Shipbucket

An impressive looking beastie, could also work I suppose with a large swing wing too.. I like

Interesting idea.

Nice idea on the Bombcorde I've been thinking along similar lines for a bit now, with a Vulcan replacement being authorised in the 70s. I was thinking of something along the lines of an enlarged Tornado layout, basically a high-wing Backfire with a revised nose. Also, I've had the idea of a strategic TSR.2 (SSR.2?) as part of an AU I've been working on periodically for years. It'd be a minimum-change aircraft along the lines of the FB-111A with a higher MTOW and bigger wing for additional fuel.

_________________
Hey, it's gotta be 5 o'clock somewhere...

Currently working on:
The October War, 27-10-1962 (apparently forever);
"Saxonverse" alt-UK;
Federation of the Channel Islands AU;
Republic of Yopur & Andaman;
some sort of overarching AU;
Regaining my sanity.

That "Empire's Twilight" is too expensive, after all that forum is not very realistic in many details, however an option could be some B-52D re engined with RR Conway Mk508. She could take 2 X.12 Pandora in pylons, or 2-4 Grand Slam II (depends on the weight of that thing). The Conway 508 perhaps could be fitted, as in the Boeing 707-420.

A B-52 with Conways sounds a great idea for the later 1950s. For a 1970s purchase an RB.211 would be interesting.

_________________
Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

The more I look at it the more I want to propose a modified F-111 for the sake of simplicity.

Based off of the FB-111A fuselage rather than that of the K so longer and with broader span. Possibly fitted with Olympus Mk.320 engines, a full British electronics suite as the F-111K, specialised RECCE and ISR pallets for the bomb bay which should be capable of holding a pair of standoff missiles, first AGM-69 with a British physics package and then ASALM with the same physics package.
Probe and drogue equipment would be fitted as standard as the F-111K as well as the inherent ability to employ Martel and other British specific weapons such as JP233. The centreline hardpoint would be retained when used with certain mission pallets allowing for greater load-carrying flexibility.
I'd envisage up-to 50 aircraft to be ordered with a more realistic total of 36-40, in service from 1970 until around 2005 latterly in the RECCE and conventional interdiction roles.

_________________
AU Projects: | Banbha et al. | New England: The Divided States
Blood and Fire

Having more Vulcan thoughts.

Using the Phase 6 as the B.3, introduced sometime around 1965-66 as conversions from B.2s. Around 60 converted. Skybolt is cancelled so need to find another weapon.
Have totally new avionics, inertial navigation systems from TSR.2 allied to the SLAR, basically making full commonality with TSR.2 systems to reduce costs and improve navigation at low and high altitudes. A new developed Blue Parrot radar with more range and terrain avoidance (Blue *insert bird name here*). Olympus engines still.
By 1980s still have 36-40 left in service and upgraded with FLIR too and UK buys into the US ALCM programme. Uses multiple hardpoints.

That's my thoughts so far.

_________________
Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Perhaps a Vulcan based design is better, being the most British choice. As for the weapons, what about the Avro W.140?

Maybe, Pandora is another option.
I think perhaps a new purpose-built weapon would be better to match the improved accuracy of the Vulcan's nav equipment, needs to be supersonic terminal, ramjet powered perhaps but has to be reasonably low drag to get at least four under the wings. That's the major draw back of W.140 and Pandora. Need to think some more on this before attempting a kitbash of my Skybolt B.3.

_________________
Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

I've also been thinking of some Vulcan B.2 refit options for the late 70s. Keep the wings but extend the fuselage spine behind the cockpit as on the Phase 6 for more fuel, RB177 Medway turbofans for improved fuel efficiency, reactivate the Skybolt hardpoints for bombs, stand-off nukes, cruise missiles, Sea Eagle etc. Hell, even replace the H2S radar and TFR with a more modern set. Tornado-derived, maybe? You'd need a lot of ballast of course, but it's not insurmountable. Oh, and rear crew ejection seats, too!

_________________
Hey, it's gotta be 5 o'clock somewhere...

Currently working on:
The October War, 27-10-1962 (apparently forever);
"Saxonverse" alt-UK;
Federation of the Channel Islands AU;
Republic of Yopur & Andaman;
some sort of overarching AU;
Regaining my sanity.