Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere. From their website:
Monday, 23 September 2013
‘Queen of the Skies’ retires to Dunsfold Park
Dunsfold Park Ltd and Brooklands Museum are pleased to announce that the last Vickers VC10 will arrive tomorrow (Tuesday 24th September) at its new permanent home, the famous Surrey airfield. The VC10, which carries the RAF serial number ZA150 was the very last VC10 of 54 built at Brooklands in the 1960s it is one of the last two flying with the RAF from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and being retired this week.
The aircraft will be landing on the airfield at 12:30* with its six-strong aircrew and will be greeted by members of the aviation teams from Dunsfold Park and Brooklands Museum.
Jim McAllister, Chief Executive of Dunsfold Park Ltd, comments, “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Brooklands Museum to provide a new home for the Vickers ‘Queen of the Skies’ VC10. The Aerodrome has an illustrious aviation history which we are keen to remember and celebrate so this is a welcome addition to the Hunter, Sea Hawk and 747 which currently reside here.”
The RAF bought 14 new VC10s in the 1960s for strategic transport and later went on to purchase aircraft retired from the commercial market, converting a further 14 into air-to-air refuelling tankers during the 1980s and ‘90s. In total, the RAF has operated 28 VC10s of differing variants, and the aircraft conducted a range of tasks from troop and VIP transport, aero-medical missions and air sampling after nuclear tests. In recent years the VC10s have been used solely for air-to-air refuelling, with their last missions in this role having been completed on Friday 20th September. The VC10 becomes the second longest serving type in the RAF’s inventory with 47 years of service just narrowly eclipsed by the English Electric Canberra which was withdrawn in 2006.
ZA150 was originally built as 5H-MOG for East African Airways as a “Combi”, based on the Super VC10 but with a large forward freight door – which, incidentally, greatly eased the conversion of this variant into a tanker aircraft, allowing five huge fuel tanks to be installed on the main deck. After its airline service was completed, this aircraft was stored at Filton for several years before making its first flight as a tanker in 1984.
Allan Winn, Director of Brooklands Museum, says, “It is hugely important for us to have saved this aircraft as the last heavy airliner ever to be completely built at Brooklands – and indeed in the UK. But it is also significant as its retirement marks the end of an unbroken century of front-line service by Brooklands-built aircraft with the British armed forces. That is a unique record, unchallenged by any other factory-customer relationship anywhere in the world. We are delighted that Dunsfold Park has made it possible for us to house this symbolic aircraft back in Surrey.”
Dunsfold Park will be open for visitors wishing to witness this important arrival, with access via the North Gate off Stovolds Hill. If you would like to witness the VC10’s final flight please email [email]nancy.edwards@rutland.co.uk[/email] with your contact details. Longer-term arrangements for public access to the VC10 at Dunsfold Park will be confirmed in due course.
* The arrival of the VC10 at Dunsfold is subject to weather and operational constraints: please monitor http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com or http://www.dunsfoldpark.com.
By: Rob68 - 31st August 2015 at 15:39
Think that reg was at Bruntingthorpe for final flight
By: D1566 - 31st August 2015 at 11:29
Saw a Mercedes Estate car on the M74 this morning with the reg number ‘VC10RAF’, lucky chap 🙂
By: TonyT - 1st September 2014 at 20:57
Cool we used to run them every 28 days in he mob to re-establish the oils etc. Za150 and 149 were ex East African Airways and had an extra 68psi switch in the cabin compressor ducts, it was unique to just those two airframes and was specified by EA Airways when ordered. Surprised what you remember off ones VC10 courses lol.
By: VC10 - 1st September 2014 at 20:43
Hi – newbie here. I am one of the engineers who maintain 150 at Dunsfold.
The museum acquired Cn 885 because it was the last VC10 to be built & the last complete aircraft to be constructed & flown out of Brooklands on 16 February 1970. The intention is to maintain 150 in a taxiable condition for as long as possible. Every month or so we run the engines and operate all the systems. On the 19 August we taxied her for the first time for 3 lengths of Dunsfold’s runway without any defects being noted.
The intention was the carry out a high speed taxi at this years Wing & Wheels but unfortunately organisational issues beat us at the last minute. However all the right people witnessed the taxi and this is postive for next year’s event. She was opened up to the public at this year’s event and proved to be very popular.
