August 19, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Did anybody see the RAF VC-10 arrive today into MAN mid afternoon, I was in Cheadle at the time so only got to see the underside. Does anybody know if they still carry passengers or was it a refueler? Also noted that the Kalita 747 is back again, any ideas why and what it’s carrying?
Lastly, an A330 arrived just after the VC-10 which was red and white, but again I could only see the underside and couldn’t see who it was, anybody know?
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th September 2008 at 13:13
Possel.
G-ARTA the Prototype VC10 was converted from its original prototype form in 1968 to be an equivalent of the production 1103, however there were sufficient differences tha it received the unique type number 1109. This s where it gets interesting as the Aircraft was sold to Freddie Laker, but ever operated by a Laker owned company. It was then leased to various operators on short leases but ended up being a permanent part of the BUA fleet (G-ARTA, G-ASIW, G-ASIX and G-ATDJ), but as far as I tell remained in Laker Ownership even after the transfer to BCAL and the ‘unfortunate incident’ in early 1972 – The circumstances of which still irritate me after all hese years.
Thanks for making that clear – I was wondering if my memory had completely gone!
By: TRIDENT MAN - 10th September 2008 at 09:26
Chaps,are we forgetting A40-AB last flight around 1987 into Brooklands!:eek:
By: opssys - 10th September 2008 at 06:51
Possel.
G-ARTA the Prototype VC10 was converted from its original prototype form in 1968 to be an equivalent of the production 1103, however there were sufficient differences that it received the unique type number 1109. This is where it gets interesting as the Aircraft was sold to Freddie Laker, but never operated by a Laker owned company. It was then leased to various operators on short leases but ended up being a permanent part of the BUA fleet (G-ARTA, G-ASIW, G-ASIX and G-ATDJ), but as far as I can tell remained in Laker Ownership even after the transfer to BCAL and the ‘unfortunate incident’ in early 1972 – The circumstances of which still irritate me after all these years.
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th September 2008 at 20:47
The mention of the Air Malawi VC10 reminds me of something I heard at RAE Bedford in 1981. They had the old RAE VC10 XX914 there where it was for sale as scrap. A fitter told me that when he helped an Air Malawi rep to inspect it, he said “it’s a bit corroded, isn’t it?”
The Air Malawi chap replied “It’s better than the one we’ve got!”
NB Didn’t Laker Airways operate the prototype G-ARTA before it was w/o at Gatwick in a heavy landing?
By: Newforest - 23rd August 2008 at 19:57
You were just given the answer in the previous post!:D Air Ceylon, Air Malawi, BUA, British Caledonian, East African Airways, Ghana Airways, MEA, Nigeria Airways and Sierra Leone Airways.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd August 2008 at 19:49
Did anybody besides BOAC,BA and Gulf fly the type?
By: Ren Frew - 23rd August 2008 at 13:57
Here’s a nice little website for y’all to enjoy…
By: JetSet - 23rd August 2008 at 13:24
Thanks for the answers;)
By: opssys - 22nd August 2008 at 19:24
Thanks Grey Area for the answer and NewForest for reminding me of the remaining history.
By: Newforest - 22nd August 2008 at 16:04
29 October 1979.
This was 7Q-YKH, ex G-ASIW which was stored at Bournemouth for several years until returning to Malawi where it languished and was broken up in 1994.
By: Grey Area - 22nd August 2008 at 11:33
Just a matter of interest when did the Air Malawi VC10 stop operating?
29 October 1979.
By: opssys - 22nd August 2008 at 11:22
Just a matter of interest when did the Air Malawi VC10 stop operating?
By: Richard Taylor - 22nd August 2008 at 07:15
My pleasure to see a VC10 of the RAF earlier this year at Aberdeen, still a beautiful sight.
By: lukeylad - 21st August 2008 at 19:29
Did anybody see the RAF VC-10 arrive today into MAN mid afternoon, I was in Cheadle at the time so only got to see the underside. Does anybody know if they still carry passengers or was it a refueler? Also noted that the Kalita 747 is back again, any ideas why and what it’s carrying?
Lastly, an A330 arrived just after the VC-10 which was red and white, but again I could only see the underside and couldn’t see who it was, anybody know?
The RAF use the VC-10 in a passenger role, aswell as cargo and Refueling!
Long live the VC-10! She is in theory the fastest commercial Jet in service any where in the world! Wonder if they could outlive the RAFs tristars?? Seen as the tristars seem to have major issue with Relibilty!
By: Grey Area - 21st August 2008 at 19:02
No, the last airline to operate the VC.10 was BOAC!:D Unless you know better?…
Almost correct.
It was British Airways. 🙂
By: Newforest - 21st August 2008 at 18:22
No, the last airline to operate the VC.10 was BOAC!:D Unless you know better? The last flight was on 29/3/81.
This would be disregarding flying VC.10’s with the Sultan of Oman, Qatar Government and the UAE Government.
By: carl727uk - 21st August 2008 at 17:14
Has anyone any idea who was the last airline to operate the VC10 ?? Super or otherwise, was it BA, or someone else ?
By: CloudWarrior - 20th August 2008 at 21:45
Give the man a cigar!
Oooops…. dropped it. And it was the last one, too.
Ah well. 😀
Good job I gave up when I did. I’ll take alcohol though 😉
By: MSR777 - 20th August 2008 at 20:04
No I didnt but wish I had, love the VC10
Almost as good looking as the IL62!:):):)
By: Grey Area - 20th August 2008 at 19:08
Vickers Commercial?
Give the man a cigar!
Oooops…. dropped it. And it was the last one, too.
Ah well. 😀