Handley Page Victor
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The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft, one of the 'V bombers' intended to carry Britain's nuclear arsenal. The other two V-bombers were the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. During the Borneo conflict of 1962-66, two Victor B Mk 1A bombers flew the Victor's only offensive mission.
With the grounding of the Vickers Valiant due to structural problems, the programme for the first production model Victors to replace it in the inflight refuelling role was sped up.
On 1956-06-01 a production Victor apparently reached the speed of sound in a shallow dive. Although aircraft lacked instruments to accurately measure the Mach number, ground observers reported hearing a sonic boom.
After finally being phased out of bomber service with the Royal Air Force, the Victor saw continued and extensive use as a tanker aircraft. It was finally withdrawn from service in 1993, having lasted nine years longer in service than any of the other V bombers, albeit not in its original role.
Variants
- Victor B.1 : Strategic bomber aircraft.
- Victor B.1A : Strategic bomber aircraft.
- Victor B.1A (K.2P) : Inflight refuelling tanker, retaining bomber capability.
- Victor BK.1 : In-flight refuelling tanker (renamed K.1 after bombing capability removed)
- Victor BK.1A : In-flight refuelling tanker.(renamed K.1A as for K.1)
- Victor B.2 : Strategic bomber aircraft.
- Victor B(SR).2 : Strategic reconnaissance aircraft.
- Victor K.2 : Inflight refuelling tanker.
Units Using the Victor
Royal Air Force squadrons that were equipped with the Victor include:
- No. 10 Squadron RAF B1 only
- No. 15 Squadron RAF B1 only
- No. 55 Squadron RAF B1,K1 & K2
- No. 57 Squadron RAF B1,K1 & K2
- No. 100 Squadron RAF B2 only
- No. 134 Squadron RAF
- No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron RAF B2 only
- No. 214 Squadron RAF K1 only
- No. 543 Squadron RAF SR only
Specifications (Handley-Page Victor B.1)
External links
- http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/victor/
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