The right job for a VC10?
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The right job for a VC10?
The MOD has just anounced that it is taking the BZZ-PRN -BNX-BZZ weekly flight back "in house"and is going to fly it with a VC10.
I have no doubt that this is a job that the VC10 can do but is this a good use of the VC10? It will burn a lot more fuel than the B738 that is currently doing the flight and the maintenance costs are likely to be a lot higher and the VC10 by now must have a limmited life so would it not be a better idea to save the airframe life for the military tasks that only the VC10 can do such as air to air refueling?
I do have a bit of an axe to grind on this subject but would value the opinions of those who have more of insight into why the RAF have decided to take this flight back in house.
I have no doubt that this is a job that the VC10 can do but is this a good use of the VC10? It will burn a lot more fuel than the B738 that is currently doing the flight and the maintenance costs are likely to be a lot higher and the VC10 by now must have a limmited life so would it not be a better idea to save the airframe life for the military tasks that only the VC10 can do such as air to air refueling?
I do have a bit of an axe to grind on this subject but would value the opinions of those who have more of insight into why the RAF have decided to take this flight back in house.
ABIW beat me to it....the VC-10 is good for naught now days. Send it to Arizona for a sunbath. Only the VC-10 can do air to air refuelling....oh dear...what of all those KC things wandering about the place?
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It may be old but it is still as sexy looking today as it was 31 years ago when I first worked on it as a young aircraft mechanic
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
Only very few of those 'KC things' are multi-hose and few have a centreline hose.
There'll be only one reason why the Vintage Airliner Force is taking back that schedule. Cost. But the crews will be glad to go somewhere which isn't just sodding desert.
No doubt when the ageing FunBus has been squatting U/S on some aerodrome or other for a few days, the decision will be reviewed.
There'll be only one reason why the Vintage Airliner Force is taking back that schedule. Cost. But the crews will be glad to go somewhere which isn't just sodding desert.
No doubt when the ageing FunBus has been squatting U/S on some aerodrome or other for a few days, the decision will be reviewed.
Makes one wonder why not doesn't it?
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BZZ-PRN -BNX-BZZ
Remember your sense-of-humour
Tonks
With all those buses cluttering the roads from BZN-FFD and back, it's a good thing that road fuel costs are at an all time low.......
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Well I suppose the other option is to let the runway at Brize slowly fall to pieces and fit all the a/c with Land Rover tyres.
I'm sure the collective 'knowledge' of the PPrune forum could come up with a better option than having to divert a/c to another airfield whilst BZZ is closed, something the might of the MoD just can't manage to think of.
I'm sure the collective 'knowledge' of the PPrune forum could come up with a better option than having to divert a/c to another airfield whilst BZZ is closed, something the might of the MoD just can't manage to think of.
Mmmmm - they did last time they resurfaced the runway at Brize. The insuing incident nearly cost us a Tristar full of pax MPA bound and a sherpa van plus driver. I was working the night it happened (but not involved I hasten to add!!!).
Close and bolthole - its alot safer and means the work can be completed quicker.
Close and bolthole - its alot safer and means the work can be completed quicker.
IIRC, the Sherpa was driven by some Bampton Barracks grunt who had no idea what a runway was - and who had been told it was OK to cross regardless of the light indications.
How do they resurface Gatwick? Or Heathrow?
How do they resurface Gatwick? Or Heathrow?
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Boltholing is a faff but the safest way to get this job done. And it's not just resurfacing, the AGL is being replaced as well and this would be nearly impossible if they tried to keep the runway in use. Oh, and not boltholing would have meant the work took 9 months. And what happens when a jet is late leaving theatre (or where ever), misses the closing time for the runway and diverts to - Manchester? Plane and crews in the wrong place! Boltholing seems to be the least painful option - and it is relatively shortlived.
Apologies to all Bampton Barracks grunt drivers for the mis-ident - I guess I didn't recall correctly!
OK - if as is obviously the best way to do it - the place is closed for such major WiP, why is the Class D CTR remaining in place? It must be the only Control Zone in the UK (and probably the world) which doesn't have an active aerodrome contained therein?
OK - if as is obviously the best way to do it - the place is closed for such major WiP, why is the Class D CTR remaining in place? It must be the only Control Zone in the UK (and probably the world) which doesn't have an active aerodrome contained therein?
Last edited by BEagle; 17th Sep 2005 at 11:56.
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Lets not turn this thread into a 'lets slag off the VC10 again' or 'bolthole is going to be a faff'. We all know that bolthole is going to be difficult, but there are a lot of people, putting a lot of work into it, give them a chance . Once they mess it up, then feel free to banter them. SASless, get off your soapbox, and let me get onto it. When the Gov give us a nice new aircraft, we will gladly fly it, until then we are stuck with the mighty 10. The US has similar problems to ourselves, they don't have a tanker replacement. I sense you have a axe to grind with the ten, perhaps you once had chicken insted of beef, or didn't get a window seat. Did you prod on a red and get a telling off, no i've got it, you wished you had flown the queen of the skies insted of whirly death machines. As for the thread, The schedule will provide a much needed change from BSR, who cares about the extra cost/fuel burn, as an operater I don't pay the bill, and if it lessens the life of the aircraft, perhaps we will get a new aircraft earlier.
. Once they mess it up, then feel free to banter them. SASless, get off your soapbox, and let me get onto it. When the Gov give us a nice new aircraft, we will gladly fly it, until then we are stuck with the mighty 10. The US has similar problems to ourselves, they don't have a tanker replacement. I sense you have a axe to grind with the ten, perhaps you once had chicken insted of beef, or didn't get a window seat. Did you prod on a red and get a telling off, no i've got it, you wished you had flown the queen of the skies insted of whirly death machines. As for the thread, The schedule will provide a much needed change from BSR, who cares about the extra cost/fuel burn, as an operater I don't pay the bill, and if it lessens the life of the aircraft, perhaps we will get a new aircraft earlier.