Aug 21
This Avro Vulcan (HX558) bomber has been incredibly brought to flying condition and is now performing at airshows in Great Britain. The Vulcan was a sub-sonic nuclear capable jet bomber which operated from 1953-1984 in the RAF service.
To put the effort involved in getting this flying, it would be the approximate equivalent of a group of US volunteers coming together, acquiring, restoring, and funding a Boeing B-47 Stratojet to display and fly at airshows.
Beautiful visual corkscrew flight path of Sean Tucker’s Oracle Challenger.
Image by JoF
Back on the early 2000′s these pictures were taken at the Sussex Airshow in Wantage Township, NJ. Franklin’s show was spectacular to see anywhere, but I think he took particular joy flying at such a small venue. He also liked to take full advantage of the sloping terrain to create breath-taking sight-lines in which he appeared to be flying so low he was going to impact the ground. He was an unbelievable showman and innovator. His tragic loss in 2005, along with friend and fellow performer Bobby Younkin, was heartbreaking.
