VC-10 Preservation

[N707ZS]

Were the VC-10s offered for preservation at museums like the Nimrods or were they just signed off as scrap. Is it just one for Cosford and one for Bruntingthorpe? Not even one for the gate at Brize!

[VC10man]

The last Super VC10 from the BA/BOAC fleet has been retired to Bruntisthorpe. I would love to see it saved from the torch. She first flew when I was 19 years old, I will be getting my pension next month, what a fantastic plane the VC10 was. She worked while I worked.

[WHBM]

There are a number of them already preserved and on display. A BOAC one at Duxford, a UAE Government one (ex-BOAC) at Hermeskiel in Germany, a UAE Government one (ex-B. Cal) at Weybridge. Out of just 54 built, it's not a bad tally.

[Jhieminga]

And there's the fuselage of G-ARVM (ex BOAC/BA) also at Brooklands, next to the Sultan of Oman's VC10 A4O-AB.

So that's three complete airframes plus a complete fuselage already preserved, XR808 will be going to Cosford and Bruntingthorpe will keep one 'live' as well. Five (and bits) out of a total production run of 54 is not bad. And if you're up for more, there are plans to keep one flying but this still needs a lot of work and support, this thread has information about that project: A Little VC10derness • View topic - Keep one VC10 flying! (http://www.vc10.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=613&start=75)

[falcon12]

Word is the 808 'BoB' is to go to Cosford. Originally the plan was to fly it in. Now since it is said that they are no qualified crews for the job, Cosford being a bit short and a special approach needed, that it will go to Brunty, be disassembled, trucked to Cosford and reassembled - all at the taxpayers expense!!

[dixi188]

Wouldn't it be possible for one of the remaining VC-10 crews to practice short landings on a few occasions at Brize, to then be able to land at Cosford. A bit like the Vanguard crew did before landing at Weybridge.
I'm sure an empty VC-10 could stop in 2000ft so the 3700ft runway should be enough.

[Fareastdriver]

If you can get a B52 into Duxford I would have thought that you could get a VC 10 into Cosford with reverse thrust.

Mind you: I saw the B52 a couple of weeks later and the brakes were still cooling down.

[WHBM]

I believe that Gloucester Staverton has an area marked out on its main runway which replicates the length and markings of London City and is used for training the steep approache into the short runway.

Any ideas when the last VC-10 flight of all is likely to be made later this year ?

[Tiger_mate]

When I had a similar conversation to the Nimrod mates wrt landing an almost empty aircraft on the short 3900' runway, I was told that to RTS will not be made flexible even for a final flight as these days nobody takes additional (& documented) risk. The pragmatic view would be to wait for an easterly wind to avoid approaching over the railway embankment, and I dare say that in practical terms it could be done: MAA approval would be a different matter.

[Tupperware Pilot]

Had to go and have a look at the ones at Bruntingthorpe today, shame the sun was not coming out!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8604024372_5f3ec2969a_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tupperware_pilot/8604024372/) VC-10's... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tupperware_pilot/8604024372/) by Air Frame Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/tupperware_pilot/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8604024380_08e1238b30_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tupperware_pilot/8604024380/) How long has this old classic left? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tupperware_pilot/8604024380/) by Air Frame Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/tupperware_pilot/), on Flickr

[flyawaybird]

VC10man

And had least aircrashed or accidents compared to Boengs.

[LAS1997]

I was walking along the old Wisley runway last weekend and imagining how it must have been in the 1960's with VC10's flying in from Brooklands to be completed and flight tested. How nice it would be to see a VC10 do a low fly past at the airfield some time this year before they are all retired.

[Skipness One Echo]

Are the stored VC10s at Bruntingthorpe visible from a public place?

[DaveReidUK]

Are the stored VC10s at Bruntingthorpe visible from a public place? There are reports that if you pay your fiver to visit the museum (open on Sundays) then you can walk from there over to the scrapping area provided that there's no work going on.

Bruntingthorpe Aircraft Museum | Aircraft History (http://www.bruntingthorpeaviation.com/)

YMMV.

[bluepilot]

Just looked at some pictures of the VC10, hard to believe its a 50 year old design, still looks very modern and graceful. It would be nice to see one kept in flying condition, but its a huge cost, would be nice to see a trident, viscount, vanguard etc flying but it is so cost prohibitive......happy memories.

[avionic type]

I may be wrong but I believe the VC10s at Brutingthorpe are being broken up for spares, can anyone tell me how many have been broken up and how many are still flying surly there will come a time when there will be a surplus of spares for the remainig planes something the R.A.F.never had before then what will they do ? scrap metal anyone .

[DaveReidUK]

I may be wrong but I believe the VC10s at Bruntingthorpe are being broken up for spares

They're being broken up for the same reason any aircraft is broken up - because their useful life is considered to be over and they are surplus to requirements.

Spares recovery is a by-product and, in this case, probably irrelevant given that the survivors aren't going to be in service for much longer either.

