Why didn'tb the RAF give the VC-10 a name?
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sisemen
Clearly you never served at Muharraq. I was there for two years, partly as SFSO, and I can assure you that the area shown could and did hold at least that number of aircraft on a daily basis - and as many, sometimes more, different types. Why your blunt comment? I think the painting is hanging in the RAF Club nowadays.
Sorry sisemen - missed your mea culpa!
Clearly you never served at Muharraq. I was there for two years, partly as SFSO, and I can assure you that the area shown could and did hold at least that number of aircraft on a daily basis - and as many, sometimes more, different types. Why your blunt comment? I think the painting is hanging in the RAF Club nowadays.
Sorry sisemen - missed your mea culpa!
Last edited by cuefaye; 17th Mar 2013 at 17:44. Reason: adding apology, of sorts
OK now, here's a little excercise, think up an official name for the VC-10.
I'll start with a continuation of the Vickers "V" theme (Viking, Varsity, Valetta, Viscount, Vanguard et al ) and go for "Viceroy".
I'm sure someone can do better than that.
I'll start with a continuation of the Vickers "V" theme (Viking, Varsity, Valetta, Viscount, Vanguard et al ) and go for "Viceroy".
I'm sure someone can do better than that.
Wasn't "Superb" in the frame at one stage or was that it's successor? I know that when I was travelling around the Middle East, the sight of that huge blue fin and the gold Speedbird was a fair indication that I would be getting home that night. Unlike with some other airlines I wot of.
Last edited by VictorGolf; 17th Mar 2013 at 17:57.
Definitely Muharraq; the Argosy could be 105 Sqn. We didn't disband until 31 March 1968 when we became Ardet (and I did no less than FIVE of those).
The Belfast looks as if it is going to tip on its a*se and I would have thought the 8/208 Hunter should have been a bit further to the right.
Incidentally, we had 8 Sqn and 43 Sqn (and 1417 Flight) in Khormaksar before we moved. It was decided that one Hunter squadron was to move to Bahrain and it would have been just as easy to have sent 43 Sqn.
However, some comedian decided to send 8 Sqn to join 208 Sqn who were already there. So, we had 8 and Naval 8 on the same unit. Naval 8 were actually senior but 8 did not like that and the conflict caused loss of sleep from time to time for those of us who had to fly 24/7.
The Belfast looks as if it is going to tip on its a*se and I would have thought the 8/208 Hunter should have been a bit further to the right.
Incidentally, we had 8 Sqn and 43 Sqn (and 1417 Flight) in Khormaksar before we moved. It was decided that one Hunter squadron was to move to Bahrain and it would have been just as easy to have sent 43 Sqn.
However, some comedian decided to send 8 Sqn to join 208 Sqn who were already there. So, we had 8 and Naval 8 on the same unit. Naval 8 were actually senior but 8 did not like that and the conflict caused loss of sleep from time to time for those of us who had to fly 24/7.
In 2006 Flypast magazine asked readers to come up with a suitable name for the VC10. See second item on this page: News Archive - 2005/2006
One of the winners was 'Ascot', obviously inspired by the Air Support Command callsign. A lot of readers sent in 'Viceroy' and this was also a favourite of the editor. The RAF version of the stillborn V.1000 project would have gotten this name, it is presumed, and the VC10 is therefore a suitable successor.
I cannot agree with you there I'm afraid. When BAC was formed the VC10 project was designated as an 'old account' project, which meant that it would stay on the books as a Vickers project. Any proceeds or losses would not go to BAC, but would stay on the Vickers books. Because of this I feel that it would be wrong to call it a BAC VC10, it was, and still is, a Vickers VC10.
One of the winners was 'Ascot', obviously inspired by the Air Support Command callsign. A lot of readers sent in 'Viceroy' and this was also a favourite of the editor. The RAF version of the stillborn V.1000 project would have gotten this name, it is presumed, and the VC10 is therefore a suitable successor.
Originally Posted by Nopax,thankx
IIRC it was the only aircraft to be completely abbreviated.....
BAC VC10 C.Mk.1
BAC VC10 C.Mk.1
Last edited by Jhieminga; 18th Mar 2013 at 09:54.
" 'Ascot', obviously inspired by the 10 Sqn callsign".
The whole of Transport Command became Air Support Command on 01 August 1967. 10 Sqn had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the ASCOT callsign.
