On the subject of gear-down ferries, I can recall doing at least two of them in RAF VC10s. I'm sure they were partial gear-down ferries, one from USA to Brize, and one from Middle East to Brize, where one of the main gear legs was locked down due tech issues. As well as the airspeed limitation (270kts/M0.82 max?) the Middle East to Brize trip was complicated further by the requirement to avoid icing conditions. Not easy when it is winter, and night time, trying to find a route (largely
) clear of cloud?