Vintage Waddo

[Quixoticish]

Didnt 607 have a rap around, especially on her trip to Red Flag in her desert undersides...

I'm not sure if the wraparound euro/desert split was applied over an existing wraparound scheme or whether it went over a two tone camo/white (or grey) scheme? I must admit I had always assumed the desert scheme was just a bit of a joke, akin to a flash of sorts, as the desert colour is actually on the wrong side to be of any tactical use.

[Garry Russell]

DIdn't the tankers have wrap arround to which they painted a white back to the underside of the wing :think:

Garry

[Chris Sykes]

RE-Chris, Yes possible that it wasnt wrap round, but the Desert scheme might have been on the underside for when the Vulcan rolls to turn???
RE-Garry, Thats possible, i know the tailend of the wings have camo wrap paint so its possible they were ex wraps...

[Tweek]

Any photos around of the Euro/Desert split camo scheme?

[Chris558]

Wow! 4 XH558's lined up! If only that was for real, we could have a Vulcan scramble today.

558 is currently in a somewhat hybrid scheme. It never got the wrap scheme in regular service, so stayed in the original colours of medium sea grey /Dark green with white undersides up to retirement. When it joined the VDF, it was repainted in 1985, still with the medium grey, but also got the wrap, I believe, to make it more visible at shows.

The medium grey looks more like light sea grey and doesn't look effective camo to me. The helos of the army (Gazelle/Lynx) wear a similar hue.

Anyone know why such a light hue of grey was chosen?

[Chris Sykes]

Just reading through "The Vulcan Bmk2 from a different angle" has a list of wrap around camo aircraft, total number was 15;

XH558, XL389, XL444, XM648, XH561, XL425, XL445, XM652, XL318, XL426, XM575, XM657, XL359, XL427, XM605

Thats the full list of aircraft...

[Quixoticish]

RE-Chris, Yes possible that it wasnt wrap round, but the Desert scheme might have been on the underside for when the Vulcan rolls to turn???
RE-Garry, Thats possible, i know the tailend of the wings have camo wrap paint so its possible they were ex wraps...

I know there were reports of other aircraft being detected when they roll and the white/light underside catches the sun, but I doubt a Vulcan will be rolling in such an extreme way down low, with such a large wingspan that's just asking for trouble.

[Chris Sykes]

i see your point, but there must have been a reason for it to be done...

[Garry Russell]

I read somewhere it was to maintain cammo when flying in valleys and performing tight turns

Garry

[Quixoticish]

i see your point, but there must have been a reason for it to be done...

If they were actually doing it for camouflage purposes then one wanders why they didn't go over the green grey with the desert scheme as well. Which leads me to believe it was done for shits and giggles really, although I'd love to be proven otherwise. Far stranger things have happened! ;-)