Handley Page Victor - Survivor XL231
K.2 XL231 - Andre Tempest (runner), Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire
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Victor K.2 XL231 at Yorkshire Air Museum, 28th August 2025; Keiran Wilkinson
XL231, above, is owned by businessman Andre Tempest and is pampered by Andre and his crew at Elvington. First flown on 28th December 1961, she was picked up by a crew from RAF Wittering and flown into service with 139 Squadron on 31st January 1962. She served with 139 in the conventional bomber role until November 1963 when she was returned to HP for an upgrade to Blue Steel carrying capability (B.2R as termed by HP, though not the RAF). She was returned to Wittering on 17th July 1964 and served on until 139 Squadron was disbanded in late 1968.
Returned to HP once more in early 1969, she was stored awaiting a decision on being converted to a K.2 tanker. HP was driven to collapse, and so in late April 1970 XL231 was ferried to Woodford and became the K.2 development aircraft, undergoing many modifications and not flying again until 1st March 1972. Over the next two years she carried out development and trials work for the K.2 programme and service clearance flights with the A&AEE at Boscombe, returning to Woodford in January 1974 for work to complete her to the final K.2 standard. She was finally delivered back to the RAF - 57 Squadron at RAF Marham - on 8th July 1977 and quickly appeared as part of the static display at the Queens Silver Jubilee Review of the RAF at RAF Finningley later that month.
In 1982, XL231 was heavily involved in the build-up to the Falklands War, helping train many RAF crews of types such as Nimrods, Vulcans, and Hercules in the somewhat neglected skills of air to air refuelling, and helping several Harriers on their way to Ascenscion Island.
She then went on to become part of the regular Airbridge flights to the island in support of the Task Force and later British forces on the Falklands, only finishing these duties in July 1985 when she moved to 55 Squadron. She was back with 57 the next month, but they were disbanded in June 1986 as Falklands Airbridge ops had so reduced the fatigue life of many Victors that several had to be taken out of service. Back with 55 Squadron, XL231's next period of excitement was in 1990/1991, supporting operations during the first Gulf War - Operation Granby. Flown with 100% serviceability on all tasked operations, the Victor force spent the last years of their lives supporting RAF and Allied operations in the Gulf area, and XL231 was finally retired on 15th October 1993.
Her last flight was on 25th November 1993 - arriving at the Yorkshire Air Museum (YAM) in Elvington, joining the ever-growing collection of airframes. She wears her Granby nose art with pride and carries the name of 'Lusty Lindy'. The name 'Spirit of Godfrey Lee' was applied later as a tribute to the late HP designer, often regarded as 'Mr. Victor'. Ever since it arrived in 1993, the airframe has remained in a fully operational condition and is now the world's only fully operational Victor. XL231 used to carry out fast taxi runs on their Thunder Days, but unfortunately, due to YAM not owning the airfield's runway, fast taxi runs stopped some years ago. However, XL231 still carries out static engine runs frequently.
Having sported the hemp colour scheme ever since service, the team decided it was time for a change. Over the course of 2025, the team removed the much-loved 'Lusty Lindy' artwork and scheme, and applied the camouflage it wore with 232 OCU during the early 1980's. After lots of hard work over several months, repainting the aircraft and adding all the many stencils, the team unveiled the new paint scheme in mid-late 2025, and it looks stunning.
Follow the team's preservation progress on Facebook at Handley Page Victor XL231 'Lusy Lindy'.
Returned to HP once more in early 1969, she was stored awaiting a decision on being converted to a K.2 tanker. HP was driven to collapse, and so in late April 1970 XL231 was ferried to Woodford and became the K.2 development aircraft, undergoing many modifications and not flying again until 1st March 1972. Over the next two years she carried out development and trials work for the K.2 programme and service clearance flights with the A&AEE at Boscombe, returning to Woodford in January 1974 for work to complete her to the final K.2 standard. She was finally delivered back to the RAF - 57 Squadron at RAF Marham - on 8th July 1977 and quickly appeared as part of the static display at the Queens Silver Jubilee Review of the RAF at RAF Finningley later that month.
In 1982, XL231 was heavily involved in the build-up to the Falklands War, helping train many RAF crews of types such as Nimrods, Vulcans, and Hercules in the somewhat neglected skills of air to air refuelling, and helping several Harriers on their way to Ascenscion Island.
She then went on to become part of the regular Airbridge flights to the island in support of the Task Force and later British forces on the Falklands, only finishing these duties in July 1985 when she moved to 55 Squadron. She was back with 57 the next month, but they were disbanded in June 1986 as Falklands Airbridge ops had so reduced the fatigue life of many Victors that several had to be taken out of service. Back with 55 Squadron, XL231's next period of excitement was in 1990/1991, supporting operations during the first Gulf War - Operation Granby. Flown with 100% serviceability on all tasked operations, the Victor force spent the last years of their lives supporting RAF and Allied operations in the Gulf area, and XL231 was finally retired on 15th October 1993.
Her last flight was on 25th November 1993 - arriving at the Yorkshire Air Museum (YAM) in Elvington, joining the ever-growing collection of airframes. She wears her Granby nose art with pride and carries the name of 'Lusty Lindy'. The name 'Spirit of Godfrey Lee' was applied later as a tribute to the late HP designer, often regarded as 'Mr. Victor'. Ever since it arrived in 1993, the airframe has remained in a fully operational condition and is now the world's only fully operational Victor. XL231 used to carry out fast taxi runs on their Thunder Days, but unfortunately, due to YAM not owning the airfield's runway, fast taxi runs stopped some years ago. However, XL231 still carries out static engine runs frequently.
Having sported the hemp colour scheme ever since service, the team decided it was time for a change. Over the course of 2025, the team removed the much-loved 'Lusty Lindy' artwork and scheme, and applied the camouflage it wore with 232 OCU during the early 1980's. After lots of hard work over several months, repainting the aircraft and adding all the many stencils, the team unveiled the new paint scheme in mid-late 2025, and it looks stunning.
Follow the team's preservation progress on Facebook at Handley Page Victor XL231 'Lusy Lindy'.
Information on this page current as of 14/09/2025, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of XL231 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net