb on take-off! ,

[@jlmr473]

What a sad thing letting her down, and the moment you shut down the engines.... knowing they won´t roar again..... sad! Thanks for the video ☻

[@williamwintemberg]

I don't believe I have ever laid my eyes on an aircraft as beautiful as this. Not even close!

[@simonlunt353]

Love the Victor wish they were one still flying with the Vulcan 😢both giving us so much pleasure 😊

[@morriganravenchild6613]

We used to be able to build magnificent aircraft like this. The look of this plane always for me sums up perfectly what the the Cold War was about and the role it may have played in the "end of all days". So sad to see it go but thank God for all of us that they retired without ever having to take that last one way mission.

[@limitedmark]

The most fantastic looking aircraft ever...stunning!

[@Tinsby]

A very unusual looking aircraft, I have always thought they have sort of a "Jules Verne" look about them. Futuristic and other worldly. I have to assume the air-frame was cut to transport it to it's final resting place. Once that's done there's no way to repair the damage. A nice addition to the museum to say the least, but sad in the sense it wouldn't be able to fly again.

[@blueucloud5431]

Tinsby couldn't have said it better myself

[@Tinsby]

Thanks! I was fortunate to see one years ago at an airshow in Harrisburg, Pa. It was on static display as I remember, along with a fighter plane from a RAF squadron that had Roman Numerals on the tail, not English numbers. We were told that it was the only squadron that was using that numbering scheme. Sorry I don't recall which one it was, I'd love to know and I forget why they used them! They flew back to the UK in darkness so I never got to see the Victor fly. I have photos of it, yes. Lord knows where they are needless to say they are pre-digital!

[@jimviv6030]

This plane has always given me goosepimples. Just love it.

[@ElizabethSylvesterGray]

What a beauty and such a shame she will be broken up. We should keep her on display at Waddington or Cosford.

[@Bruce-1956]

She has not been broken up. If you listen he said that she would be transfered by road to the RAF museum as the runway there is not long enough.

[@NigelFortune]

Great video. I saw the Vulcan last week for the last time before she retires, very emotional. I wish they could keep these old girls flying, such a shame :'-(

[@thomas2279]

+Nigel Fortune This Victor reminds me of the plane they used on Flash Gordon

[@GBLynden]

It sucks when great planes like this are scrapped or taken out of the air to sit in Museum somewhere.

[@deathtrooper199]

It's better to be placed in the museum to let future generations watch and inspired rather than having to be scrapped, dumped and let it rust

[@ianfrost5551]

GBLynden's RC P

[@mikemill7115]

Quite a few B-52s still in service. It's too bad the RAF didn't buy B-52s back in the 50s instead of building 3 types of V bombers. The B-52 could carry twice the payload as any of the V bombers, twice the range.

[@mikemill7115]

Victors were being scrapped back in the 70s at RAF St Athan when I was there. Too many V bombers were built and the role of air to air refueling was not ideal for a bomber.

[@mikemill7115]

"paperwork" ?? there is no role for the Victor, built in an age when bombers were thought to be the only detterent, ICBMs made them redundant. The air to air role was not ideal for the Victor. The RAF should have used converted 707s in that role, they had a greater range, could carry more fuel and they could carry ground crew.

[@francishumphreys9664]

How true! In a previous comment I said it was the most handsome of the three, many people might not have seen it in flight before but I think after seeing this, they will probably agree. Thank you.

[@terrencebuck9647]

Saw one of them about ten years ago in an airshow at Seattle Wa. It was owned by the Canadian airforce and they were still flying it.

[@johnevans388]

I don't think so! There are only five Victors surviving, none are airworthy and they're all in the UK.

[@Tomteeejay]

The Victor was never exported. Only every operated by the UK (Royal Air Force).

[@dre9813]

I've just come back from the Duxford museum, saw this plane. It's a truly a marster peace.

[@frederikclaessen3184]

This is in my opinion the most beautiful airplane ever made....❤

[@megorra]

The most beautiful plane I think I've ever seen. There is one at Elvington, near York, and I've been close enough to touch the old girl. A great plane made proudly by our once great nation and a sad casualty to the end of our glorious history. Damn I wish I could see it fly :(

[@worldbestpilot]

It's so sad, that these beauties won't be visible in the skies anymore !

[@yahatinda]

B-52 came out in 1952 same era as Victor I think. B-47 around 1947.The Harrier was very unique and perfect for Marines use lots were built here in a number of variants. Canberras were again unique but I only saw one flying.

[@SixAppealWheelGroup]

Still a head Turner in 2022..so futuristic and beautiful. 😢

[@JH-nf4xd]

The British REALLY knew how to build some sexy bombers.

