Handley Page Victor

Handley Page Victor K2 XM715 Teasin Tina accidental take off at Bruntingthorpe taxi event, Leicestershire May 2009. Photo by Wayne Willday

The Victor was the third (V Bomber) to be built. The other two being the Valiant and the Vulcan. All three were designed for high speed, high altitude penetration for invasion of Soviet Air space to deliver nuclear weapons.

The first flight of the Victor was made on 24th December 1952, with 86 Airframes in various Mks produced. Later in it's life some Aircraft were converted to refueling tankers to replace the Valiant. The last Squadron of Victors, number 55 Squadron was disbanded at RAF Marham in 1993.

Five Airframes were saved from the scrap man. B1A XH648 resides at Duxford's AirSpace Museum, K2 XH672 is at Cosford Aerospace Museum and K2 XH673 stands outside the Marham station headquarters, K2 XL231 is kept in taxable condition at Yorkshire Air Museum and finally K2 XM715, probably one of the most famous Victors now is also kept in taxable condition at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire, and in May 2009 made an unplanned short flight much to the delight of the Aviation crowds watching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handley Page Victor K2 XM715 Teasin Tina at Bruntingthorpe taxi event 2009

Handley Page Victor B1A (HP-80) XH592 cockpit at Bruntingthorpe Airfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handley Page Victor K2 XM715 Teasin Tina at Bruntingthorpe taxi event 2009

Handley Page Victor K2 XM715 Teasin Tina at Bruntingthorpe taxi event 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handley Page Victor K2 XM715 Teasin Tina at Bruntingthorpe taxi event 2009

Handley Page Victor K2 XM715 Teasin Tina accidental take off at Bruntingthorpe taxi event, Leicestershire May 2009

 

 

Images courtesy of Chris Cannon and Ian Bracegirdle