Main flight deck

Controls to the left of the Captain

Centre Console

Controls to the right of the Co-Pilot

Rear Crew Compartment

Throttles

These were used to control the amount of thrust delivered by each of the four Olympus engines.

Power Supply Indicator

Used by the rear-facing crew to check the status of the power supply to the navigational & bombing computer.

Track Control Unit

The track control unit for the military flight system (mfs).

AEO Navigation Window

A small window used for navigational purposes. A similar window is located on the opposite side of the aircraft, where the Nav Radar operator would be seated.

Altimeter

The instrument which indicated how high from the
 ground the aircraft was flying.

Power Supply Panel

The main aircraft power supply panel . 200v 400hz AC is the main source of electrical power in the Vulcan Mk2.  The normal power source would be from the four jet-engine driven alternators, any one of which was capable of providing enough electricity to power all the aircraft systems.  A ground power source could be used before the engines were started. While in the air, an Airborne Auxiliary Power Plant (AAPP) or Ram Air Turbine (RAT) could also be used.  A combination of electromagnetic "dolls eye" indicators, warning lights and dials help to maintain a constant supply of power to the systems. Remember, the Vulcan is an all-electric aircraft. If all the power was to fail the fate of the aircraft was sealed.

TACAN Indicator

The TACAN (Tac(tical) a(ir) n(avigation) system is
  an electronic ultrahigh-frequency navigation device for aircraft which gives a continuous indication of bearing and distance from a transmitting station. This is used to aid navigation.

Joystick

The level used by the Captain or Co-Pilot to manoeuvre the aircraft. The large "chinaman's hat" is the trim control used to make small adjustments to the trim of the aircraft to help it fly straight. The small button on the right of the joystick was the intercom switch which allowed the pilot or co-pilot to talk to other crew members. 
The yellow and black switch would be used to disconnect the "artificial feel" systems.

Panel Dimmer Switches

Used to control the intensity of the lighting on the chartboard lights.

Peddle Adjuster

This knob could be used to adjust the distance the peddles
 were from the seats. 
Thus allowing pilots of different sizes to fly the Vulcan more easily.

Airspeed Indicator

This instrument would give information to the crew about how fast the Vulcan was travelling.

Accelerometer

A device which measures the speed of acceleration
 (or deceleration) of the aircraft.

Fuel System Control Panel

The Vulcan could carry a lot of fuel. The distribution of this fuel had to be carefully monitored by the crew to ensure that the aircraft's centre of gravity did not move, and cause handling problems.

Compass Isolation Switches

Used to isolate the navigational compass.

Grab Handle

The centre console was only extended when both Captain and co-pilot had been strapped in. Although the Vulcan is a large aircraft, the room given to the crew is small. It would be impossible for the pilots to gain access to the cockpit if the centre console was always extended.

Bomb Bay Fuel Tanks Control Panel

On long sorties the Vulcan could use a fuel tank housed in the bomb bay. This panel would be used to direct the fuel from the bomb bay fuel tank either directly to the engines, or to one of the other fuel tanks housed within the wings.

Rudder Peddle

These are controlled by the pilot's feet to alter the heading of the aircraft.

Lamp

Used by the Nav-Plotter or Nav-Radar to 
illuminate instruments, maps or charts.

Tanks Full Indication (in flight refuelling)

Tells the crew how much fuel they have in the fuel tanks.

Tank Pressure Indicators

Indicates the pressure in the fuel tanks. This is useful when the distribution of fuel around the aircrafts tanks has to be altered in order to shift the centre of gravity.

Control Surface Indicator

As the Vulcan is an all-electric aircraft (there is no physical linkage between the cockpit joysticks and the rudder or elevons) this instrument shows the crew the position of the control surfaces whilst in flight.

Mach Meter

Used to indicate the Mach velocity of the aircraft. 
Mach 1 equates to the speed of sound.

Beam Compass

Used to aid navigation.

Engine RPM Indicators

These indicate the revolutions per minute of all 4 Olympus engines. 
If the RPM gets too high damage of the engine could result.

Rate of Climb Indicator

An instrument which would display the 
rate of climb (or decent) of the aircraft.

Oil Pressure Gauge

Use to display the oil pressure. Low oil pressure could mean a loss of oil, which in turn, could lead to engine seizure.

Engine Temperature Indicators

Instruments used to give the crew an indication of the temperature of each jet engine.

MFS Selector Unit

The military flight system (mfs) can be thought of as a early relative to the integrated computer monitor cockpits of modern airliners.  One instrument displayed aircraft attitude (slightly miffed, or fairly relaxed!!) with the other displayed directional information and steering demands. 

Altitude & Auto Land Phase Indicator

The Vulcan was the first four jet-engined aircraft to be fitted with an automatic landing system. This instrument would give feedback to the crew as to the height of the aircraft, and whether the auto landing mechanism was activated.