[@LoganC1988]

J H Are you crazy? That thing is hideous haha

[@keithburston6578]

You can't have sex with a bomber.maybe a Handley Palm

[@JamesCook777]

Ужасно не красивый самолет...

[@JamesCook777]

@Big Cake I have the same opinion)))

[@JamesCook777]

@Big Cake JH is blind, i think

[@pntikoo123]

wow,what a great looks this plane have. All praise to its crew and designers.

[@agedflier9129]

What a crying shame to loose a big part of our history...We{UK) save historic homes..Why not shave historic planes.

[@Streaky100001]

agedflier Not quite that easy, sadly most of these aircraft are nearing the end of their airframes lifespan, meaning that regardless of what we do those aircraft's flying days are over.

[@johnatkinson6759]

Streaky100001 As Ray Hansen said..The B-52 was built around the same time and it's still flying. I agree in general what you are saying but isn't there a term called "preventative maintenance"?? I'm sure there are pattern molds stashed away somewhere and can be remanufactured.

[@Streaky100001]

John Atkinson Yeah, there is preventative maintance, and this can extend the airframes life but even so fatigue builds up and sooner or later you have to retire the airctaft, I'm sure the same B-52s haven't been flying all this time, many have likely been retired and replaced. And yes, I'm sure if you dug around you'd likely find pattern molds, but we don't have the industrial infrastructure for it anymore.

[@yahatinda]

+agedflier Scrapping is a horror surely at least one nice example can be kept indoors in good flying condition.?

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

+Ray Hansen I wish they could have brought a few to the states for our air museums. The Hanford California air force museum at least has a Vulcan on display, a Victor would fit in with their bomber oriented museum.

[@tonyclark1838]

Seen this incredible plane in it’s forever home still has the maid Marion painting but now white absolutely iconic aircraft

[@pmolqrcd3370]

You wouldn't knock down a historical castle for stones to build a pavement; so why do they scrap old planes to be made into cans?

[@untrust2033]

Or even worse flown up in the sky and shot down

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

PMOL QRCD that’s literally what happened to every castle on the planet, once they were deemed obsolete and stopped being used people used the stone to build their houses. Who is supposed to pay for all these obsolete aircraft to be preserved?

[@realMaverickBuckley]

@@Jabber-ig3iw Charity. If it cant be funded then fair enough but they don't even give us the choice most of the time. Im pretty sure we've not used castles to build houses. In the UK anyway.

[@stu-ui3rf]

Next to the Vulcan, still the most lethal looking plane in existance, love the v bomers, especially the Victor.

[@LUPUS1970]

Tragic why we can't have flying examples of these amazing aircraft !

[@FreemanFromSteppe]

so cosmic design. Looks like a CG animation from the Avatar movie.

[@andrewbaker7854]

First flight in 1952 ! Development started around 1947 Replaced the Avro Lancaster, what a leap. in technology.

[@mariomammos]

my favorite bomber ! looks really wonderful

[@jackthebassman1]

How beautiful yet awesomely threatening it looks.

[@cloudattack3279]

Belongs in Thunderbirds...she is gorgeous..

[@sschevy8558]

huh...extremely cool looking! Never saw good pics or film in it before. She looks like a true brute, love the sound!

[@sam8alex12]

Another of the greats, But had the pleasure of seeing them most days when stationed at WYTON, And watching the take off a landings,

[@abhishektadimari4534]

and they phased this aircraft out as a bomber?? man it looks cool!

[@markhepworth1396]

Abhishek Tadimari Yep got to say we used to make some damn fine aircraft!🇬🇧👏🇬🇧👍

[@KiloByte69]

The UK government needed more money for the welfare state.

[@generalhumanist5334]

KiloByte what's wrong with that?

[@charlesregan4576]

Wrong. The Thatcher government decided that mass unemployment was acceptable instead of investment in our industries, and thought that short term profit maximisation was a more worthy goal than investing long term in British industry and technology.

[@albion2742]

Its a sin to scrap them,put them in museums for the future kids to see.

[@bobbypaluga4346]

I agree in part, certainly the most beautiful bomber and if you were below the most frightening, but for getting to job done the B-52 is the number you can on.

[@davidlloyd8461]

First worked on the Victor in 1959 at Wyton Radar Recce Flight and then 1977/78 on 57 Squadron Tankers at Marham - El Adem with Grass!

[@davidtozer4911]

I was on the beach at Druidston, Pembrokeshire when the Victor crashed off Pembrokeshire,,,It was August 1959..Sadly there where were 5 fatalities

[@robertgift]

Cause of the crash?

[@madmax2069]

such a beautiful plane

[@bobking7910]

ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING AIRCRAFT EVER MADE.

[@felixthecat1672]

Such an obscure looking machine. Beautiful.

