XH672 “Maid Marian”

XH672 first flew from Radlett on 6 April 1960 as a Victor B.2. Handley Page kept it for engine surge, autopilot and autoland trials, mostly flown by test pilot John Allam. By June 1964 it had made 147 test flights for the firm.

It was then converted for strategic reconnaissance and joined No. 543 Squadron at Wyton in August 1965. In May 1969 it carried a navigator from New York to Wisley in the Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race. Hawker Siddeley then made it the 24th and last Victor K.2 tanker. It flew again on 14 April 1978, the only reconnaissance Victor so converted.

With No. 57 Squadron it flew to Ascension in April 1982. On 30 April it led the 13 Victors supporting Black Buck 1, as 'Red One'. It landed, refuelled and took off again to meet the returning Vulcan. In under 16 hours it was airborne for 13 hours 48 minutes.

With No. 55 Squadron in the 1991 Gulf War it carried the nose art 'Maid Marian' and flew 52 missions, more than any other Victor. On 30 November 1993 it made the last official Victor flight, to Shawbury. Cosford's runway was too short, so it went on by road in early 1994. It had flown 8,196 hours.

In Hangar 4, the National Cold War Exhibition, alongside Vulcan XM598 and Valiant XD818.