Avro Vulcan B Mk. 2

Just Flight are excited to bring you the iconic delta-wing Avro Vulcan, developed by Just Flight's in-house team after comprehensive, hands-on research with a real-life Vulcan B Mk. 2, XM655, based at Wellesbourne Airfield. This product includes the B Mk. 2 strategic bomber, K.2 Air-to-Air Refuelling and Maritime Radar Reconnaissance (MRR) variants that saw service with the Royal Air Force.

The aircraft has been modelled to an exceptional level of detail and features stunning 8k textures, with paint schemes covering its time in RAF service, realistic payloads (including Blue Steel, 1,000 lb bombs and bomb bay tanks) and custom ground equipment. Realistic animations include crew and bomb bay doors, Ram Air Turbine, multi-position airbrakes and the distinctive braking parachute.

The Captain and Co-Pilot positions in the cockpit are modelled with hundreds of functional switches, knobs and controls. A selection of rear crew panels are also modelled. The aircraft features complex custom-coded systems based on real-world manuals, including electrical, fuel and engine systems, and TACAN and VOR navigation.
The aircraft are brought to life with wear and tear based on extensive reference photos, immersive dynamic cockpit and exterior lighting and 3D Wwise sounds.
The Vulcan B Mk2 is an iconic, four-engine, delta-wing strategic bomber which saw service in the UK during the Cold War. XM655, on which this product is based, was the third-from-last Vulcan to be produced for the Royal Air Force. It was delivered in 1964 and saw service as part of the UK’s nuclear deterrent force throughout the 60s and 70s. It is now being preserved by a team of volunteers at Wellesbourne Airfield.

Following the Falklands War, six Avro Vulcan B Mk2s were converted for air-to-air refuelling as an interim solution prior to the delivery of VC10 and Tristar tanker aircraft that were due to replace the aging Victor tankers. This conversion consisted of the addition of a Hose Drum Unit (HDU) mounted in the tail cone, and three bomb-bay drum tanks. The K.2 variants served with 50 Squadron (RAF Waddington) from 1982 to 1984.

In 1973 nine Avro Vulcan B Mk2s were converted for Maritime Radar Reconnaissance (MRR). The MRR variants flew patrols around the coast of the UK, primarily operating at high level and using the radar to monitor shipping but also flying at low level for visual identification and inspection. They had a secondary role carrying out air sampling, flying through airbourne contamination following nuclear tests and using air sampling pods mounted under each wing to collect samples for analysis. The MRR variants served with 27 Squadron (RAF Scampton) from 1973 to 1982, at which point the Nimrod took over these duties.

Model

• Accurately modelled Avro Vulcan B Mk2, K.2 and MRR built using real-world aircraft plans and comprehensive photography of the real aircraft (XM655)
• K.2 air-to-air refuelling variant with Hose Drum Unit (HDU) and animated hose
• Maritime Radar Reconnaissance (MRR) variant with air sampling pods and nose blade aerials
• Many detailed animations, including:
•  - Crew door
•  - Bomb bay doors (with realistic deployment speed)
•  - Multi-position airbrakes (accurately linked to landing gear position)
•  - Drogue and main brake-chutes
•  - Deployable ram-air-turbine (RAT)
•  - Variable-speed wipers
•  - Tilting main landing gear
•  - Flying controls (including elevons)
•  - Animated pilots
•  - Retractable taxi/landing lights (with realistic ‘blowback’ above 180 knots)
• A range of payload options, selectable via the EFB tablet:
•  - Blue Steel nuclear stand-off missile
•  - 1,000lb bombs
•  - WE.177 nuclear bomb
•  - Saddle bomb bay tanks
•  - Cylindrical bomb bay tanks
•  - Shrike anti-radar missiles
• Most payloads can be jettisoned and can be seen falling away from the aircraft
• Ability to configure external model options for each livery – refuelling probe, 201/301 engines, TFR dome, modern aerials and tail fin ECM, HDU, air sampling pods and aerials
• Olympus 201 and 301 engine nozzle types
• Ground equipment, including Houchin GPU and Palouste compressor for engine start (with custom ground equipment paint schemes for each livery/squadron) and engine covers and chocks
• 8k textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity
• Full support for MSFS visual icing effects

Cockpit

• A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled ejection seats and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations
• A selection of rear crew panels that are essential to operating the aircraft are modelled - AEO panels for controlling the AAPP, RAT and secondary supplies, and Navigator panels for controlling the TACAN and IFF/transponder
• Cockpit textures feature wear and tear based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment
• Aircraft state system which will automatically save the aircraft state whenever a flight is saved and reload it whenever that flight is loaded
• Aircraft configuration system which allows you to choose between 'Cold & Dark', ‘Ready for Taxi’ or 'Ready for Take-off'
• Many features have been added to help with usability such as the ability to hide the control sticks for a better view of the instruments and pre-set angled views for the autopilot and rear crew panels
• Tablet EFB for controlling various aircraft states, options and payloads, with Navigraph and SimBrief integration and a moving map
• Developed using the latest MSFS standards, including intuitive and easy-to-use controls for rotary knobs, multi-position switches and levers
• Fully compatible with MSFS VR mode
• Realistic V/UHF radio unit – save and recall commonly used frequencies
• Fully functioning magnetic indicators, warning lights and push-to-test buttons
• Numerous animated blinds and visors
• Realistic flight instruments, including direction horizon, beam compass, control surface and CG indicators
• No detail is too small – even the option to switch between day and night modes on the landing gear indicator is included!