Flight Refuelling Pressure Gauge

This tells the crew the pressure of the fuel in the tanks during in-flight refuelling. If the pressure of the fuel being pumped from the "feeder" aircraft became too high the fuels tanks could have ruptured.

Captain's Seat

The seat to the left of the cockpit was where the Captain would sit during sorties.

Co-Pilots Seat

The seat to the right of the cockpit was where the Co-pilot would sit during the flight.

Airspeed Indicator

Used to inform the Captain or co-pilot the present air speed of the Vulcan.

Artificial Horizon (Standby)

Used if the cockpit was completely blacked out (likely if a nuclear flash was expected), the artificial horizon would allow the crew to determine the pitch and yaw of the aircraft without having to take a visual reference from the ground or sky.

Bomb Bay Tanks System Control Panel

A bank of switches used to control the movement of fuel from the auxiliary bomb bay fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks.

Nitrogen Purge (in flight refuelling)

Activating this control forces any fuel left in the refuelling probe into No 2 tank. Nitrogen is used, as it is non-explosive.

Dimmer Switches For Probe Illumination Lamps

The refuelling probe has two lights for illumination positioned in the nose of the aircraft. To prevent glare during air-to-air refuelling the dimmer switch could be activated. Similar to domestic dimmer switches.

Intercom Control Unit

Used to adjust communications with the
 crew members or ground crew.

Autopilot Control Panel

Used to control whether the auto-pilot was controlling the flight of the Vulcan. The auto-pilot was a valuable instrument during long flights.

Engine Start Switches

As the name suggests these controls allow the Captain to start the Olympus engines once the pre-flight checks have been completed.

Navigational Control Unit

Part of the complex equipment carried by the Vulcan to ensure positioning of the aircraft could be established. Especially useful when travelling over tundra, such as that expected when flying towards the heart of the Soviet Union.

Brake Chute Control

This switch controlled the deployment of the brake parachute.
 First position activates the braking chute. 
Second position releases it. 
The braking chute must always be jettisoned before the Vulcan comes to a halt.

Director Horizon

The director horizon unit computes the necessary roll and pitch attitudes needed to intercept and maintain headings, courses, attitudes, and altitudes. These computations are then displayed through the flight director horizon as steering commands, greatly simplifying instrument flight.

ADF Bearing Compass

The automatic direction finding bearing compass used radio signals to "home" in on friendly airfields. Useful in poor weather conditions.

Ejection Handle

Should the Vulcan develop a serious fault the Captain and Co-pilot could both eject safely. Unfortunately, the other crew members were no so lucky, and had to try and open the entrance hatch to escape.

Auto-Pilot Control Panel

The Vulcan was designed for long range missions, during much of this time the aircraft used its autopilot to head towards its destination, thus giving the Captain and other crew members valuable time to concentrate on other tasks.

Engine Anti-Icing Control

These control govern how much engine exhaust is circulated around the leading edge of the wings to prevent ice from forming at high altitudes.

Nav Heading Unit (HRS)

The Heading Reference System was used to ascertain the direction in which the Vulcan was currently travelling.

Indicator Control Unit

Sorry, I can't tell you much more about this device I'm afraid.

Tanks Full Indicator

An instrument which indicates when the Vulcan's fuel tanks were full. Used during in-flight refuelling.

HRU Power Failure Indicator

The Heading Reference Unit (HRU) is a self-contained strapdown inertial navigation system. If power was to fail on this device the Vulcan could, if the crew were not aware of the failure, become lost. If power was interrupted to the HRU this would be indicated on this instrument.

Tail Warning Radar Control Unit

The orange rectangle was used to show the presence of enemy missiles or aircraft approaching the Vulcan from the aft. Depending on the frequency used by the incoming missile or aircraft, a number of countermeasures, selected by other control boxes in front of the AEO, could be selected to act as counter-measures to the threat.

GPI Mk VI

The Ground Position Indicator allowed the crew of the Vulcan to gain  accurate knowledge of where the ground was in position to the aircraft. This was especially useful when flying low-level sorties.

Landing Light Switches

Use to activate the landing lights which are located in the wings of the aircraft. The switches have three positions, one for landing, one for taxying (lights extend further from the wings,) and one for fully retracted (lights off). 

Knee Pad Lamp

The Captain and co-pilot would often carry maps in the pockets of their flight suits. When seated they were able to use this light to read the map without having to remove it from their uniform. 

Periscope

Used by the AEO to view the underside of the aircraft to ensure any missile being carried had detached safely from the Vulcan. Also used to view behind the aircraft for a visual check of the airspace.

Abandon Aircraft Illuminated Sign

This was one sign the AEO, Nav Plotter and Nav Radar did not want to see illuminated. If the aircraft had to be abandoned the Captain or co-pilot could use this to advise the rear crew to quickly escape via the entrance hatch. Remember, only the Captain and co-pilot had ejection seats.

Unknown Instrument

Despite extensive research I have, so far, been unable to find out what this does. If you know, please inform me. Thanks!

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