[Chris Scott]

Quote from LAS1997:
"I was walking along the old Wisley runway last weekend and imagining how it must have been in the 1960's with VC10's flying in from Brooklands to be completed and flight tested. How nice it would be to see a VC10 do a low fly past at the airfield some time this year before they are all retired."

One can dream...

Last year, when Brooklands Museum was celebrating the 50th anniversary of G-ARTA's maiden flight, I heard they sounded out the RAF with the possibility of a flyby. I doubt LHR ATC would have objected, but - for whatever reason - they were unable to oblige. There's no room for sentiment, I guess, when they are facing virtual oblivion with the defence cuts.

Those who have flown the beasts can at least reaquaint ourselves with our old "office" at Brooklands, for a modest entry fee. But their grandchildren might be impressed by experiencing the sight and sound, before the last airworthy one is broken up.

Pity that Maggie - a VC10 fan - has dictated no flypast for her funeral in London next week...

[flyawaybird]

Dear All VC10s lovers,

This beautiful aircraft should not just be sent home to retire. By all means VC10s should be preserved intact as Aviation Museum Project for most beautiful, safe and successful British aircraft. In the world a lot of things and animals are saved and kept as a heritage for generations to come. I believe all aviation lovers should start a fund and I won't mind participating in whatever level.

Just a suggestion to avoid scrapping these beautiful aircrafts. Any seconders?

By the way EAA had five SVC10s which could have been purchased and used by RAF.

Thank you.

[Jhieminga]

can anyone tell me how many have been broken up and how many are still flying
Yes, see the table at the bottom of this page: RAF VC10s (http://www.vc10.net/History/RAFVC10s.html)

Last year, when Brooklands Museum was celebrating the 50th anniversary of G-ARTA's maiden flight, I heard they sounded out the RAF with the possibility of a flyby. I doubt LHR ATC would have objected, but - for whatever reason - they were unable to oblige.
It was explained by the OC 101 Sqn at the anniversary that all the available VC10s had a task to do that day. A pity, but in a way it was also good to know that the VC10 was still flying around and doing useful work.

By the way EAA had five SVC10s which could have been purchased and used by RAF.
By the time the EAA VC10s were reposessed by BAC there were only four left as 5X-UVA was destroyed in an accident in 1972 (http://www.vc10.net/History/incidents_and_accidents.html#5X-UVA%20Addis%20Ababa%2018%20April%201972). The remaining four were purchased from BAC by the RAF, see here: The Tanker Conversions (http://www.vc10.net/History/tanker_conversions.html)
Three of these ex-EAA VC10s are still flying to this day. Only ZA149, ex 5X-UVJ, has been retired a month ago.

Posts #4 and #5 on this thread give some info on the current plans for the VC10s to be preserved. If you want to start a fund for preserving another one I would suggest starting with a five-figure sum as that is the rough amount needed just to get one. Then add a multiple of the starting sum to secure a location to keep the aircraft, conserve it, restore it, etcetera. At this point in time with only a few months left it might be more productive to put all efforts behind the two airframes which already have a shot at being preserved: XR808 at Cosford and one at Bruntingthorpe. Or support the museums which already have one to ensure that those airframes are kept for a future generation.

Just my two cents. :)

[LAS1997]

On the mention of the late Margaret Thatcher as a VC10 fan; does anyone know which VC10's she flew in? State visits to US, Russia, etc.

[LAS1997]

I presume they were RAF VC10's as BA took them out of service in 1980 / 81?

[ICM]

During her 11 years or so as Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher often used the VC 10s of No 10 Squadron for official overseas travel - to the extent that in August 1990 she was presented with a 'Logbook' to mark her 1000 hours of having done so. Her relationship with the unit and its personnel had earlier resulted in her agreeing to present a new standard in 1988, the first occasion, I believe, on which a serving PM did so.

[LAS1997]

Thank you ICM; I guess there is plenty of film of her arriving in a VC10; I recall seeing something on the news yesterday; but could not make out the aircrafts registration.

[Airclues]

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc193/Airclues/P1000545_zps9950b6a5.jpg

The engineers at Brooklands are doing a great job restoring the fuselage of G-ARVM, which was transfered from Cosford. All of the flight deck panels have been painted and the instruments serviced. They are currently in the painstaking process of putting it all back together.

[flyawaybird]

JHieminga

Thank you for drawing my attention to paras. 4 and 5. I had not read them before. The thought of fundraising occurred in mind and I put it down to read. However, I have gone through your suggested website but did not see what they are referring this project as or at least an address where those willing to participate in the project can send their contribution. Besides the Britons, most of us leave outside UK. I would appreciate that piece of information from you or anyone with the full details. I just love the SVC10s and VC10s and would one day visit the Museum or anywhere these beautiful planes would be stationed or refer to one of my sons currently studying Aeronautical Engineering.
Thank you.