By: David_Kavangh - 25th September 2013 at 20:57
Found on YouTube. Wish I could have been there. VC 10 arriving at Dunsfold yesterday.
By: AMB - 25th September 2013 at 15:13
Why do Brooklands want a second one?
Exactly and it won’t even be at Brooklands! Everyone expected it to go to Cosford for the RAF Museum, as they still haven’t got one! I was told the AOC would not give authority for a VC10 to land at Cosford, despite the fact that a Vulcan, Victor, and British Airways Boeing 707 and VC10 have landed safely there! In the light of that, they probably thought it too difficult to dismantle the VC10 and road it in there! Great shame!
By: springbok - 24th September 2013 at 19:32
Well done Brooklands!
By: David Burke - 24th September 2013 at 18:43
Joe -its at a remote location on an airfield in Surrey. Its hard to see what side benefits could be gained -its in tanker format so little use for film work and with a 747 already on sight its hard to beat the established competition! All we can hope in the long run is that house prices don’t continue to spiral and that Dunsfold is forgotten about by the developers!
By: Bombgone - 24th September 2013 at 18:31
Should’ve gone to Specsavers. 🙂
Yeh! fing is Specsavers didn’t exist then. So I could believe what I was seeing and still do. 🙂
By: Monsun - 24th September 2013 at 18:19
Oh well, at least we might get to see it when the ‘star in a reasonably priced car’ is tearing around the Top Gear test track?
By: Mike J - 24th September 2013 at 18:02
………the best looking aircraft design ever. Followed by the Boeing 747.
Should’ve gone to Specsavers. 🙂
By: Bombgone - 24th September 2013 at 17:49
For me the VC10 Is the best looking aircraft design ever. Followed by the Boeing 747. These days design looks and style don’t matter so much as more importantly, how many passengers you can pack in to an aeroplane. Bit like a brand new Stage coach local bus. No one really cares as long as you can get from A to B.
By: Arabella-Cox - 24th September 2013 at 17:32
Having a VC-10 at Dunsfold is better than being in the smelter! Who knows what side benefits there may be by this addition to the Brooklands collection, albeit at a remote location. Access may be an issue in the short term.
By: HALCYONMAN - 24th September 2013 at 13:33
Just flew over Winnersh, Berks at 1.30, heading Farnborough direction low and slow fantastic and very lucky to see!
By: Black Knight - 24th September 2013 at 13:23
Just had 1 over Bovingdon airfield
By: David Burke - 24th September 2013 at 13:08
‘The VC10 becomes the second longest serving type in the RAF’s inventory with 47 years of service just narrowly eclipsed by the English Electric Canberra which was withdrawn in 2006.’ -The poor Chipmunk is always in the shadows ! The BBMF have one that entered service in 1952 !
By: Mike J - 24th September 2013 at 12:34
Exactly David. It does seem rather strange, a type built in relatively small numbers, already well represented in the collection, kept in the open at a remote site from the main museum. To be perfectly honest, they would be better placed using their limited resources to look after the airframes they already have, some of which were in less than pristine condition the last time I visited.
By: David Burke - 24th September 2013 at 12:06
Its not hugely important. Its going to cost significant amounts of money to maintain and its located away from the main site. In the long term it will corrode and without serious consideration to housing it indoors it cannot survive forever. It seems strange for a museum like Brooklands to entertain the idea when it doesn’t greatly add to what they already have.
By: charliehunt - 24th September 2013 at 09:20
I think the implication behind Allan Winn’s statement is clear...”Allan Winn, Director of Brooklands Museum, says, “It is hugely important for us to have saved this aircraft as the last heavy airliner ever to be completely built at Brooklands………….. We are delighted that Dunsfold Park has made it possible for us to house this symbolic aircraft back in Surrey.”
By: HP111 - 24th September 2013 at 09:15
That’s good to know. It would have been even better if it could have landed at Weybridge, but the runway was dug up when Mercedes Benz moved in. Does this mean that Dunsfold is becoming a sort of outstation for Brooklands?
Quote: Why do Brooklands want a second one?
They already have an executive version, a fuselage, and a large nose section (and possibly other bits). I guess they envisage some use for the RAF one.
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September 24, 2013 at 5:57 am