I quote from my history of 53 Squadron:
"Transport Command was given the new title of Air Support Command on 01 August. Wg Cdr Basil Taylor, who had been OC No.53 from 1958 to 1960 (Beverleys) was working in the Ministry of Defence at the time and saw this as a golden opportunity to find a new radio callsign to replace the old "RAFAIR" version. He was a keen student of the racehorse and, in cahoots with Wg Cdr Basil D'Olivera, OC No.216 (VIP Comets), came up with "ASCOT". This was officially expained away to his seniors (VCAS) when submitted for approval, as standing for "Air Support Command Operational Task". The callsign is still in use to this day!"
The whole of Transport Command became Air Support Command on 01 August 1967. 10 Sqn had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the ASCOT callsign.
I quote from my history of 53 Squadron:
"Transport Command was given the new title of Air Support Command on 01 August. Wg Cdr Basil Taylor, who had been OC No.53 from 1958 to 1960 (Beverleys) was working in the Ministry of Defence at the time and saw this as a golden opportunity to find a new radio callsign to replace the old "RAFAIR" version. He was a keen student of the racehorse and, in cahoots with Wg Cdr Basil D'Olivera, OC No.216 (VIP Comets), came up with "ASCOT". This was officially expained away to his seniors (VCAS) when submitted for approval, as standing for "Air Support Command Operational Task". The callsign is still in use to this day!"
Herod
IIRC on 31st July '67 the last day of Transport Command, the Hunters of 1 and 54 at West Raynham were still part of 38 Group, the 'Tac' part of the command.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 17th Mar 2013 at 21:03. Reason: Add title
Well, now we are really going back in time. When I joined the Argosy force as a very sprog pilot in 1962, we had two masters within Transport Command; one master was based at Upavon (route flying 46 Group) and the other master was transport support operations (38 Group at Odiham).
38 Group was a Tactical Support Group and included Argosy, Hastings and Beverley squadrons. We also had two Hunter FGA squadrons, SRT transport squadrons and helicopters.
38 Group was a Tactical Support Group and included Argosy, Hastings and Beverley squadrons. We also had two Hunter FGA squadrons, SRT transport squadrons and helicopters.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I stand corrected ref the picture; like I said, a nice one. Another name for the ten was "Freedom Bird" (depending on where you were going home from).
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Hey RedhilPhil, Vickers Viceroy? That was the original name planned for the Viscount, but sensitivities to recent events in India resulted in calling it the Viscount.
There was an Airspeed Viceroy, by-the-way, built in the mid-1930s.
There was an Airspeed Viceroy, by-the-way, built in the mid-1930s.
Last edited by evansb; 18th Mar 2013 at 03:08.
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Sorry sisemen - missed your mea culpa!
Still reckon that there are a few scale and perspective problems with the painting though (sorry, I've got a professional artist in the family!).
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Had a total of eight years in Bahrain, with GF. If you were to stand with your back in the corner of the fencing that protected the taxiway and ran up the side of the hard standing, (now the freight apron), I think that picture would have been just about feasible in terms of space etc.
Originally Posted by JW411
The whole of Transport Command became Air Support Command on 01 August 1967. 10 Sqn had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the ASCOT callsign.
When we first started flying the VC10K to the USA, we had to use the RAFAIR callsign, which caused great difficulty for the mononeuronic colonials. They called us 'Royal Air', 'Rough Air', 'Romeo Romeo Romeo' and various other perversions. Eventually a commonsense brain cell kicked in and all VC10s then used 'ASCOT' on overseas trips.
I remember the 'Mike plus 4' callsigns such as MBGFK or whatever. If I recall correctly, 45/58 Hunter Wing were once allocated Mike Alfa Foxtrot India Alfa for a trip to Denmark. As their boss said at the time "It's a good job we're not flying to Sicily!"...
I remember the 'Mike plus 4' callsigns such as MBGFK or whatever. If I recall correctly, 45/58 Hunter Wing were once allocated Mike Alfa Foxtrot India Alfa for a trip to Denmark. As their boss said at the time "It's a good job we're not flying to Sicily!"...
Gentleman Aviator
PS. Definitely remember it being called the Moonrocket by the guys in the Middle East at the time.
The "Rocket" bit of course requires no explanation!
The whole of Transport Command became Air Support Command on 01 August 1967
In that case I claim to have been in the first crash of Air Support Command when Chunk Lord (RIP) and myself wrote off XR 478 on the 7th August 1967.