VC-10s at Bruntingthorpe
When Lucy flew the last K2 into St. Athan, I seem to recall that the control column centre boss badges were particularly loose after landing, so a certain Air Engineer took the necessary precautions to ensure that they didn't become loose article hazards.....
Why aye, mon....
Why aye, mon....
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What are the RAF going to do with the surplus stocks of Squash Balls now the aircraft is being retired............. An engineer will understand that one, the rubber ball in one of the Valves on the VC10 is actually a squash ball believe it or not 
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A Dunlop "Yellow Spot"? Item Consuption Rate increased alarmingly - of the Float Valve, that is. 1992/3? Someone at "waste-o'-space" forgot to remove the Dunlop outer packaging prior to popping them into the little brown box for issue into the stores system... allegedly.
Last edited by Sgt.Slabber; 9th Apr 2010 at 19:35.
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Dan,
I believe that is the case. A colleague at the RAF CSDE was at a "Modifications" meeting at a B*e site not long after the issue came to light. End of meeting, AOB - asked if they had any spare squash balls. He had an interview with the boss when he got back... in so far as, the boss came into the office, saw N*** and told him to consider himself interviewed
...allegedly.
I believe that is the case. A colleague at the RAF CSDE was at a "Modifications" meeting at a B*e site not long after the issue came to light. End of meeting, AOB - asked if they had any spare squash balls. He had an interview with the boss when he got back... in so far as, the boss came into the office, saw N*** and told him to consider himself interviewed
...allegedly.
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From
So have the first VC10's arrived at Brunty today? - Page 3 - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
and are not hanging about
So have the first VC10's arrived at Brunty today? - Page 3 - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
and are not hanging about
Last edited by NutLoose; 12th Apr 2010 at 01:07.
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They appear to be going to town on 109 looking for those loose articles that fell off in the cockpit 
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Thanks for the images Nutloose, looks like Brunty is the UK version of Davis Monthan.
Just reminded me, I was having an overflight over DM several years ago and took some piccies of Vickers funbuses which were accompanying some F3s, possibly on the way back from Red Flag.
Just reminded me, I was having an overflight over DM several years ago and took some piccies of Vickers funbuses which were accompanying some F3s, possibly on the way back from Red Flag.
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Thanks for the images Nutloose, looks like Brunty is the UK version of Davis Monthan.
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808
I had a limited involvement in trying to make sure that some VC10s ended up in museums. I was surprised that there seems to be no longer a formal notification to the museum community that aircraft are being retired. A Google search identified details of aviation mueums in the UK. I contacted half a dozen of them by email, and had expressions of interest from 2; the RAF Museum and IWM Duxford.
The RAF Museum wanted, as they put it, a proper RAF VC10 with a bit of history, and not an ex airline example. The IWM wanted to increase their tanker collection so were after a K3, which will not be available until 2013.
The aircraft that best suited the RAFM's needs was XR808, which was one of the first 2 to be retired (along with XR807). This also seemed to be a popular choice with the Sqn. To cut a long story short, the RAFM submitted a formal bid for it and my successor and I pressed hard for it to be gifted. It seemed that we would be unsuccessful as the first 10 frames for disposal are scheduled for a degree of spares recovery (100% in the case of the early aircraft). Clearly, the RAFM did not want an aircraft that has been stripped. Ultimately, common sense and decency prevailed and 808 and 109 were swapped in the disposal plan. 808 will still go to the RAFM, but as the last C1K in 2013.
The RAF Museum wanted, as they put it, a proper RAF VC10 with a bit of history, and not an ex airline example. The IWM wanted to increase their tanker collection so were after a K3, which will not be available until 2013.
The aircraft that best suited the RAFM's needs was XR808, which was one of the first 2 to be retired (along with XR807). This also seemed to be a popular choice with the Sqn. To cut a long story short, the RAFM submitted a formal bid for it and my successor and I pressed hard for it to be gifted. It seemed that we would be unsuccessful as the first 10 frames for disposal are scheduled for a degree of spares recovery (100% in the case of the early aircraft). Clearly, the RAFM did not want an aircraft that has been stripped. Ultimately, common sense and decency prevailed and 808 and 109 were swapped in the disposal plan. 808 will still go to the RAFM, but as the last C1K in 2013.
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Ah the squash balls! I remember these well......when the consumption suddenly increased, and it seemed Squash became a popular sport at BzN, I had to hold the squash balls in my drawer, add a Degree of Control to them, and only release them for genuine demands! At £75 a pop, they were dear old squash balls! As a BAe counterpart informed me, the reason they were so expensive was because BAe had to rigorously test each ball prior to issuing....any idea what the test involved??? Yep, squeezing them to make sure there wasn't any holes in them. Then bagged up (this time in the correct little black plastic bags), before 20 of them were thrown in a big polythene bag and shoved my way.
And as for the column badges.........now that's another story, but they were safely locked away in another drawer (believe at the time they were something like £650 each and often found themselves appearing at leaving speeches)! Oh the fun we had with the MoD plod and the badges!
And as for the column badges.........now that's another story, but they were safely locked away in another drawer (believe at the time they were something like £650 each and often found themselves appearing at leaving speeches)! Oh the fun we had with the MoD plod and the badges!
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A little updateVC10's at Brunty - Page 4 - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
from that thread, lot more pics on the above link, look away now if you love the old Ten..
Odd they have taped up the door gaps considering they live outside
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Squash Balls, I remember well getting a call from a Range Manager at Harrogate, who told me to draw the item from Bzn Tech Stores, unpack it and tell him what exactly I was looking at. Could have told him that without opening the box, but when I did tell him, all I got was a stunned silence at the other end. He just discovered what most of VC10 & Belfast Line + Base hangar had known for years!! Seem to remember they made it V&A thereafter, but it made little difference as, for some strange reason, it still remained one the highest consumed items on the ten!
Another one bites the dust?
Another VC10 has just circled Lutterworth wheels down into Bruntingthorpe. The wing refuelling pods had been removed so it 'appears' its another one due to be RTP'd and disposed of.
Does anybody know which tail No. it is?
PS: Shame it couldn't have landed in time for the fast running day on Sunday, Comet Victor, Nimrod & VC10 would have been a great picture!
Does anybody know which tail No. it is?
PS: Shame it couldn't have landed in time for the fast running day on Sunday, Comet Victor, Nimrod & VC10 would have been a great picture!
Last edited by Robby NL; 30th Aug 2011 at 15:51.