Aircraft systems

• Custom-coded systems based on real-world manuals, including:
• Fuel system – fuel tank groups, transfer and cross-feed, air-to-air refuelling simulation via controls on the tablet EFB
• Custom-coded electrical system - alternators, Airborne Auxiliary Power Plant (AAPP), Ram Air Turbine (RAT), synchroniser busbar and AEO panels for controlling the AAPP, RAT and secondary supplies
• Flying controls system - Powered Flying Controls (PFCs), Mach trimmer and auto-stabilisers
• Engine start system – rapid or normal engine starting, cross-bleed and Palouste external air supplies
• Hydraulic system, including the electrically operated hydraulic power pack unit (EHPP)
• Oxygen system, including oxygen regulator system with realistic consumption based on altitude – watch the oxygen quantity drop with usage
• Air conditioning system – cabin pressurisation and air conditioning, emergency depressurisation controls
• Thermal anti-icing system, including airframe and engine anti-icing
• Autopilot, including pitch and bank hold
• TACAN and VOR navigation, including navigator IFF and TACAN panels
• Airbrakes, bomb doors and brake-chute can be operated using standard control assignments for ease of use
• Terrain Following Radar – the flight directors will provide guidance to maintain a set altitude when flying at low level

Liveries

The Vulcan B Mk2 is supplied with 12 paint schemes covering its life in RAF service and subsequent private restoration:

• XH534 (230 OCU, RAF Coltishall)
• XH538 (No.1 Group, RAF Strike Command, USAF Giant Voice Bombing Competition 1979)
• XH558 (RAF Vulcan Display Flight, 1992)
• XH558 (Vulcan To The Skies, 2010)
• XH562 (9 Squadron, RAF Akrotiri, Kiwi roundels)
• XL361 (617 Squadron, RAF Scampton, anti-flash white)
• XL426 (83 Squadron, RAF Scampton, anti-flash white)
• XL426 (Vulcan Restoration Trust)
• XM600 (9 Squadron, RAF Cottesmore)
• XM607 (44 Squadron, RAF Waddington, Black Buck)
• XM607 (44 Squadron, RAF Waddington, Red Flag 77-9)
• XM655 (35 Squadron, RAF Scampton)
• XM655 (XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society)

 The Vulcan K.2 is supplied with four paint schemes:

• XH558 (50 Squadron, RAF Waddington)
• XJ825 (50 Squadron, RAF Waddington)
• XL445 (50 Squadron, RAF Waddington)
• XM571 (50 Squadron, RAF Waddington)

 The Vulcan MRR is supplied with two paint schemes:

• XH534 (27 Squadron, RAF Scampton)
• XH560 (27 Squadron, RAF Scampton)
• A PSD Paint Kit (1.1GB) is also available to download.

Lighting

• Over 25 fully functioning lighting controls in the cockpit to control the internal and external lighting
• Independent lighting controls for 1st Pilot and Co-pilot
• Dimmable dynamic flood lighting for a highly immersive and customisable night environment
• Freely moveable spot lights

Sounds

• MSFS-native (Wwise) sound package taking full advantage of the new MSFS capabilities
• Studio quality Olympus 301 AND Olympus 201 'howl' engine sounds, recorded from the real aircraft
• Hundreds of flight deck sound effects recorded from the rear aircraft
• Detailed physics-based effects on engine and wind noise
• Accurately positioned 3D sound sources (best enjoyed in VR!)
• Custom crash and scraping effects

FDE and effects

• Realistic and accurate flight dynamics based on real-world performance and handling data
• Three separate flight models included to simulate the change in performance of each engine type (Olympus 200 Series, Olympus 202 and Olympus 301)
• Custom effects for enhanced immersion, including engine, Houchin GPU and Palouste compressor exhaust haze
• Accurately simulated exterior lighting, including independent taxi/landing lights, and refuelling lights

Other features

• Comprehensive PDF manual with flight tutorial, systems guide, procedures, limitations and handling notes
• Multiple interior and exterior camera presets, including bomb bay camera
• PSD paint kit included so you can create your own paint schemes
• Full support for MSFS checklists (manual and Automatic/Co-pilot modes)
• Support for numerous control assignments for compatibility with controllers and hardware