The VC 10
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Please reduce the pics to 850 x 850 (standard PPRuNe. A picture larger than this spreads the page laterally and spoils the reading AND the picture.
Thanks,
PPP
p.s. the miscreant has gone!
Thanks,
PPP
p.s. the miscreant has gone!
Hi Jhieminga,
Thanks. As that link seems to have failed, here's another:
Speedbird: The Complete History of BOAC by Robin Higham - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists
That site says publication due July 15th.
Chris
Thanks. As that link seems to have failed, here's another:
Speedbird: The Complete History of BOAC by Robin Higham - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists
That site says publication due July 15th.
Chris
Last edited by Chris Scott; 8th Mar 2013 at 16:23.
Like,many a British aircraft before it, I'm thinking Lightning, Vulcan Buccaneer etc. the VC10, IMHO is probably the most graceful flightworthy aircraft I have ever seen. I have had the pleasure of hours of flight in this exemplary aircraft, and, can not see an American or Eurinepean aircraft that could approach it for style, capability or just damn good lookingness. A truly great aircraft.
That's strange that the link won't work Chris, it did for me when I tried it just now. Alternatively you could try the homepage of the publisher: New Books and search for Higham. The book is also on that South American river:
The publisher says that the book will be out on April 1st, Amazon says May 30th in the UK but July 15th on the US site.
Apologies for the largish pictures PPRune Pop! On my screen everything looks allright but I realise that not everybody has the same screen size. I'll go and edit the post.
The publisher says that the book will be out on April 1st, Amazon says May 30th in the UK but July 15th on the US site.
Apologies for the largish pictures PPRune Pop! On my screen everything looks allright but I realise that not everybody has the same screen size. I'll go and edit the post.
Last edited by Jhieminga; 8th Mar 2013 at 20:03.
"Sitting at a little taverna in the platia here the other day and I noticed that they have numbered all their houses there after 10 Sqn VC10s - 104, 105, 106, 107, 108 - how thoughtful of them"
Exascot,was there one numbered after the best VC10 tanker squadron,101?
Exascot,was there one numbered after the best VC10 tanker squadron,101?
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Whoops, thanks PPPop!
Or flew on it. I did twice, aged not much at all. BOAC standard and EAAC Super. Absolute best of Britsh!
V1747: You obviously never flew the VC10. It was an excellent aircraf
Last edited by treadigraph; 8th Mar 2013 at 21:40.
Simu flite
I thought the round the world VC10 went a bit later than that about 1 pm or so. This based on my recolelction that the first JFK of the day BA175? left at 1100. My wife who flew to NZ -despite a few en route off loads on the round the world one (staff travel) also thinks she left in afternoon.
I loved the VC10 noises-start up from inside and otside and also the change in pitch and subsequent deafening roar as it spooled up off take off. To me the epitome of flying as an exciting experience was a midnight VC10 departure from a balmy island walking from the 'terminal' to the steps and old fashioned yellow floodlights lighting up the aircraft.
Lucky enough to have a few odd flights on it like LHR -Cyprus-Khartoum (37c at 0530) Addis Ababa (4c just an hour or so later than Khartoum) and then Seychelles. NBO- Entebbe (last departure for many years due to Idi Amin issues ,)scary stop over with 2 pax joining and a cabin full of assault rifle toting 'security staff' Rome-London.
JFK-BDA_ANU_BGI on a standard and BGI ANU -JFK on way back.
Nostalgic interlude over --
A lovely plane for the passenegrs less so for the accountants.
PB
I thought the round the world VC10 went a bit later than that about 1 pm or so. This based on my recolelction that the first JFK of the day BA175? left at 1100. My wife who flew to NZ -despite a few en route off loads on the round the world one (staff travel) also thinks she left in afternoon.
I loved the VC10 noises-start up from inside and otside and also the change in pitch and subsequent deafening roar as it spooled up off take off. To me the epitome of flying as an exciting experience was a midnight VC10 departure from a balmy island walking from the 'terminal' to the steps and old fashioned yellow floodlights lighting up the aircraft.
Lucky enough to have a few odd flights on it like LHR -Cyprus-Khartoum (37c at 0530) Addis Ababa (4c just an hour or so later than Khartoum) and then Seychelles. NBO- Entebbe (last departure for many years due to Idi Amin issues ,)scary stop over with 2 pax joining and a cabin full of assault rifle toting 'security staff' Rome-London.
JFK-BDA_ANU_BGI on a standard and BGI ANU -JFK on way back.
Nostalgic interlude over --
A lovely plane for the passenegrs less so for the accountants.
PB
Paxing All Over The World
I think that one of the reasons the VC-1o looked as damm fine as she did - was the paintwork. The line swinging up from the nose cone to the window line, really added to the word 'Speedbird'.
All of that was lost in the Red Tail design.
All of that was lost in the Red Tail design.
Agreed PAXboy whenever a BOAC a/c came to town it would turn heads. I believe the paint scheme wouldn't be out of place in today's aviation world. It would be to great to see a 747 retro painted. That would really turn heads!
