FlyPast 02.2018

February 2018 FLYPAST 37

Nellis had two parallel 10,000ft
runways, making possible
simultaneous take-offs and
landings. Since the display
programme was continuous, lasting
two hours 40 minutes, the dual
runway layout was essential.
All aircraft were required to
comply with a carefully planned
holding, approach and withdrawal
pattern, with great attention to
time on target of plus or minus
five seconds. Radio calls were kept
to a minimum; it was unnecessary
to call for take-off clearance and
the only mandatory calls were at
two minutes from the target, at 50
seconds out, and from a point in
the recovery pattern when clearance
to land was automatically given.
Although not releasing any
ordnance, the Vulcans were allotted

an eight-minute time over Indian

Springs, starting at midday. The

aircraft entered a holding pattern

at 10,000ft over the area of the

Boulder Dam and Colorado Grand

Canyon to the east of Las Vegas.

The mountains there were between

5,000 and 7,000ft high, creating

extremely turbulent conditions that

made flying tiring.

After leaving the holding pattern,

there was an 80-mile leg to a

turning point, five miles from the

range, which was situated in a

valley. Height was gradually lost to

achieve 4,000ft at the two-minute

call point, where the target was not

in view as it was hidden by a range

of hills.

The aircraft were to fly past

specially erected spectator stands

at between 300 and 500ft. As well

as basic map reading, the Green

Satin Doppler-based radar aid was

used to maintain a constant ground

speed

Clearance was obtained to

carry out a repeat mission at the

conclusion of the rehearsal, and

the Vulcans performed a prepared

programme involving low-level

circuits after the initial flypast,

first with bomb doors open, then

with the undercarriage down and

airbrakes extended, and finally

clean. All of this was followed by a

full power climb.

This was the most ambitious

display programme 617 had yet

undertaken. The USAF Operation

Order covering the display

somewhat disconcertingly revealed

that all the other participants had

been at Nellis since April 4 and

Above

The fl ight deck of Comet

C.2 XK716 en route to Las

Vegas.