VC10 to retire on 28th August????
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Ahh thought the cmk1 was doing its last operational flights.
Cunning Artificer
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I'm amazed at XV108 and XR808 lasting so long. They were 5 years old when I first worked on them and I was demobbed 35 years ago. 40 years is a lot more than the builders expected them to last. Hell, that's twice as long as ANYBODY expected them to last! I've never enjoyed working on anything so much since then, as the Vickers Knickers.
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Name another airliner that hasn't lost one in a crash...... Says everything
As a Nimrod FE who has only been a pax on these ac (albeit on the flt deck on most occassions), I extend my best wishes (and gratitude) to all who flew them; always sad to see the old girls go.
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Memories
Memory 1. Bruggen to Deci via Glasgow (I think) and Brize (nightstop) to visit friends mid 90's (route got a bit messy at the last minute - just had to go with it!). We were the only PAX Scotland to Brize leg, crew strapped both young sons into swing seat for the whole leg and went down the west coast in brilliant conditions talking to them the whole way.... my sons loved it !
Memory 2. Trailing F3OEU jets back from Tonapah, fantastic crew with an exceptional flight steward !! He got brilliant provisions and really looked after us ! Cruelly cut short when one of the F3s diverted into Bagottville in Canada with Low Oil P and us sooties were kicked off to wait for the sweep aircraft with the spare engine. Descended into farce and I eventually came over on an over crowded Herc with 2 very pissed off F3 crew !!
Memory 3. Several trips on the flight deck whilst down the Falklands ... a mate was the pilot when I was on 1435 .... exciting flying for a big jet !!
The VC10 is a great aircraft which in my opinion should have been a world beater .... more history.. I must be getting old !
Memory 2. Trailing F3OEU jets back from Tonapah, fantastic crew with an exceptional flight steward !! He got brilliant provisions and really looked after us ! Cruelly cut short when one of the F3s diverted into Bagottville in Canada with Low Oil P and us sooties were kicked off to wait for the sweep aircraft with the spare engine. Descended into farce and I eventually came over on an over crowded Herc with 2 very pissed off F3 crew !!
Memory 3. Several trips on the flight deck whilst down the Falklands ... a mate was the pilot when I was on 1435 .... exciting flying for a big jet !!
The VC10 is a great aircraft which in my opinion should have been a world beater .... more history.. I must be getting old !
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I'm amazed at XV108 and XR808 lasting so long.
NutLoose
Not quite, BOAC sold one to Nigeria Airways G-ARVA. Flown by expat crew BOAC/EAA/BUA, CFIT on approch to Lagos with all killed.
Altimeter miss read by 10000ft was most probable cause.
Altimeter miss read by 10000ft was most probable cause.
Last edited by cessnapete; 1st Sep 2012 at 11:20.
I am not sure if this has been mentioned before - apologies if it has.
When Concorde was retired, it set a benchmark (as remarked by Jeremy Clarkson(!) amongst others) - it was the first time in history aviation had gone 'backwards' - there was no longer a supersonic airliner.
What many do not know is that the VC10 was the fastest airliner in the world before concorde arrived, and STILL the fastest when she left.
That is some achievement.
And once again, upon the demise of the Vickers beauty, history will repeat itself.
Sad, sad times. Wish there was something to shout about in the RAF. Well, there is, but it's all bad.
When Concorde was retired, it set a benchmark (as remarked by Jeremy Clarkson(!) amongst others) - it was the first time in history aviation had gone 'backwards' - there was no longer a supersonic airliner.
What many do not know is that the VC10 was the fastest airliner in the world before concorde arrived, and STILL the fastest when she left.
That is some achievement.
And once again, upon the demise of the Vickers beauty, history will repeat itself.
Sad, sad times. Wish there was something to shout about in the RAF. Well, there is, but it's all bad.
VC10 cruise speed
Not really sure that's true. In BOAC/BA we cruised them at .84 Mach, indicated, which was .825 true whereas the 747-400 was cruised at .86. I guess there is little or no difference between indicated and true Mach numbers with modern ADCs. I understand the 380 is cruised at .85. Still slower than a Victor !!