This month sees the final flight of the last remaining ex-BOAC Super VC10 when VC10K4 ZD241 (aka G-ASGM) is retired from RAF service.....
I've no idea of the disposal plans, but it would be good if the aircraft goes to a museum, rather than being dismantled at Bruntingthorpe.
I've no idea of the disposal plans, but it would be good if the aircraft goes to a museum, rather than being dismantled at Bruntingthorpe.
From post #39:
We could do a similar trick on the Britannia B732 – the heading bug on the HSI could be rotated by a foot positioned on the footrest. So we would brief the visitor on the 'voice-controlled autopilot' and invite them to call 'turn left' or 'turn right', surreptitiously tweaking the heading bug as appropriate.
Besides Roz Hanby there was also the gorgeous Hilary Smith, another Miss Speedbird IIRC. She would turn up for her PPL lessons at Booker wearing tiny denim shorts . . . (sigh) . . .
Most beautiful (subsonic) jet airliner? Silver to the VC10, gold to the Caravelle (which had the Comet's nose).
The F/E had his own throttles. When kids came up, it was fun to get them to talk to the throttles and tell them to go forward or back one by one. The look on their face when they did it was lovely- the F/E stifling a grin as he moved his.
Besides Roz Hanby there was also the gorgeous Hilary Smith, another Miss Speedbird IIRC. She would turn up for her PPL lessons at Booker wearing tiny denim shorts . . . (sigh) . . .
Most beautiful (subsonic) jet airliner? Silver to the VC10, gold to the Caravelle (which had the Comet's nose).
Last edited by Discorde; 9th Mar 2013 at 14:59.
Just a numbered other
Was motoring along the Grand Union near Bruntingthorpe last Monday. Was privileged to watch the last VC10 fly several circuits before landing.
Besides Roz Hanby there was also the gorgeous Hilary Smith, another Miss Speedbird IIRC. She would turn up for her PPL lessons at Booker wearing tiny denim shorts . . . (sigh) . . .
Was motoring along the Grand Union near Bruntingthorpe last Monday. Was privileged to watch the last VC10 fly several circuits before landing
Sadly, VC10K4 ZD241, the last ever ex-BOAC Super VC10, was also retired last week. It seems no-one bothered to tell the press....
101 Sqn now has only 4 VC10s; 3 x VC10K3 and XR808 'Bob', the last remaining VC10C1K.
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I understand that XR808 is the one earmarked for the RAFM Cosford. I hope it arrives in a dignified manner rather than chopped up on the back of a low loader. It is to sit where once a BA VC10 sat adjacent to the C130. Perhaps one day it will get a nice white glossy coat which is more resiliant to weather than a matt finish.
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I've directed the attention of a person who I know instructed 'H' Smith at BAFC to this thread. He says that she was a very good student ... if only he could concentrate on the flying lesson!
Dragging ourselves (reluctantly) back to matters VC10, the above person also possesses the 'Victor Mike' silk tie, which denotes he was also a trainer on the type. G-ARVM was retained as the training aircraft, because it had a high-level fuel leak, IIRC
I merely have the ordinary VC10 silk tie because I was a passenger on the homeward inaugural flight - G-ARVI Lagos-Kano-Frankfurt-LHR in May 1964.
I last saw 'VI when it had become Gulf Air's A40-VI in July 1977 at Bahrein.
Dragging ourselves (reluctantly) back to matters VC10, the above person also possesses the 'Victor Mike' silk tie, which denotes he was also a trainer on the type. G-ARVM was retained as the training aircraft, because it had a high-level fuel leak, IIRC
I merely have the ordinary VC10 silk tie because I was a passenger on the homeward inaugural flight - G-ARVI Lagos-Kano-Frankfurt-LHR in May 1964.
I last saw 'VI when it had become Gulf Air's A40-VI in July 1977 at Bahrein.
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The VC10 fleet may have dwindled to a handful of bed blockers but for those of us lucky enough to live in the Brize radar pattern there are still joyous days when one of the survivors is bashing the circuit.
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You were lucky, G-ALHI! I was a passenger on the inaugural Hong Kong to London (G-ARVF) on 29 September 1964. Not only no silk tie, not even the commemorative certificate for which I carefully filled in the card and which never subsequently arrived.
I worked on G-ARVI in the final assembly shed ('The Cathedral') at Brooklands exactly 50 years ago. During hydraulic functionals, a blanking cap in the tail bullet either let go or wasn't fitted properly, and Skydrol 500 (which was mildly acidic) streamed down the fin. Thus Skydrol's paint-removing abilities were discovered, because all the fin's blue paint, white markings, you-name-it, ended up in a toxic heap on the hangar floor, leaving behind only the green etch primer.
I worked on G-ARVI in the final assembly shed ('The Cathedral') at Brooklands exactly 50 years ago. During hydraulic functionals, a blanking cap in the tail bullet either let go or wasn't fitted properly, and Skydrol 500 (which was mildly acidic) streamed down the fin. Thus Skydrol's paint-removing abilities were discovered, because all the fin's blue paint, white markings, you-name-it, ended up in a toxic heap on the hangar floor, leaving behind only the green etch primer.