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flew 26 May 1960. Originally ordered as a B1 under contract 6/Acft/11303/CB6,
XH668-675 inclusive were upgraded to B2 standard on the production
line. Served as a B2 until 2 July 1964, she then was converted to
SR2 standard and served with 543 Squadron at Wyton. The last K2 conversion
by 24 May 1978, she served in the Gulf as 'Maid Marion' and was the
last Victor to fly, landing at Shawbury
for preservation at Cosford's Aerospace Museum on 30 November 1993.
Although looking a bit tatty after ten years outside, she is due for
a re-paint once work in the neighbouring Vulcan is complete. |
First
flew 1 September 1960. Suffered a hydraulic failure in December
1960 while with the Ministry of Aviation. She went for conversion
to B2R standard in April 1962 and joined the Wittering Wing. After
returning to HP for conversion to K2 standard she joined 57 Squadron
on 17 December 1976 and was one of the first K2s to be retired,
going on display at RAF Marham on 2 July 1986. Repainted in '99,
her future has been the topic of speculation since the MoD's 'one
gate guard' policy and the announcement of a Tornado GR1 for the
'official' duty, but as she is owned by an un-named individual the
base intends to hold onto her for as long as possible!
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First
flew 31 January 1962. Part of the main B2 contract 6/Acft/123996/CB6(a)
of January 1956 for 21 aircraft, she served at Wittering with 139
Squadron and was converted to B2R standard by July 1964. Converted
to K2 standard by 11 July 1977, she swapped squadrons at Marham
regularly until retirement. Nicknamed 'Lusty Lindy' in the Gulf
after after Marham's first female VSF team leader, she was purchased
on retirement by businessman Andre Tempest and flown to Elvington
Airfield near York where she is lovingly cosseted by Andre and his
engineering team, led by Roger Brooks. Regular taxi
runs are made when the airfield and conditions allow!
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First
flew 31 December 1962, XM715 was one of five of the last Victors
to be delivered under contract 6/Acft/15566/CB6. After conversion
to SR2 standard in 1965 she had a brief spell before passing back
to HP where she accrued very little flying time. After conversion
to K2 standard she passed to 232 OCU on 12 May 1975 and was heavily
used to 'catch-up' on fatigue index. She spent most of her later
life with 55 Squadron and was nicknamed 'Teasin' Tina' in the Gulf,
and was eventually sold to the Walton family and flown to Bruntingthorpe
where the British Aviation Heritage look after her. Repainted in
the summer of '98, 'Thunder
runs' are a regular feature of the 'Cold War Jets' open days.
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