This weekend, I was lucky enough to see the only flying Avro Vulcan in existence, yet Murphy’s Law dictated that my camera should under no circumstances work. So, whilst this post was to be interjected with marvelous self-made photography, it will instead attempt to use the imagery that Google provides.

Thankfully, you have been gamely notifying us of all the Vulcans you could find, and we have built up quite a collection. There are currently less than 20 survivors, mostly in the UK.

Firstly, at Southend Airport, the Avro XL426 was the 44th of the 88 delta-wing bombers that were built, and this one entered service in August, 1962.

Since 1986, this model has been taken under the wing of the Vulcan Restoration Trust, who dutifully care for the old bird, and occasionally taxi her up and down the runway to stretch her legs. According to submitter Mark, the best view is to be had from the train line that runs right beside the airport.

The XM603 sits rather forlorn at Woodford Airfield, near Manchester, the once gleaming paint tinting to a lifeless green hune.

Information on this one seems difficult to come by, but message board chatter from 2006 suggested that the relic was to be broken down to parts. In fact, her death only served to make others stronger, including the XH558! This photograph shows her final resting place.

Once the United Kingdom’s main deterrant against Cold War threat, armed with nuclear and, presumably, nerve pinch weaponry, the XL391 stands guard at Blackpool airport¹.

It was bought in 2004 on eBay for £15,102, but when the buyer realised he would have to pay another £20,000 to move it anywhere, they abandoned it where it was, sniff, scrapped in 2006.

If you live in the United States, there is one at Castle Air Museum in California, a roofed one at the Air and Space Museum in Nebraska² and finally one snuggled up next to a B-52 at Barksdale AFB, which also shows just how deceptively huge they are:

If you want to see the Vulcan flying, and happen to live near an airshow, there’s still a chance this year!

Thanks: Eddy Rhead, Adam Sadler, Steve Wrona, Tim and Mark

A farmer has written a giant message to the landing pilots of the nearby 549th Strategic Missile Squadron. The field says “You! America Make Proud!”.

I’m not sure of the exact meaning of this cryptic message, I guess the most likely translation is “You nice folk make our country proud, cheers lads” but it could be more of a demand, such as “Oi! You there! Make the country proud or we’ll be mightily upset!”.

Either way, I’m sure the author’s English teacher isn’t very proud.

Thanks: Gearth Hacks

I’ve done a lot of research on this remote forest near Lincoln, Nebraska and managed to identify that it was probably planted around 1957…

OK, I didn’t do very well with the research; I must a bit rusty after my week off! Anyone know anything more?

Thanks: Dave Atkin

This isn’t really an optical illusion, just an image mismatch on highway I-80 between Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, but it looks really freaky! It makes my head hurt.

Thanks to Michelle, and apologies to Joe, who doesn’t like weirdness.

The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha stakes claim to a couple of “world’s largest” titles. The dome structure houses the world’s largest indoor desert as well as “Kingdoms of the Night”, the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit. The zoo also has the world’s second largest free-flight aviary. This zoo map is rotated 90° but should help you identify the various areas, including the “Elephant and Rhino” pen to the east. Do you think any of those pixels are an elephant?

A little to the west is the very colourful Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium which is the home of the College World Series. The 2005 College World Series runs June 17-27 and will be the tournament’s 59th year.

Thanks: Larry Hammond, seamus, Chad

Especially for Andrew Scott, we’re finally posting some trains

Union Pacific’s classification yard in North Platte, Nebraska is the world’s largest railroad classification yard. The yard is made up of 315 miles of track, and up to 10,000 railroad cars are handled here each day. Wikipedia says:

Because of the enormous amount of products traveling through Bailey yard each and every day, the yard is sometimes referred to as being an “economic barometer of America”

Thanks Jeff Jones and dan.

Props for this one go to Quentin and Peter Grabowsky, who both sent us this pretty darn huge message, which is apparently directed to the airmen flying in and out of Offutt AFB near Omaha, Nebraska.