Guest speaker at our annual Christmas Buffet is Vulcan pilot Peter Merrifield, who will be speaking about what it was like to fly the Vulcan in the 1970s Royal Air Force.
The event is open to both VRT Members and non-members.
Peter joined the RAF on 4 April 1968 (just three day’s after its 50th anniversary!) and flew the Vulcan B2 from 1970-75, based at RAF Scampton. He was initially with 617 Squadron before moving to the Radar Flying Squadron, part of 230 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), also at Scampton.
Following the Vulcan, Peter did an operational tour in Germany before converting to the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft at RAF St Mawgan in 1977 and then at RAF Kinloss in 1981. After a time as a Maritime Air Controller, he returned to flying in 1990, again on the Nimrod at Kinloss. He retired from the RAF in October 1994 before becoming a commercial airliner pilot flying the MD 83, followed by Airbus 320,321 and 330.
In his talk, Peter will cover the history of the Vulcan, what it was like to fly (including some of the handling issues it threw up for pilots), as well as taking a look back at his time at Scampton with 617 Squadron and 230 OCU.
It is sure to be a fascinating afternoon and one which will also include our famous Christmas Buffet, plus dessert, tea and coffee (included in the ticket price).
There will also be a licensed pay bar.
Entry is by advanced ticket only.