Not an explore, but there again, not everything in this section is! Please move it to somewhere more appropriate if required!
Handley Page Victor XL231 was converted to the K2 tanker specification in 1962, less than a year after entering service, and saw service during the Falklands conflict (in support of the 'Black Buck' Vulcan raid), and also during the Gulf War, before retiring with the rest of the Victor Fleet in 1993. She flew into Elvington in November 1993, a gift from his father to the heroically named Andre Tempest, who remains the owner (and was walking around in his flight suit when iwas there). Although not airworthy, all her systems are fully operational, and several times a year, she does fast taxy runs down the runway, like 'Teasin Tina' at Bruntingthorpe. In fact they were running it there today, but to spend 2 consecutive days in Yorkshire is morally indefensible.
This was a special event with various pilots and people wheeled out to give talks, and stuff, and then a night photoshoot with the Victor and the Mosquito.
Front-ish view
The nose. Notice the artwork and safety instructions - it really is in superb condition, especially when you consider that it's kept outside. It's also been repainted not too long ago.
Inside the pointy end. It's remarkably cramped.
Then it went dark, but they had some lights.
Head on
I think this was one of the original pilots. It's difficult to photograph people on long exposures, so this was only possible with a VR lens and a ridiculously high ISO. It's not too bad unless you look really, really closely.