Avro Vulcan: The Early Years 1947–64

Avro Vulcan: The Early Years 1947–64 written by David W Fildes and published

by Key Publishing - £15.99 - Softcover - Pages 96

Advances in aerodynamics and jet engine technology after World War Two led to the

RAF Air Staff producing an Operating Requirement (OR229) for a bomber that could

use these new technologies. To meet this requirement, the Avro Initial Projects team

adopted a Delta wing design. This was a major change in aircraft design, as little was

known about the Delta wing. The design of the Delta wing Vulcan was a major gamble

by all concerned. However, it proved an incredibly valuable asset, especially during

the Cold War. It was used in both high- and low-level roles and performed some of the

longest bombing and anti-radar missions by the RAF during the Falklands War in 1982.

After serving over three decades with the RAF, the Vulcan was retired in1984, but it

continued display flying with the Vulcan to the Sky Trust until 2015, delighting the

public with its noise and maneuverability. Fully illustrated with over 150 images, this

book explores the history of the Vulcan, from concept to manufacture to service,

providing insight from those who developed, designed, and flew it.

The Avro Vulcan, surely this has to be everyone’s favourite post war plane, a giant swooping through the skies and the roaring thunder sound as it went overhead. As former RAF brat, when you got to see these at an RAF camp they were always the centre of attention, and they would always get the crowds in when they fly in or take off. 

Avro Vulcan The Early Years, 1947-64 takes a yearly look at the Vulcan right from the first initial thoughts, designs and drawings. In this beautiful and nifty little book, the book shows the reader through the whole process of drawings, designs, models and full sized prototypes. We even get to see the actual factories, people and workforces involved in a very good number of photographs, and I think this helps get across the emotion and love that many aviation fans love about this plane. As the book goes along we can see the various design changes, upgrades and the evolution of the Vulcan, this book is very high on the technical aspects such as measurements & design which will appeal to your real technical fan, but for small book it has such a lot of excellent photos of the Vulcan in flight which will appeal to the reader who just loves the beauty and design.

This was such a fascinating book and I loved the comprehensive detail and data that

you don’t often get in some books. I found this book would appeal to all fans no matter

how much detail they would want because there is something for all in these books.

Certainly a book I enjoyed and would happily recommend to other aviation fans.