Flight 618 RAF Recruitment Film 1970's | Royal Air Force

This 1970s RAF recruitment film showcases the teamwork, precision and dedication behind preparing a Vulcan bomber for an overseas flight from RAF Waddington to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Far from focusing solely on the aircrew, the film highlights the wide range of specialist trades that keep the Royal Air Force operational.

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The sequence begins with a Vulcan returning to Waddington and being towed into a hangar for maintenance. A second aircraft is fuelled, inspected and readied for departure, while ground crews carry out vital engineering tasks. When an oil tube is found to be leaking, a WAAF officer quickly requisitions a replacement, the quartermaster processes the paperwork, and the new part is dispatched – reflecting the smooth efficiency of RAF logistics in the 1970s.

The film moves through a variety of RAF workplaces: the officers’ mess, administrative offices, the map room, the ops room and air traffic control. WAAFs manage leave applications, drive personnel buses and support daily station life. A typist and early RAF computer system also feature, illustrating the breadth of non-flying roles.

At RAF Akrotiri, Vulcan crews prepare for flight as parachutes and dinghies are packed, navigation checks are made and the aircraft is readied on the pan. The film concludes with a montage of all the people whose work, often unseen, ensures the Vulcan force remains ready for operations.

A fascinating snapshot of Cold War RAF life, celebrating the teamwork behind one of Britain’s most iconic aircraft.

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