RAF Retired Victor bomber
Image details
Contributor:
Glyn Fletcher / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
FR8KRNFile size:
45.6 MB (1.6 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
4608 x 3456 px | 39 x 29.3 cm | 15.4 x 11.5 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
13 March 2016Location:
RAF Bruntingthorpe Leicester UKMore information:
RAF Tanker - Bomber Victor XI715 - at the Royal Airforce Base at Bruntingthorpe near Lutterworth in Leicestershire. Constructed in 1942, following the Second World War the base was used extensively for testing by Sir Frank Whittle's Powerjets company until, in 1954, a new airfield was constructed for the US Airforce which used it as a base for heavy American bombers until 1962; during this period, Bruntingthorpe was code named Big Thunder. The site is now privately owned and is home to a number of prestigious aircraft. Victor XI715 assembled at Radlett as a high-level free fall nuclear bomber to carry the yellow Sun 2 nuclear weapon. She first flew on the 31st December 1962. After normal production flight tests she was delivered to the RAF in March 1963. After a her time as a Cold War bomber XI715 finally returned to Radlett in 1970 for a short stay until being transferred to Woodford for start of a new darn and conversion to a K2 Tanker. These conversions took place between 1970 & 1975 with the first flights taking place in 1972, however it wasn’t until the 10th April 1975 that XI715 was completed with her re-entering service with the RAF at Marham in May of that year. She served in 2 major conflicts, the Falklands and the first Gulf War. Her RAF career finally came to an end in 1993 being purchased by the Walton family, and on the 19th of November she made her final landing at Bruntingthorpe where she has enjoyed her retirement being lovingly looked after by the Handley Page XI715 Group.