Benbecula VC10
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Benbecula VC10
Many years ago I recall reading an article in an aviation magazine which mentioned that a VC10 (presumably RAF) made an approach and either a touch and go or a landing at Benbecula. The article even mentioned that at Benbecula "even a Viscount is considered substantial".
In can't fined any related info on this "event" on the net. I would be pleased if anyone else recalls the event or magazine article and can offer further info.
Thanks.
In can't fined any related info on this "event" on the net. I would be pleased if anyone else recalls the event or magazine article and can offer further info.
Thanks.
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Try this spotters group, someone there will probably know -
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/scotavnet/info
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/scotavnet/info
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Entirely plausible for an RAF VC10 to have done a touch stop and go off that 6000 feet runway.
However may well be someone having a miss recollection of an event some miles south at RAF Machrihanish (Campbeltown) as that certainly received large RAF movements including the V Bombers. the VC10, C130K, Belfast and the Beverley
That peninsula nowhere field had an operational runway of over 10,000 feet in RAF days !
However may well be someone having a miss recollection of an event some miles south at RAF Machrihanish (Campbeltown) as that certainly received large RAF movements including the V Bombers. the VC10, C130K, Belfast and the Beverley
That peninsula nowhere field had an operational runway of over 10,000 feet in RAF days !
We had a RAF VC10 do a full stop landing & take off several years ago at Jersey. That was on a runway 5600 ft long. Mind you, I think the prototype VC10 took off from, was it Weybridge ?, on 4800 ft.
I've been into the tower at BEB (albeit some years ago) and I recall a picture on the wall of an A310 (Swissair/Balair IIRC) on the ground there.
Nothing about a VC10 though (I only ever went there in the somewhat smaller Lockheed Hercules).
In it's twilight days one did visit Biggin (for the Airshow) which has similar runway dimensions. Plenty of evidence of that on Youtube.
Nothing about a VC10 though (I only ever went there in the somewhat smaller Lockheed Hercules).
In it's twilight days one did visit Biggin (for the Airshow) which has similar runway dimensions. Plenty of evidence of that on Youtube.
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A VC10 did visit BEB, it was not RAF (though one might have) but owned by if I recall correctly the Sultan of Oman, it was to visit the rocket range. BEA"s handling unit had to be beefed up to handle the flight, with a ground power unit being sent over and some extra staff. BEA at BEB had only 3 staff. A BEA Trident 2 also visited BEB once substituting for a Viscount service routing GLA-Stornoway-BEB-GLA.
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Well VC10s had no problem operating Belize - Washington off the former's 6000ft runway in +35C or more, so BEB would have been a doddle I would have thought.
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12 Sept 1981 I was on a sby at Glasgow, we were called out to operate Glasgow to Benbecula
with a 1-11[ G-BBMG. ]We has a great welcome ,and repeatedly ask which runway would we use for T/O I wonder how many guys and girls managed to get themselves a worth while photo
with a 1-11[ G-BBMG. ]We has a great welcome ,and repeatedly ask which runway would we use for T/O I wonder how many guys and girls managed to get themselves a worth while photo
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Many thanks for the interesting replies and leads and also thanks Munster. I know I had posted the same question before but could not recall just when so I thought if I do it again some bright spark will be along to remind me.
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Plenty interesting types at Benbecula over the years, C130s like to visit now and again for exercises, interesting variation from the Saab 340s that come and go daily.
Lots of interesting photos in the tower! Like many HIAL units.
Favourite one is the C-5 that landed at Campbeltown, quite a sizeable bit of kit. Lots of interesting visitors at Stornoway over the years, mostly by military types now classified as vintage warbirds.
Lots of interesting photos in the tower! Like many HIAL units.
Favourite one is the C-5 that landed at Campbeltown, quite a sizeable bit of kit. Lots of interesting visitors at Stornoway over the years, mostly by military types now classified as vintage warbirds.
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A40-AB @ Benbecula
I remember my Dad was pouring over some charts and had a slide rule and so asked him what he was doing and he indicated he was working on tight landing at a place called Benbecula in Scotland. I learned there was a live firing range there and it was going to be tight getting in. On the day the whole town turned out to watch him come in. I believe the crew was Denis Lowery, Barry Wood Co-pilot, and Brian Lingard as Flight Engineer. They had VIPs on board and indeed, A40-AB, a VC-10 std, landed in Benbecula.