[@edwindude9893]

Shame to see them gone. Nothing for future generations to see in person.

[@k.s.333]

One of these was scheduled to appear in our airshow back in 1986 and crashed. No one was injured as I recall.

[@TheRjjrjjr]

Why can't they keep just one in working order? What a shame, she is an excellent plane!

[@TalkieToaster.]

There are a couple in full working order, one at Bruntingthorpe and the other at Elvington which still move under their own power, they just don't fly.... intentionally.

[@Graystripe000]

They really want to fly, though!

[@Buck9672]

I served at RAF Marham when the Victors (55) were there in the early 90's as Tankers. The Gate Guardian opposite SHQ was a Victor but now I'm led to believe that It's going to be replaced? Such a shame; I loved seeing them go on a 'Tanser' call-out to RV with the Tornadoes from Leuchars to refuel if the Ruskkies got too close to the UK then. Those things took off quicker than a Vulcan from what I saw then....magnificent aircraft and beautiful too. I always thought that the cockpit, when viewed from the front looked like one of those things out of Flash Gordon (the original film). My time was up several years ago but I lived the Victors....and also the Canberra Sqn there (39) I think?. Nice memories

[@timobb]

Not to sound pedantic but the last flight was the "accidental" take off at Bruntingthorpe in 2009. lol

[@llynellyn]

+timobb True but as that happened 16 years after this video was made it's understandable they didn't mention it ;)

[@Exige000]

I was there !

[@SocialistDistancing]

I saw a victor at an airshow in Canada. Back then you could get up close and personal with the aircraft. Unfortunately, I don't remember the year. I van guess 1988 maybe. Very cool.

[@tinaboy99]

First saw the 3 V's at Farnborough airshow when I was 5, wonderful to watch. Many years later i worked on the Victor and the Vulcan. The valiant had just been towed to the scrap heap in 65. Many years later working on the Victor tankers i remember when the USAF visited with B52's our pilots would put on a show at takeoff, low fuel weight, and just watch them climb .. 4 roaring conways.

[@bustermk2]

The V-bombers were cool looking aircraft.

[@jamiecooper6023]

I was lucky enough to be there that day filming for Adrian Campbell of Aviation Action ( Now Planes TV). Some of my footage is included in this piece. I hope you enjoy it. Jamie Cooper

[@planestv]

Jamie! It's great to hear from you! How's the comet spotting going? Do please get in touch via PlanesTV email off the website to catch up.

[@jamiecooper6023]

@@planestv Will do. I hope you're all keeping well.

[@tufankorkmaz3200]

This plane is very good..and it must fly everytime...

[@justinbanks3465]

Would suck to have to 're pack that parachute(:

[@fredtedstedman]

Just BEAUTIFUL !!

[@patkennedy5578]

the victor valiant and the Vulcan three of my best loved aircraft.after having a look at this clip i have to admit that it did bring a tear to my eye. i am now74 and remember them well , these three beauty full birds were regular visitors to Valley RAF base on Ynys Mon (Isle Of Anglesey) noth Wales. and as youngsters would rush down to Cymyran Bach close to the end of the runaway to watch them come in to land and take off, sometimes on take off they would just lift off the ground and point their nose to the heavens and clime straight up until out of sight. after emigrating to Darwin Australia in 1961 i had the pleasure of working at the Officers Mess and RAFA an during one of the many exercises Pitch Black had the plesur of meeting the vulcon once more. Diolch am yr atgofion melys. iorwerth.

[@albion2742]

Many museums around the world would love to have one.

[@deanquest7078]

Vicious , intimidating and truly fabulous. Best of British. 😁😁😁 ,

[@AlexPittendreigh]

Multi-million dollar plane and a $10 step ladder to get out of it/ :-)

[@michelhugonnot9718]

there was no more money left when the project was completed

[@NilsAlbertsson]

Those were government procured step ladders, so the RAF were most likely charged £10,000 by the supplier, not £10. It would be funny if wasn't close to being the truth!

[@mongomoonbladder8023]

That's 'cos it's British, you see. 😁

[@KrasherJack]

the real ladder used to take fingers off, I know because I picked two of them off the Tarmac....

[@jimdrake1694]

haha :D

[@RichardDarn1]

Magnificent aircraft. Amazing designs from the post war British aircraft industry.

[@peterhardy894]

It is unbelievably beautiful.

[@spanishpeaches2930]

From a Lancaster to that beast in ten years. That's what I call progress !

[@MrSolodriver]

Actually, it was from a Halifax to a Victor. Both made by Handley Page.

[@spanishpeaches2930]

@@MrSolodriver I was generalising.

[@255-southcarolina8]

Not the last Flight

[@FlavioSpirit]

Bom dia !!!! Aeronave fantástica. Uma pena não estar mais nos Céus..... Muito obrigado pelo vídeo e parabéns pelo canal. Abraço do Brasil.....

