VC10

RE: VC10

Hi,
Just a bit of info on the Vc10. I have worked in the
Aerospace Industry for about 25 years and I have had a
lot on involvement with it.
THe VC10 was the last project designed and built at
what was then The British Aircraft Corporation (B.A.C.)
It’s many applications for the past 30 plus years have
included civil airliner, military transport, Military
in flight refuelling aircraft even a private transport
aircraft for the Sultan of Oman Royal Flight (S.O.R.F.).
You can view the latter example at the Brooklands Museum
in Weybridge. The Sultan of Oman donated the aircraft to the
Museum after it came to the end of it’s service life.
It is a testament to the skill of the Weybridge Design and
production teams when, in the mid’90s, ten years after the
Weybridge site closed, five VC10 aircraft were brought out of
mothballs, flown to British Aerospace at Filton Near Bristol,
and modified from a civil airliner configuration to air to air
refulelling aircraft.

RE: VC10

Sorry! Forget I mentioned Vanguards, I was meant to say Bristol Britannia.

RE: VC10

Just writing to say that I live not a million miles from RAF Cosford and they have a superb collection of aircraft in their museum. The most impressive is the British Airways VC10, when you walk around it, you appreciate just how big these classic birds were. You’ll be in your element if you like classic British built aircraft, Cosford is home to examples of Tridents, Vanguards, One-elevens, Comets and Viscounts. They also have a British Airways Boeing 707 which is also superb.

The only museum I can think of which is better (in the UK) is Duxford.

Cheers,

JayW.

RE: VC10

Whats all this past tense stuff about the VC10 ? even as i write this mail i can hear 4 RRconways powering a ’10’ through the skies.
I live on the Brize Norton circuit and see 10’s every 10-15mins(amongst many others), its a shame that this mail cannot be supported by sound.
On my last visit to RAF Bzn i had the pleasure of flying in one(and a Tristar), very enjoyable albeit not in the original livery.We were also told at that time that the ’10’ would see active service with RAF until at least 2010.Mind you that was before the delivery of the C17’s were agreed!.
Philo

RE: VC10

The VC10 was GORGEOUS!

RE: VC10

must be one of the best for the raf to use them for as long as they did.
burge.

RE: VC10

I agree the VC10 was the most elegant airliner ever built, its beauty lies in the tail fin and design of the wings with those huge flaps, The IL62 was nowhere near as attractive but sold in better numbers, I think the VC10 would have sold alot better if it had not been tailored to one airlines specifications.
A reliable and strong plane, quiet interior, a good range and very appealing to the passenger and pilots who flew it.
Those still flying today are a rare site in the sky, yet they still stir up memories of BOAC vc10s at Heathrow in the late 70s, 70s. In my opinion, no airliner yet produced has matched the VC10s beauty. anyone agree ?

RE: VC10

I agree the VC-10 was a fab plane, did’nt see the program unfortuantly, but I feel it was the most elegant plane ever built and i use it in my email address !

RE: VC10

I went into the BOAC one at Duxforf museum and its quite smart.
Huge, big, confortable…..quite great. In many ways much more superior than the B707/DC-8.

RE: VC10

In my opinion the VC10 was and still is the best looking aircraft Britain has produced. Sadly, the aircraft did not sell well as it was tailored too much to the requirements of BOAC, much like other British airliners built at the time. The Super VC10 was the long haul flagship of BOAC during the sixties and seventies, but the introduction of the 747 signalled the end for the Vickers machine.

Other operators of the VC10 included British United (gone but not forgotten), Ghana Airways and East African Airways. The latter’s VC10’s were a common site at Heathrow during the seventies.

The VC10 was a very comfortable aircraft to fly on and proved very popular with passengers, it had a quiet cabin when compared to other early jetliners.

Several VC10’s still see service with the Royal Air Force in the tanker/transporter role and have given stirling service over the past few years. It will be a sad day when the last VC10 is retired from RAF service.