RAF VC-10s

[Joe Curry]

Where did the Royal Air Force obtain their VC-10s from?

Was this ex-British Airways? (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=147655)

[Stand 22]

XR807 was one of the VC10s built to order for the RAF. It never served with a civilan operator.

C/N 827 Series 1106/C.1. First flight 25/03/66 delivered to the RAF 17/11/66 converted to C.1K in 1994 at Hurn.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

[newswatcher]

Joe, try this site - http://home.planet.nl/~hiemi003/index2.html it appears to have some relevant info from a brief visit.

[Joe Curry]

>C/N 827 Series 1106/C.1. First flight 25/03/66 delivered to the >RAF 17/11/66 converted to C.1K in 1994 at Hurn.

1966! Yikes..how long are airframes supposed to last?

>Joe, try this site - http://home.planet.nl/~hiemi003/index2.html >it appears to have some relevant info from a brief visit.


Thanks for the link..very interesting reading... I seem to remember the civvy VC-10 at PIK in my younger days..

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Do the VC-10's have a upgraded flight deck?

BAe 146-100

[chiglet]

I was fortunate to get a trip in a VC10 [Air to Air Refuel] and the crew was 2 pilots, engineer and navigator.
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy

[Jhieminga]

The cockpit is still mainly 'original' apart from the installation of TCAS and some small additions/changes to the radio stack.

For more about the RAF VC10s try this page on the aforementioned site: http://home.planet.nl/~hiemi003/History/RAFVC10s.html

[Dan Winterland]

The C1s were all original build for the RAF. They were a hybrid with the Standard fuselage with freight door fitted, Super VC10 wings and engines.

The K2s were originally BOAC Standard VC10s which were then sold to Gulf Air and operated by them until the late 70s. They were converted to tankers for the RAF in the early 80s. These have all now been retired.

The K3s were Super VC10s originally built for East African Airways and converted to tankers about the same time as the K2s.

The K4s were BOAC then BA aircraft converted to tankers in the early 90s. These are similar externally to the K3s but don't have the internal fuselage tanks.

The cockpits are pretty much original except that they are all now 4 crew whereas some of the airframes did have three crew flight decks prior to conversion. Some military kit has been installed such as UHF secure radios, but they all went through an update in the mid 90s which included modern laser ring gyro IRSs and FMCs with a glass Nav display on the centre panel.

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Thanks for your answers.

BAe 146-100 :ok:

[Joe Curry]

Given the age of the VC-10, I wonder what aircraft might replace
them..MD-11?

[scroggs]

The replacement of the VC10s (and RAF Lockheed L1011-500s) is the subject of a current competition, already a few years old. The two contenders are new-build A330-200s and ex-BA B767s. The aircraft will be flown by RAF crews, but owned and operated by industry on the RAF's behalf. It is intended that, when not required by the RAF for passenger, freight or AAR operations, the replacement aircraft may be used by their operator for civilian contracts.

[Joe Curry]

>> The replacement of the VC10s (and RAF Lockheed L1011-
>> 500s) is the subject of a current competition, already a few >> years old. The two contenders are new-build A330-200s and >> ex-BA B767s.

Thanks for that Scroggs... :)

[HZ123]

The prospect of quick change to civilean duties is totally fraught and I believe impractical. A number of pax carriers have tried this before without any postive results as cargo a/c. There are more than enough outfits searching for work and this smells to me of the MOD + procurement having the tax payer over with offers of incomes derived from alternative sources.

I am sure that 'sexed' up it sounds possible but many of us will see a mixed role plan virtually impossible to operate.

With a requirement for projected life well into 2025 + it would seem that new A330's can be the only choice rather than botched up conversions (remember the long lists of Nimrod issues) going out of budgetary control and failing to meet ops requirements.

[Redstripe]

The 'quick change' you scorn would probably only involve the removal of the wing refuelling pods - a fairly simple job that is routinely done with the current C1K version of the VC10. The aircraft interiors would remain in a passenger fit. There is no suggestion of using the aircraft in a cargo role. Not, therefore, as problematic as you might think.

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Do RAF VC-10's operate flights for airlines when there isn’t a aircraft available?

Thanks
BAe 146-100

[Joe Curry]

>>Do RAF VC-10's operate flights for airlines when there isn’t a >>aircraft available?

Not just VC-10s, how about the L1011s?

We see a lot of 'trooping' at EDI and have seen lots of civilian
aircraft on duty. The RAF must also experience busy periods.?

[scroggs]

No they don't. The other way round, if anything - there are occasions when there aren't enough available VC10s, C130s or Tristars to carry out the military trooping task, and so civilian airlines are contracted to help out.

As HZ123 suggests, I think it's unlikely that the owners of the replacement aircraft will have much opportunity to exploit spare capacity, if for no other reason than there won't be any, much of the time!

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Thanks for answering my question :ok:.

BAe 146-100