Handley Page Victor - Survivor XH670
B.2 XH670 - South Wales Aviation Museum, St. Athan, Wales
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Victor B.2 XH670 at South Wales Aviation Museum , 8th February 2025; Jake Wallace
XH670 first flew on 2nd November 1959 and spent its entire flying career as part of the Controller (Aircraft) fleet, mainly based out of Handley Page's airfield at Radlett but also spending time with the A&AEE at Boscombe Down and Bedford.
She was an important part of the low level trials carried out in 1964 prior to the transition of the V-force from primarily high level flying to low level tactics after the development of effective surface to air missiles made the old tactics suicidal.
She finished her flying career in November 1968 and was put into storage, having been earmarked for possible conversion to a K.2 tanker. Despite being flown to Woodford in May 1970, conversion did not proceed and she was struck off charge in October of that year to be used as a 'Christmas tree' to provide spares for other aircraft. In August 1983, the gutted hulk was scrapped and the cockpit removed.
Acquired by Nigel Towler as part of his reclusive cockpit collection, he acquired various parts including seats and a door from XL161, but she is still in need of much restoration. She was put up for sale by an auctioneer in 2022, being sold to the South Wales Aviation Museum (SWAM) where it moved to later in the year. In February 2023, the cockpit took a small trip across the road to Horizon Aircraft Servies where a stand was fabricated so the cockpit could sit more comfortably whilst on display. The cockpit returned to the museum in 2024 where is now sits outside the front of the hangar with a number of other exhibits.
She was an important part of the low level trials carried out in 1964 prior to the transition of the V-force from primarily high level flying to low level tactics after the development of effective surface to air missiles made the old tactics suicidal.
She finished her flying career in November 1968 and was put into storage, having been earmarked for possible conversion to a K.2 tanker. Despite being flown to Woodford in May 1970, conversion did not proceed and she was struck off charge in October of that year to be used as a 'Christmas tree' to provide spares for other aircraft. In August 1983, the gutted hulk was scrapped and the cockpit removed.
Acquired by Nigel Towler as part of his reclusive cockpit collection, he acquired various parts including seats and a door from XL161, but she is still in need of much restoration. She was put up for sale by an auctioneer in 2022, being sold to the South Wales Aviation Museum (SWAM) where it moved to later in the year. In February 2023, the cockpit took a small trip across the road to Horizon Aircraft Servies where a stand was fabricated so the cockpit could sit more comfortably whilst on display. The cockpit returned to the museum in 2024 where is now sits outside the front of the hangar with a number of other exhibits.
Information on this page current as of 09/02/2025, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of XH670 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net