My first VC10 experience was to Singapore on route to Penang in 1968. I was eight year old. First time flying and rather scared. I remember the air stewardess giving me a pile of boiled sweets to cheer me up. Landed at Bahrain (a place that I would eventually come to know like the back of my hand), Gan and finally Changi. On the way back, in 1971, it was Gan and Akrotiri and memories of my 4 year old sister trying to open the cabin door half way across the Indian Ocean; my mother having kittens!!
In 1978 I was posted to BZN and straight into Base Hangar. There was another Sooty by the name of Pete Vickers who was also posted there with me. I do believe that his father was VC10 aircrew. Base Hangar wanted one sooty for VC10s and one for the Andovers down the far end. OC AES immediately said that as his name was Vickers then Pete should get VC10s. I was gutted! But then the OC changed his mind and it was decided on the flip of a coin. Needless to say I won and spent 3 very happy years working on the aircraft as a Sooty.
Top memories were Base 3 air tests with incidents such as seized a tailplane over the Brecon Beacons, complete loss of electrical power following Genny checks and ECU shut down checks (long story), failure of U/C to lower with talk of an unscheduled landing at RAF Manston, a toilet door hurtling down the cabin aisle following a stall check and finally two electricians throwing up after returning from the bay below after doing Genny balance checks.
The other great thing was being allowed to stand on the Flight Deck doing Rollers at various locations. I will bet that is not allowed anymore.
Another favourite memory was doing a ground run over on the tubes. We had a new Sgt Sooty on the Team and as I was doing the ground run my Cpl taught him how to use the radio to contact Brize Ground to obtain permission to start engines. The night before I had had a pretty good night with a new WRAF Painter and Doper. Unfortunately the new Sgt had left the radio lever in transmit and the in depth details of my night with this WRAF was being broadcast all over the airways
After 3 great years I was posted into the Tornado world where I became just another passenger going on detachment with the Sqn, flying god knows how many times and to some wonderful places around the world. Not quite the same when you are just a passenger but I never lost the thrill of flying on this magnificent aircraft. You will be missed, but thank you for the memories
P.S. Did several Air to Air Refuel sorties with the Tornados and they were always great fun.