[flyawaybird]

Airclues

Kudos to the Engineers for doing a lovely job.:ok:

[LAS1997]

Airclues; you are doing a great job with G-ARVM; my daughter and I are regular visitors to Brooklands and managed to take a look inside VM on a previous visit. I noticed that there was some RAF passenger seats in the cabin, I guess the original BA seats have long since gone? We liked the exhibition you have in the cabin too; very interesting. Will the flight deck 'come alive' and be powered up in anyway?

[Jhieminga]

I would appreciate that piece of information from you or anyone with the full details.

The museums that already have VC10s are:
-Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK IWM Duxford | Imperial War Museums (http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford)
But the large airliners are in the care of the Duxford Aviation Society: Duxford Aviation Society (http://www.das.org.uk/)
-The Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, UK Brooklands Museum (http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/)
-Flugausstellung L+P Junior, Hermeskeil, Germany Flugausstellung L.+P. Junior (http://www.flugausstellung.de/)

Plans are for XR808 to go to the RAF Museum, Cosford, UK RAF Museum in London & RAF Museum Cosford - free family fun activities (http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/)
And one other VC10 will be kept live at Bruntingthorpe in the care of GJD Services, the company which is currently engaged in scrapping the aircraft: aircraft dismantling, decommissioning, storage, Aircraft salvage Aviation salvage, parts certification (http://www.gjdservices.co.uk/)

The other project which is underway is the one to keep one flying, info on that can be found in the forum on my site here: A Little VC10derness ? View topic - Keep one VC10 flying! (http://www.vc10.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=613)
This thread chronicles the steps towards forming a group and has contact details for the two key persons on page 5. There is some info about GJD's plans on page 6.

[flyawaybird]

JHieminga

Thank you very much for the information regarding the VC-10s preservation and of course for your time.
I will embark on the references.
Just wanted to mention as for the VC-10 that will be kept flying, I will soon have news who among the former EAA Captains will be on the project.:ok:

[Curious Pax]

Neatly linking an earlier post and the last one, I was lucky enough to be at Cosford when G-ARVM flew in there (landed towards the railway embankment). It was purely coincidence that we had a school trip that day - we arrived to be met by a handle-barred RAF chap telling us 'there was a bit of a flap on'!

I believe that the BA captain that day was on his final flight before retirement. They did a low go-around first, then put it down. Quite a lot of reverse thrust noise as you can imagine! We were told that it was the shortest runway a VC-10 had landed on at that point (probably still is?).

[ZH875]

Neatly linking an earlier post and the last one, I was lucky enough to be at Cosford when G-ARVM flew in there (landed towards the railway embankment). It was purely coincidence that we had a school trip that day - we arrived to be met by a handle-barred RAF chap telling us 'there was a bit of a flap on'!

I believe that the BA captain that day was on his final flight before retirement. They did a low go-around first, then put it down. Quite a lot of reverse thrust noise as you can imagine! We were told that it was the shortest runway a VC-10 had landed on at that point (probably still is?).

I was at Cosford on that day too, I learned about Swept Wing Growth and Lamp Posts in a very short time. :uhoh:

[Jhieminga]

How long was (is?) that runway at Cosford? Is it shorter than the old runway at Brooklands (1460 yards of which 200 are at an angle)?

[Airclues]

How long was (is?) that runway at Cosford?

1186m (3890ft) (1296yds).

[GGR]

that will teach him to park overnight in Liverpool

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MGRV8/P1000545_zps3643efce.jpg (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/MGRV8/media/P1000545_zps3643efce.jpg.html)pool.

[Jhieminga]

So depending on whether the overrun at Brooklands counts as part of the runway you could say that Cosford is the shortest runway a VC10 landed on. Or not ;)

Brooklands (without angled overrun):
1152m - 1260yds - 3780ft
Cosford:
1186m - 1296yds - 3890ft
Brooklands (with overrun):
1235m - 1460yds - 4052ft

The extra bit at Brooklands is the section between the cross and the banking below the trees, with the helicopter parked on it:
http://www.vc10.net/Memories/Images/NorthEndview.jpg

This image shows it at the Northern end as part of a 'turning circle'. It was added to enable VC10s to fly out of the site, but in the end a few were also flown back to their birthplace. The map below nicely shows how the aircraft could taxi from the flight sheds across the runway end and around the turning circle onto the overrun and take off from there, taking the turn onto the main runway at 30 knots.
http://www.vc10.net/Memories/Images/BRK_Weybridgeworks.jpg

[VC10Conway]

Any update on the 'Keep one flying' project? Last post on VC10derness was January... Thanks

[Jhieminga]

Any update on the 'Keep one flying' project? Last post on VC10derness was January... Thanks
I should have mentioned that to keep up with this project it is best to contact one of the two coordinators through the details on page 5 of that thread (e-mail works fine). There are some things going on but they prefer to keep the results of the discussions off the internet until they can make their plans public, so these newsletters are only sent to the group members for now.