Dropping Britain's First H-Bomb by Kenneth Hubbard Michael Simmons

Author:Kenneth Hubbard, Michael Simmons [Kenneth Hubbard, Michael Simmons]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783460649
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Published: 2008-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Christmas Island

The morning of 12 March dawned in the usual balmy tropical manner, with only wispy specks of cloud in the sky and the sun shimmering on the Pacific Ocean. By the time we had taken breakfast and completed pre-flight planning and meteorological briefing for the 1,160nm leg from Honolulu to Christmas Island, the temperature was rising fast, and even in our tropical lightweight flying overalls we were all hot and sticky on arrival at XD818. Bill Caple had everything in hand and the Technical Log Form 700 was duly signed.

The two navigators and AEO climbed into the aircraft whilst Bob Beeson and I carried out the external checks; with these completed we quickly got into XD818 and strapped ourselves into the ejection seats for the final leg of our 9,000nm flight to Christmas Island. With all engines running, the Crew Chief aboard and crew checks complete, we commenced our taxi to take-off position under the direction of the Controller. The planned flight time for this leg was 3hr 5min; as zone time on Christmas Island was 1 hour ahead of Honolulu and we were taking off at 10.00hrs local, the Christmas Island local arrival time would be 14.05hrs.

Once again there was considerable interest shown by USAF personnel in the Valiant as we taxied out for take-off, and it made one feel extremely proud to be at the controls of this superb aircraft. At the hold point for the active runway, we worked through all the pre-take-off drills and then declared ourselves ready for take-off.

Lined up on the active runway, we lost no time in obtaining take-off clearance for a direct climb on track. XD818 moved forward under the power of her four Rolls-Royce Avon engines, each rated at 10,000lb thrust, making an impressive noise, the initial climb after rotation from the runway being equally impressive. Naturally, as the Royal Air Force image was being demonstrated to an appreciative audience, I made sure the initial climb was maintained at maximum power until we turned on to our course for Christmas Island.

Navigation on this leg would not be difficult, initially working the Honolulu broadcaster for the first 600nm, enabling the navigator to monitor his Ground Position Indicator. Thereafter, we should be able to pick up the radio beacon located on Christmas Island. Once at 40,000ft we settled into a steady cruise pattern, but as there was no problem regarding fuel economy for this leg, we cruised at max cruising speed of Mach 0.82.

Some 300nm from Honolulu we could see a colossal cloud formation ahead which was obviously the inter-tropical front mentioned at met briefing, and it looked as if we should have to climb above 40,000ft to avoid the anvil shaped tops of the cumulonimbus cloud. To fly through this would entail severe turbulence; therefore we climbed to 46,000ft which kept us just above the tops of these clouds.

At a range of 250nm from Christmas Island this weather pattern was well behind us and the visibility ahead excellent, with patches of fair weather cumulus cloud, which did not restrict visibility.

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