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  • Vulcan Boys

  • From the Cold War to the Falklands: True Tales of the Iconic Delta V Bomber
  • By: Tony Blackman
  • Narrated by: Roger Davis
  • Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (125 ratings)
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Vulcan Boys cover art

Vulcan Boys

By: Tony Blackman
Narrated by: Roger Davis
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Summary

The Vulcan, the second of the three V bombers built to guard the UK during the Cold War, has become an aviation icon like the Spitfire, its delta shape instantly recognizable, as is the howling noise it makes when the engines are opened for takeoff. Vulcan Boys is the first Vulcan book recounted completely firsthand by the operators themselves. It tells the story of the aircraft from its design conception through the Cold War, when it played out its most important job as Britain's nuclear deterrent - before unbelievably, at the end of its service life, also playing a significant role, with its bombs and missiles, in liberating the Falkland Islands, for which it gained much celebrity. The individual accounts detail how hours at a time were spent on readiness, waiting to be scrambled to defend their country in the event of a third world war. In addition they detail how their aggressive skills were honed by carrying out Lone Ranger sorties flying to the States and westward around the world and taking part in Giant Voice and Red Flag, competitive exercises against the United States Strategic Air Command. The attacks in the Falklands using Shrike missiles are described accurately and in great detail for the first time, including the landing at Rio de Janeiro alongside a vivid account of Black Buck 2. Vulcan Boys is a fascinating and completely authentic listen, reminding us of the Cold War, how it was fought, and the considerable effort required to prevent all-out nuclear war.

©2014 Grub Street LTD (P)2015 Grub STreet LTD

What listeners say about Vulcan Boys

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    4 out of 5 stars

Sonoian558

This really is an excellent account of Vulcan operations in its military and civil roles. A fitting tribute to the design team; and those men in the Royal Air Force who flew the aircraft, and maintained it. My late father was an engineer with the Vulcan and served at Scampton, Waddington, and Akrotiri with them. He also served with Valiants and Victors in both their bomber and tanker roles. Undoubtedly the Vulcan was always his favourite. This book is a truly good historical record for generations to come. Well done.

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3 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dreadful narration

Any additional comments?

I only managed to listen for about three hours until I could no longer listen to the narration of this audiobook. I was just about coping with the strange staccato style, but could no longer concentrate on what was being said when the narrator broke into a comedy Australian accent when narrating a section written by an antipodean. Probably an interesting book, but the narration is too distracting.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

technical and rather dull

if you're looking for a riveting "boys own" type story this isn't it
if you're looking for seemingly endless acronyms, individual aircraft registration numbers and an in depth description of the difference in electrical generation systems of mk1 and mk2 vulcan..

rather disappointed by buying this

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • Mr
  • 15-06-17

Struggled to get into this

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was okay, but ended up not finishing it.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Hearing about how these 'boys' dedicated their lives to us.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Personal accounts

Do you think Vulcan Boys needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No - doesn't work on audio book.

Any additional comments?

Maybe not my thing - but listening as I drive, this didn't work for me. I would consider buying the paper book though.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent listening

this book is a brilliant account of the vulcan from test flight the its disbandment.. well read out

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

Well, what can I say all I can say is that this book has been put expertly together by the people that have contributed to it that are flown, the Queen of the skies as I called her a grand old lady of the sky. Shall I say long live, VULCAN, memories in all our life.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Very nice book, but a bit limited

As an aviation fan, I loved the many firsthand accounts of flying, dealing, and eventually fighting with the Vulcan. This audiobook is therefore fully worthy to listen to. Still, I would have liked it to include a little bit more of descriptive background, especially concerning the origin and initial development of the Vulcan.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Fantastic history of the vulcan, well worth the listen if you have the slightest love of aviation

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great to be British

Takes you back to an era when Britain designed and made cutting edge equipment and machines

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Disappointing, sadly

My father was a Nav Plotter on Vulcans at the height of the Cold War and that piqued my interest. Only he and his fellow crew members would have understood half the jargon and acronyms used throughout. The narrator was very irritating at times and the writing quite childish at others. I felt like an outsider listening in! The writing seemed designed to make me feel that way. Didn’t enjoy it!

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