As for the Nigeria crash, was heard that a gun had been found in the cockpit wreckage raising suspicions of a possible hijack.
Sadly, East African lost a Super at Addis caused by a nosewheel tyre failure which led to a rejected take off at way above V1.
That said, an extremely fine aircraft with an incredible safety record. Proud and delighed to have flown her.
As for the Nigeria crash, was heard that a gun had been found in the cockpit wreckage raising suspicions of a possible hijack.
Sadly, East African lost a Super at Addis caused by a nosewheel tyre failure which led to a rejected take off at way above V1.
That said, an extremely fine aircraft with an incredible safety record. Proud and delighed to have flown her.
Last edited by RetiredBA/BY; 1st Sep 2012 at 19:52.
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Old thread on it here with info ref max speed (including Beags)
VC10 Mach .94 [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums
The frames are limited speed wise nowadays due to wing fatigue. They are beautiful aircraft (in my option anyway), and when in formation with the Typhoon, make the prettiest formation.
VC10 Mach .94 [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums
The frames are limited speed wise nowadays due to wing fatigue. They are beautiful aircraft (in my option anyway), and when in formation with the Typhoon, make the prettiest formation.
Last edited by lj101; 1st Sep 2012 at 19:59.
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Memory 2. Trailing F3OEU jets back from Tonapah, fantastic crew with an exceptional flight steward !! He got brilliant provisions and really looked after us ! Cruelly cut short when one of the F3s diverted into Bagottville in Canada with Low Oil P and us sooties were kicked off to wait for the sweep aircraft with the spare engine. Descended into farce and I eventually came over on an over crowded Herc with 2 very pissed off F3 crew !!
...emphasis on "on the way HOME from Tonapah"
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I may have posted this story before but relevant here. Running rather late LHR to Andrews AFB with the PM on board as soon as we left the NAT I asked, and was cleared, for direct destination .92 Mach. A voice from the aether said, 'gee what kind of aircraft cruises decimal 92'. My F/O as quick as a flash said, 'a very late VC10 old boy' 
The fuel flow was horrendous above .86 which is why we always filled it half way up the windows for these type of trips to make doors time if delayed on departure. Very low ZFW so it was possible and the tax payer was paying
For the record we made it to the second - as usual
The fuel flow was horrendous above .86 which is why we always filled it half way up the windows for these type of trips to make doors time if delayed on departure. Very low ZFW so it was possible and the tax payer was paying
For the record we made it to the second - as usual
Exascot, no doubt that was in the days of very shiny paint, polished to a high gloss for a VIP trip. No pods or pylons, no camera pod, probe or SDS either.
Which at high IMN would have reduced drag very considerably compared with the somewhat draggier VC10K.
When we first had the VC10K, BWoS recommended a cruise IMN of M0.82, whereas the VC10 C Mk 1 normally cruised at an indicated M0.84. Even then, the K's fuel burn was rather higher.
Exascot, good to see that your high speed cruise received ATC clearance! I recall a snottygram being sent to the station from London ATCC, reminding captains of the requirement to renegotiate clearance for a 5% TAS or 0.01M speed change. It seems that some VIP crews were causing problems in the Londin TMA by making unannounced speed changes to make good their 'doors times'.....
Which at high IMN would have reduced drag very considerably compared with the somewhat draggier VC10K.
When we first had the VC10K, BWoS recommended a cruise IMN of M0.82, whereas the VC10 C Mk 1 normally cruised at an indicated M0.84. Even then, the K's fuel burn was rather higher.
Exascot, good to see that your high speed cruise received ATC clearance! I recall a snottygram being sent to the station from London ATCC, reminding captains of the requirement to renegotiate clearance for a 5% TAS or 0.01M speed change. It seems that some VIP crews were causing problems in the Londin TMA by making unannounced speed changes to make good their 'doors times'.....
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Exascot, no doubt that was in the days of very shiny paint, polished to a high gloss for a VIP trip.
No pods or pylons, no camera pod, probe or SDS either.
VIP crews were causing problems in the London TMA by making unannounced speed changes
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