What did I see at Liverpool?

[pinzaboy]

Hi

Coming back from Berlin on Easyjet on Thurs 20 August we landed at Liverpool late afternoon and there was a large grey plane waiting to take off. I don't know much about planes but this was a military one (not RAF)and had a long projection coming out of the nose which I presumed was for refuelling in the air.

Anybody got any ideas?

Tim

[ZOOKER]

The magnificent Vickers VC10.
At least 40 years old, built in Britain and operated by The Royal Air Force. :ok:

[one11]

military one (not RAF)and had a long projection coming out of the nose which I presumed was for refuelling in the air.

Local spotters site reports a RAF VC-10 in at that time





North West Air News - Home (http://derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?)

[pinzaboy]

Thanks very much for your answers. I didn't think it was British simply because it didn't have any obvious markings.
And built at the end of the sixties - that's impressive!

Tim

[ZOOKER]

And built at the end of the sixties"
- And that's just the newest ones! The airframe you saw was probably from 1965/67, pre-dating Sgt. Pepper.
Google 'A Little VC10derness' for more details.*
On the VC10, not Sgt Pepper!

[ZOOKER]

Tim,
Hope this helps.
Wasn't there an old ATC Centre at Preston sometime way back?
Anyway, keep listening to 'Goosenargh Radio' and if you see him, give my very very best wishes to Keef. :ok:

[chevvron]

The ATCC was at Barton Hall just north of Preston. It was procedural only ie there was no radar there but various radar units were linked to it eg Manchester, Lindholme.

[shobakker]

Was the dear old VC10...nearly took the tiles off my roof as it came in over Hale Village and I had the good fortune to be driving past the airport as it took off - again, I think it might have just broken the odd window as it took off!!!

What on earth was it doing there though? :hmm:

[angels]

Oh dear, this thread has made me feel very old!!

My first thought when the aircraft was identified was, "How on earth can anyone not recognise a VC-10??"

I then realised I have almost certainly got quite a few years on pinzaboy!! :(

[Hyperborean]

Ahhh! Barton Hall. Almost on a par with De Havilland. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

[chiglet]

Don't forget PATCRU....

[DC10RealMan]

Chiglet.

I believe that PATCRU was at Lindholme (I think), but was Hack Green part of that setup?

[chiglet]

DC10,
PATCRU was on the first floor of the Tower Block at Manchester Airport. Teleprinters was next door...opening out into the Concourse [or the passage between the Terminal, and Pier A. The Pub was about 20 yards down the corridor :ok:, and we also has several games of football and cricket on nights[in that corridor]....STPOs v ATCAs.
When PATCRU/PATCC closed, Manchester Sub Centre opened on the 4th floor in the new addition to the Tower Block. They literally just walked in and did the job.....:eek: Me? I went back to the Tower, became a Runway Controller, then "cross trained" in Radar
Dates....Arrived at Manch in 1969, after 16 months at Brum. PATCCRU from 1970 'til closure, then Tower, Radar, Pennine, Flight Briefing, STPO course....when MACC closes in Jan 2010, I leave....
It's been a grand life, Grommit :D

[spekesoftly]

was Hack Green part of that setup?Wasn't Hack Green primarily an air defence radar? I believe "Mersey Radar", co-located at Hack Green, also provided an airways crossing service to military aircraft. At one time I believe Antrobus provided a radar service to aircraft inside the controlled airspace surrounding the Manchester and Liverpool area.