View Full Version : VC 10's in formation??
Not sure if they were but my aircraft recognition isnt too bad, but im sure i saw 2 VC10's in close formation over the A34/Oxford area today. Looked impressive to see those type of aircraft doing some nice close flying turns.
Anyone confirm?
BEagle
8th Feb 2008, 19:08
The VC10 force have been doing such things for almost 25 years now.....
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/nw969/VC10C1K.jpg
Something which mere people-tube drivers never get to do!
Even the most junior of co-pilots is taught to fly the FunBus in close formation on the VC10 course.
BluntM8
8th Feb 2008, 19:44
Sure it was VC10s in this case, but occasionally the Dominie can look (vaugely) like a VC10 from the ground - they do formation too!
Lionel Lion
8th Feb 2008, 20:55
Beagle
What a crap picture
Forward up and in...............he's not even stabilized
:)
Lionel Lion
8th Feb 2008, 20:57
And post-script pub, he's formating(sp) on a fecking C1 er K
Stretchwell
8th Feb 2008, 21:14
Two VC10s servicible at the same time - wow!! Brize Norton Memorial Flight having a good 2008 then!! :D
EyesFront
8th Feb 2008, 22:55
Two VC10s servicible at the same time - wow!! Brize Norton Memorial Flight having a good 2008 then!!
That's a great caption... there should be a picture to go with it!
Im sure they were VC10's. Everyone slowed down to watch them and nearly caused the 3rd accident i saw on the A34 today!!
D-IFF_ident
9th Feb 2008, 08:36
IIRC, an 'Accompanied Letdown' is still an annual requirement for VC10 training purposes. The manouevre is designed to allow a tanker to lead a receiver to the runway when the receiver has suffered degradation of it's flight instruments for any reason. It's challenging to find a fast jet willing to accommodate the training requirement as it takes more time than they generally have available for things other than their own requirements. Consequently it is common practice for two tankers (especially 2 VC10s) to fly the fromation, which terminates at specified minimums above the runway. The procedure was incorporated into ATP56(B) from, I believe, UK AARNIs, and is now accepted practice worldwide. I think the RAF is the only Air Force to have the annual training requirement though.
It is fun and it does look good too, but when used for real, when it's snowing, with half a mile visibility and a 400ft cloud base, the wingman is a single-seat fast jet with only his secondary flight instruments availabe and it's dark - all the practice is worthwhile.
BEagle
9th Feb 2008, 08:50
Is it really a BTR now? It used to be something we taught on the course, but I don't recall it being an annual BTR...
Quite fun doing accompanied letdowns at places like Humberside and St Mawgan, where people weren't used to seeing 2 aircraft of that size in close formation.
Dan Winterland
9th Feb 2008, 09:23
Speaking as the ex-101 Stats man (hence a dubious authority on such matters) it was a 12 month BTR.
And here's proof that 3 VC10s were once serviceable!
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/dbchippy/A2A025.jpg
The spotters will point out that as one is white, it must have been a while back when there were more and they were younger.
formertonkaplum
9th Feb 2008, 09:30
There is no proof of 3 Serviceable. The photo could have been taken from anything!
As for it being taken some time ago.... clearly. And they should have been due for replacement then! Old, Embarrasing and Falling apart. When will we stop looking like we are the 'Council' Air Force on Benefits ?
12 twists per inch
9th Feb 2008, 09:58
Old - yes
Embarrasing - occasionally
Falling Apart - No!
The funBus is still in good shape and lovingly tended to, however spares are increasingly hard to come by especially after some bean counter decided the most cost effective storage facility was in Germany. :ugh:
14greens
9th Feb 2008, 10:34
certainly were both airborne, recovery in to Brize breaking in to the circuit, no1 had to break off his approach as he was cutting up the Tri* turning finals, luckily we were very nice and made the turn off rather than full length which meant no2 could land behind us without having to do another circuit
goudie
9th Feb 2008, 10:47
Still flying after 40 odd years, must be well cared for and still looking elegant in her dotage.
Dan Winterland
9th Feb 2008, 13:38
Quote formatonkaplum: "There is no proof of 3 Serviceable. The photo could have been taken from anything!"
I don't think it could have been taken from a Chipmunk!
It was another VC10, honest!
Petop - they get closer when they inflight refuel each other!...Parts of them even touch each other.....
Razor61
9th Feb 2008, 13:57
Petop
It was indeed two VC-10s.
They have been (for the past few days) training off the coast of North Devon/Cornwall.
Quite common, infact...
RAF_Techie101
9th Feb 2008, 16:04
Ok, so it's not quite the same, but they're taken FROM a VC-10 on a tanking trip I tagged along with. Nothing quite the same as watching two large aircraft flying that close...
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u8/Penfold101/25TriStarFormation.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u8/Penfold101/44Tanking7.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u8/Penfold101/33Tanking5.jpg
6foottanker
9th Feb 2008, 16:50
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v190/159/114/559060618/n559060618_895296_1479.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v190/159/114/559060618/n559060618_895461_5521.jpg
Try this!:ok:
Yes, that is a tree in the top one.