XR808 will go to Cosford, as it was the second oldest VC10, but the first to arrive at Brize, XR807 having undertook acceptance / trials work.

XR808 was handed over on 7 July 1966, together with XR806. Looking at the first flight dates she was the third oldest of the initial RAF batch.

The rest are reduce to produce, think one was offered to Duxford who turned it down, crying Shame really when you think of the plethora of Grimrods rotting away all over the Country, but only 2 VC10’s and several noses.

Well, there’s G-ASGC at Duxford, A4O-AB at Brooklands along with the fuselage of G-ARVM and the test nose section and there will be XR808 at Cosford and another VC10 live at Bruntingthorpe. Looking at the problems museums have in keeping large airliners preserved I would not call that all that bad a situation. There’s also G-ARVF but she’s in Germany.

And to keep the record straight, the VC10 hasn’t been used in a passenger transport role since 2010. The flypast was done this week as this presented the only chance left to get the three types together in the air. Unfortunately some tech issue kept the K4 on the ground but that should not dampen the spirit, the formation still looked great to me (but I’m biased).;) And perhaps they’ll try again next week? (hint, hint… any RAF personnel reading this? :D)

The official plan is still to keep flying until March 2013 but two C1Ks are due for retirement soon which will leave 1 C1K (XR808), 1 K4 and the 4 K3s until March.

Because those props automatically feather when the engine shuts down. The hub is designed to move the blades to feather without oil pressure.

I’m pretty late in posting this but these were taken at White Waltham on 30th June.

You’re correct, 1962 was a bit soon for Atlantic deliveries, I’ve edited my post above. Thanks!

The first one is Dutch Naval P2V-7B Neptune ‘214’ (726-7269), which flew with the Dutch Navy (321 Sqn) between 2-3-1962 and 21-5-1981, it was then scrapped. Between 1963 and 1966 these aircraft were modified to SP-2H specifications. This particular aircraft suffered an undercarriage failure and subsequent (planned) belly landing at RNAS Valkenburg on 13 January 1977. It was flying again 3 months later.

It could very well turn up at Duxford one of these days 😉

Did you mean turn up or turn over:

Photo by Halcyon Days from this thread: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=114038&page=42

But on a serious note, sorry to see this happening to a lovely aircraft. I hope she’ll be back home soon.

Someone on UKAR posted that 104 will go into Bruntingthorpe tomorrow around 3 ish.

Any confirmation on this? I’ll try to get there to see the old girl off.

Yes, that’s the plan indeed. I’ve posted the same here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-VC10derness/205305179480938

With just one day to go to the VC10’s 50th I’ve added the first part of the memories of a first generation VC10 ground crew member to my site: http://www.vc10.net/Memories/Trialstribulations.html

In this story Maurice tells us about the first days of the prototype, the Farnborough air show and a lot of details about developing this great airliner at Weybridge and Wisley. This is just the first part of his story, you can expect a lot more including photos from test flights to Spain and South Africa.