Avro Vulcan

canberra wrote:

Ive asked this question before and not had an answer from anyone so forgive me for asking it again.

Unlike the Victor (and maybe the Valiant) the Vulcan had seven seats, why??? Six I can understand but why seven?

I had always thought that it was an operational crew of 5, two pilots and 3 facing the back. I understood that a 6th cushion was available for a crew chief on deployment, but Wikipedia says there were two cushions.

Must have been an uncomfortable ride!

A five-man crew, the first pilot, co-pilot, navigator radar, navigator plotter and air electronics officer (AEO) was accommodated within the pressure cabin on two levels; the pilots sitting on Martin-Baker 3K (3KS on the B.2) ejection seats whilst on the lower level, the other crew sat facing rearwards and would abandon the aircraft via the entrance door.[62][63] The original B35/46 specification sought a jettisonable crew compartment, this requirement was removed in a subsequent amendment, the rear crew's escape system was often an issue of controversy, such as when a practical refit scheme was rejected.[64][65] A rudimentary sixth seat forward of the navigator radar was provided for an additional crew member;[66] the B.2 had an additional seventh seat opposite the sixth seat and forward of the AEO. These seats were no more than cushions, a full harness and an oxygen and intercom facility.

A few bits of Vulcan Spares in the long grass behind the hangar at NELSAM Sunderland ?



August 2014

kevin

canberra wrote:

Ive asked this question before and not had an answer from anyone so forgive me for asking it again.

Unlike the Victor (and maybe the Valiant) the Vulcan had seven seats, why??? Six I can understand but why seven?

I have had the pleasure of being able to get inside the cockpits of two Vulcan, and, granted that I am some what older and less fit than the typical aircrew might have been, it was awkward to move around in the cockpit space that was not occupied by the 5 proper seats. Any 6/7 crewman would have had to sit where I was standing with his legs down towards the boarding hatch. I guess you could say there was an additional position where the bomb aimer would have laid himself?

here are a few photos from Staverton, June 2014







and Newark October 2012