On Tuesday of this week I got a phone call at work asking if I wanted to join a group on a VC10 flight from Brize Norton – after a nano seconds though I said YES!
Thursday 10am 2 of us set off for Brize Norton – we had to be there by 12 so we had plenty of time. We met the rest of the group and were escorted to the aircraft – XV108 VC10.
Took off at 13.40 and returned 3 hours later having been over the North Sea acting as a filling station for some fast jets. On returning to Brize we were still heavy so a low pass was performed to burn off some fuel – 2nd time round we had to do a go-around as something was in the way.
All in all a stunning afternoon – one of the other people on board said “I have died and gone to photographer heaven” – which sums it up very well.
Hope you like the pictures 😉
By: paulc - 27th October 2004 at 06:54
Whiskey Delta,
no – the group ‘chairman’ spent many months getting the flights organised and as in a lot of cases it was getting hold of the right person on the inside.
Most RAF stations have a ‘public liasion officer’ and it was through her that the flights were arranged (I believe) The trip was at short notice though – I got the call on Tuesday pm for the trip on Thursday – luckily my boss is very understanding and is well aware of my interest in aviation / photography.
hope this helps
Paulc
By: Whiskey Delta - 26th October 2004 at 15:01
Is your aviation group associated with the RAF?
By: paulc - 26th October 2004 at 14:58
Ian,
glad you liked the pictures – it was a stunning day. 🙂
Are you coming to the meeting Thursday ? – it should be a good one.
Whiskey Delta – it was arranged by an avation group I belong to and my name was on the list to go – just lucky I was a) at my desk when the call came and b) a boss who understands these things.
By: Whiskey Delta - 26th October 2004 at 14:29
Simply outstanding pictures. What an opportunity you had! What do you do to come across such offers?
By: Spey111 - 26th October 2004 at 13:06
Nice shots Paul.
I did a VC10 trip in Aug 2000 refuelling Tonados and Harriers over the North Sea. A great trip with some fantastic photo opportunities. Would love to do another trip with a digital camera if ever the chance came along again.
Ian Haskell
By: EAL_KING - 6th October 2004 at 18:44
i still remember my flights on the vc10 brize norton – decimumanu via brugen and back when i lived in sardinia was strange when i went on my first flight facing forward was scary facing backward taking off wen i was 5 always good flights on them glad some still have seating in them.
By: paulc - 13th September 2004 at 09:50
Have loads more but all similar to those posted + not got slides back yet either
By: adwwebber - 13th September 2004 at 08:59
I to had this kind of oppurtunity and it truly is a great experience, My trip was about ten years ago and i would love to do it again. The sound of Conways at full fettle used to wake me up most mornings and the VC10 will always be on of my favourites. Nice pics anymore ?
By: paulc - 13th September 2004 at 07:20
Swift,
nothing to do with my work at all – it was organised by a aviation group I belong to.
CaptainBe,
no hearing aid required – lovely noise. Flew over Newcastle on return to Brize so you may have see/heard us (approx 15:45pm I think)
By: BY767 - 10th September 2004 at 20:44
WOW!!! that’s looks like a once in a lifetime experience you had there!!
I’m very jelous, however I did get to go on a VC-10 at RIAT 2004 and meet the crew. They were really friendly and told me everything about the a/c. It was its 38th birthday on the day! lol it had balloons tied to the refuelling spike! The seats were facing backwards and it was not an ex BOAC bird. I doubt I’ll ever goet to fly on one though…
I’ll try and see if I can get some photos of it later but no promises as yet.
By: vicky ten - 10th September 2004 at 18:47
VC10, I love them, been all around the world on them, with the backwards facing seats (RAF 1960s safety idea)
The original RAF VC10’s XR and XV series were a hybrid Standard with the performance and range of a Super VC10
The ZA series was split, ZA140-144 were originally BOAC standards , owned by BA but leased to Gulf Air, converted to K2 standard they were the oldest airframes and have now all been scrapped.
ZA147-ZA150 were ex East African Super VC10s and represented the remaining 4 of the original 5 supplied to that airline. They were converted to K3 standard and are still in service. They were also the last airframes built.
Finally The ex-BA super VC10s. The RAF purchased 14 airframes in 1981 storing 11 at Abingdon and 3 at BZN. 5 were eventually selected for conversion to K4 standard. ZD230, 240, 241, 242. ZD235 has been scrapped.
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th September 2004 at 16:59
You are one hell of a lucky so and so…..
Do you need a hearing aid cos of it?! LOL!!
By: Swift - 10th September 2004 at 16:06
Stunning shots , what do you do that got you up there in the first place?
By: paulc - 10th September 2004 at 16:03
Andy,
thought you might say that 😉 – see you at Popham sometime – events on 12 & 19th September wx permitting
By: Skymonster - 10th September 2004 at 15:50
Paul, nicely done!!!
Andy
Oh and by the way – I hate you! :p :diablo: [JOKE!]
By: Papa Lima - 10th September 2004 at 15:05
Speechless and green with envy!
By: Ren Frew - 10th September 2004 at 14:10
Truly excellent stuff. I was supposed to be doing a similar trip in a Nimrod from Kinloss last month but they cancelled at the last minute.
Some mates got to do some air to air with US Navy Hornets from the Omega Air Tanker 707 recently. Lucky sods the lot of ya ! 😀
By: paulc - 10th September 2004 at 12:01
rear facing in the cabin
By: dodrums - 10th September 2004 at 11:52
lovely stuff. out if interest, is the seating forward or rear facing?
By: paulc - 10th September 2004 at 11:46
cockpit shot of VC10 – should have been the 2nd RR Conway pic but hit wrong button.
I could have but as it was a trip report I thought it best go here – am sure people will see it somehow
Yep – definately a lucky *******
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September 10, 2004 at 7:15 am