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.
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