h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi the_jon_m

I'm your Sub-editor for The V-Force. The new version is here A87821256 - please subscribe!

I'm not very familiar with this subject, so I enjoyed reading your Entry I do have a few questions, though:

In the Vickers Valiant section, I'm not clear about the shape of the wing - I presume the root of the wing is the bit joined to the fuselage, but what does "swept back" mean in this context?

Also, what is the Service Ceiling?

In the Avro Vulcan section, the wings are delta-shaped - is that a capital delta, like a triangle?

"Vulcans also didn't require airborne refuelling after take-off, allowing them to go straight on the attack." - I see this was queried in Peer Review, as refuelling was mentioned in the Black Buck section. Was it that other planes found that take-off used up so much fuel, they couldn't do anything without refuelling first?

"air-to-air refuelling the big delta" - what does that mean? Was the fuel pumped into the wing?

I was also not clear about the paragraph containing "Reasoning that as long as they avoided known SA-3 missile sites, the V-bombers would have limited threat of interception under 1,500ft." - The new weaponry meant that low-level flying was less risky than high-level? Although there was still threat from SA-3 missiles at low level?

What is the Senior Service?

The Vulcan's days as a combat aircraft were over by the end of 1982, is that right?

"VC-10 conversations" - should that be a capital C?

"Only one Valiant survives intact, although sections of another two are on display" - I wondered where the sections are displayed.

Thank you!

Just moving this up my conversation list.

Hi the_jon_m

I did some investigation this weekend (this is my dad's subject of interest ) so some of my questions have now been answered - hopefully to your satisfaction.

The outstanding ones are:

What is the Service Ceiling?

"Vulcans also didn't require airborne refuelling after take-off, allowing them to go straight on the attack." - I see this was queried in Peer Review, as refuelling was mentioned in the Black Buck section. Was it that other planes found that take-off used up so much fuel, they couldn't do anything without refuelling first?

"VC-10 conversations" - should that be a capital C?

Sorry, been a bit in and out recently

Service ceiling --- the maximum height it can fly in normal operations

Yes, in general, (when operating in Europe), Vulcans didn't require refuelling after takeoff, whereas most similar aircraft needed it to be able to attack Eastern Europe

Yep, capital C in VC-10

Thanks for replying - I tweaked those sentences.

I'm happy with this now, so if you are too, it can be sent on its way

This has now been sent on its way

If there's anything you spot that you would like changing, say so here and I can sort it out for you Looks good to me, though Very informative Entry.

Congratulations! Your Entry is on the Front Page today