[@briangray966]

Fond memories of a bygone era, wonderful aircraft

[@mohammedjaffer8522]

WOW..reminded me of my ATC/Area control training days in RAF Shawbury..1980 :)..the gd old days.

[@GetOutterMeHouse]

I’m sorry but this thing is at least 5x’s cooler looking than the Vulcan. This is without a doubt my favorite V bomber. Such an epic plane

[@strigonshitposting793]

The Victor will always be my favourite V-Bomber.

[@ricktaylor3748]

It makes me sad, when any country builds a multi-billion dollar aircraft, then decides it's obsolete. These beautiful war planes have NOT outlived there usefulness. I see no reason to destroy these old war birds, because they could be used far into the future.

[@Tinsby]

Rick, I agree! Just look at the B-52, talk about getting your money's worth! still flying, last I heard, after 50 years.

[@TackKeyNack]

*cough* con *cough* corde

[@Tinsby]

I agree, the Concorde aside from one tragedy had an impeccable safety record. My understanding is the the remaining fleet was retro fitted and updated so they could continue to fly. Look at where they are now. I saw Concorde up close when it flew into Harrisburg Intl Airport years ago on a promotional tour. What a magnificent sight it was, now all we have are memories.

[@TackKeyNack]

Tinsby, looking back at the videos, it kinda makes me sad that we won't ever see an SST as beautiful as the Concorde, let alone an SST.

[@Tinsby]

Marvincent Acuña. Unfortunately. in today's world such a plane would be an instant target for the ne'er dowells that proliferate our world. If one is ever built I'll. be there to see it! When Concorde was in use, I saw it many times from my backyard, on it's way to the west coast. Unmistakable in flight with that beautiful Delta wing shape, even at altitude it was easy to identify. The men in the local ATC tower could see it as it climbed to cruising altitude from Dulles Airport in Washington DC. great memories!

[@unrealengine1enhanced]

AWESOME PLANE, i wish i could own one of these very futuristic looking, even tho its old, wow impressive design :D

[@williamrance5086]

It's amazing that numerous military aircraft enthusiasts about the globe have been unaware of this aircraft until its final flying days. It also brings a smile to my lips when certain people cast remarks about Britain's V bombers not holding a light to the venerable B52. The American military chiefs were not called upon to subject their bomber fleets to fly round the clock patrols over western Europe day in day out during the cold war period, flying them at altitude then switching them to hedge hopping mode to infiltrate soviet airspace without the threat of being shot down by SAM's. The amount of airframe hours and the different stresses and strains experienced by those aircraft flying under conditions that they were not designed for was bound to have an effect - not so with the Americans' and their B52's. The Americans have had the sense, and, isolation, to have kept the B52's on the ground, protecting the airframes and relying more on their silo-stored ICBM's as their main cold war deterrent - only bringing the B52's out of storage on the occasional long range bombing runs flown from Guam and Diego Garcia - a task that they are well suited for. So, with respect to the makers of this video, I say thank you for the opportunity to see this fine aircraft's retirement. For the American enthusiasts viewing this video, think yourselves very fortunate to have men in high places who have greater respect for old but iconic aircraft and retire them gracefully into the many aviation museums that you have dotted about the USA. Our lot are pathetic, using such aircraft for target practice, then, calling for them to be scrapped - and we put them in government to act responsible on our behalf, Mm?

[@williamrance5086]

+William “arriviste” Wallace Hi, Bill. No argument on the content of your posting. As regards to the humour at the end of it, I rather liked! I don't think the American colonists had need to throw their bodily bi-products out of the windows, or, indeed, have a Samuel Pepys character to make such observations - there being plenty of spare land to dig a hole and bury it in. I suppose their zest for answering questions with the gun comes naturally to them, with all the wild animals they came across. Bye for now, Bill.

[@williamthomas7031]

That is one drag chute!

[@philbedford8979]

As we all now know,this WASN'T the last flight of a V bomber or indeed a Victor....

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Such a badass from the front.

[@Tall-Cool-Drink]

What a cool looking plane.

[@wilsonyap2619]

So sad to see such a beautiful aircraft take its last flight!!!

[@abhishekdixit2912]

Amazingly designed This bomber of the Past looks like a bomber proposed for the Future. Wonderful design

[@ПолярнаяСова104]

English monster and chupacabra.

[@tolugo87]

Wow, I looked sharp back in the day

[@officialdjhoody]

2021 here... still looks menacing.

[@jacksoncamania7045]

Its really sad such a magnificent plane just to be scrapped.

[@Salvavideocrack]

The Mercedes Benz of the supersonic bombers

[@Stikkzz]

supersonic vertically