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Amazing technology.

That's interesting. The Wikipedia entry for the Vulcan quotes a ceiling of 55,000ft. The Wikipedia entry for the U2 quotes its operational ceiling of 70,000ft (15,000ft higher than the Vulcan).

I suppose that's an Avro Vulcan

YES it is an A.V.ROE ( AVRO) Vulcan the FIRST of the B2 Models, its the ONLY VULCAN still flying Reg is G-VLCN of its Military Reg. XH 558

A beautiful plane, I hope the organization that maintains her can keep her flying for a long time.

Its getting towards the end of its life Jim... spares are hard to find, engines are not available, Rolls Royce are trying to help, but drawings etc have long since been destroyed.There are just 2 engines left with a little time on them, but 2015 MIGHT be the final season, the BRITISH PEOPLE OWN this aircraft, HM Government pays NOTHING towards its upkeep... everything is by Public Donation, you can be very sure that it will be flown for as long as possible, before its parked up with whats left of the few that remain...

This brings back neat memories ....In 1957; as a relatively new USAF Ground Control Approach (GCA) Controller, I performed an emergency approach landing for a RAF Vulcan at RAF Station Manston (near Margate, Kent in SE England). The USAF operated from RAF Manston w/F-84 Air Defense Command surveillance activities. The RAF pilot gave me a "jolly Good Show" comment on the radio when the approach/landing was successfully accomplished.

Forget wiki, a vulcan can fly much, much higher than 55,000,and even higher than 70,000.

what makes it possible fro the Vulcan to exceed 70,000 ft??? Large wings??

lovely old bird

I do not think a plane this heavy with an enormous delta wing could fly as high as a U2 with a slender wing optimized for high altitude.

"HIGHER than a U2" ... please cite your sources.

Even the Avro Vulcan Bomber Tribute Page (http://www.vulcans.co.uk/) cites a service ceiling of 55,000 ft for the B.1 version and 60,000 ft for the B.2 model, with a record height of 64,000 ft (apparently for the B.2). I have also seen a couple of sites that give a service height of 65,000 ft for the B.2 variant. Whether it is 60,000 ft, 64,000 ft, or 65,000 ft, that's still well short of the official ceiling of 70,000+ ft for the U2.

That said, I remember watching them fly in and out of RAF Leuchars in the late 60s. Unfortunately, that was often during class so I was often reprimanded by my Scottish schoolmasters for daydreaming. My one and only close-up opportunity was during an Open House at Leuchars. I was somewhat disappointed because (1) it was well-guarded to keep everyone at a fair distance, and (2) the Vulcan doesn't look too impressive when it's on the ground. Its true beauty can only be appreciated when it's in the air.

I have spoken with a Pilot today who says they regularly went above 70,000... why should they say HOW far above...PLEASE don't believe ALL you read in Wikipedia... I would sooner think a guy in the Cockpit would see from the altimeter how high they were.... Not really relavent though after Gary Powers... they went down into the WEEDS... you needed a good Radar to see them there....!!