RAF VC10 - Great Memories
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I cannot recall that the RAF purchased any civilian VC10's. I flew on the very first RAF VC10 that came from Vickers (BAC) and it was purposefully built for the RAF. The original contract for VC10's did not have any military connection but when that contract 'expired' the RAF tasked the manufacturer to a military requirement...no civilian conversion, to my knowledge, took place.
VC10s in storage
The best of all of them was the Gulf Air one parked at Brize, it was slowly gutted, I think there were issues with paperwork being missing so it never flew again... She was finally moved, jacked and her gear removed, then lowered onto her belly near the dog section if memory serves me correctly, they then decided it was in the wrong place and needed to move a bit, so she was jacked up, a full set of gear fitted then she was trundled over a bit before being jacked, the gear removed and dropped again....
We went to remove a few bits and I noticed she still had the engine fire bottles fitted with carts, so I removed the bottles and returned them through stores, I bet that caused some Stores bod some paperwork head aches..
Davita: I was exchanging Christmas cards with Bobby M for a number of years post-Travis, and I'm happy to say that a bit of Googling suggests that a gent going by his name is still alive in a town close to the base. So, hopefully, not murdered. And whilst Jerry Poole was certainly quite tall, I've no recollection of his being any kind of darts whiz, even at Carterton local level!
And BEagle is quite right, data for IMN.088 was in the ODM Vol II and would incur very heavy fuel use. I don't recall ever using those pages.
And BEagle is quite right, data for IMN.088 was in the ODM Vol II and would incur very heavy fuel use. I don't recall ever using those pages.
Thanks for the update to the RAF buying those ex-commercial A/C as tankers. I was unaware of that as it was well after my time so my post referred to the original ones which, although they had a refuel receiver capability, I don't think anyone had, at that time, considered using the VC10 as a tanker.
I recall we did attach the probe to one A/C and did try receiving from a V-bomber but there seemed to be a lot of buffeting. However, the in-flight refuel system did make the fuel system management more flexible than any other A/C I've been on as an F/E.
Thanks IMC.... that is good news about B.M. I'm scratching my head to remember what I heard, and it may be that he was mugged and I think stabbed, but my memory of him dying was fortunately untrue.
Did Jerry Poole replace BM or was that another USAF exchange officer? He was the great darts player, which we considered amusing, as darts is such a British game.
I recall we did attach the probe to one A/C and did try receiving from a V-bomber but there seemed to be a lot of buffeting. However, the in-flight refuel system did make the fuel system management more flexible than any other A/C I've been on as an F/E.
Thanks IMC.... that is good news about B.M. I'm scratching my head to remember what I heard, and it may be that he was mugged and I think stabbed, but my memory of him dying was fortunately untrue.
Did Jerry Poole replace BM or was that another USAF exchange officer? He was the great darts player, which we considered amusing, as darts is such a British game.
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I remember being taken round the East African VC10s (88-91 time I think) when they were being converted at Filton. An ex Flt Sgt from Base hangar by the name of Al Shrewsbury was working there as a civvie and I was based at RR on the Eurofighter Team. Because I knew Al from Brize he showed us things on those 10s that would make your eyes water. For example the corrosion to the main ECU spas, (which you could see when you opened the back panel of the rear toilets was unbelievable). It was like a peeled onion.
At the time we all agreed that they would never fly again and if they did it would only be for a few hours.
How wrong we were!!
At the time we all agreed that they would never fly again and if they did it would only be for a few hours.
How wrong we were!!
I remember being taken round the East African VC10s (88-91 time I think) when they were being converted at Filton.
Perhaps you were referring to the ex-ba Super VC10s which had been in storage at RAF Abingdon for many years?
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Hi BEagle,
Many thanks for the correction. I must admit that it was a long time ago and my memories are pretty vague. I do seem to remember the 10s I saw had something like3 or 4 times the airframe hours on them in comparison to the 10 Sqn jets. Can you confirm if this is true or is this something else that I have distorted with time!!
Many thanks for the correction. I must admit that it was a long time ago and my memories are pretty vague. I do seem to remember the 10s I saw had something like3 or 4 times the airframe hours on them in comparison to the 10 Sqn jets. Can you confirm if this is true or is this something else that I have distorted with time!!
This made me chuckle when I first the read the obituary some years back:
Major-General Philip Tower, who as died aged 89, was GOC Middle East Land Forces in 1967 and supervised the withdrawal of British troops from Aden.
In 1963 the sheikhdoms of the Aden Protectorates were merged with the British colony of Aden to form the Federation of South Arabia. The following year Britain announced that the Federation would be granted Independence by 1968 but British forces would remain in Aden.
In 1964 Arab nationalists formed the National Liberal Front (NLF) and began an urban terrorist campaign in Aden. They were joined by a second group, the Front for the Liberation of Occupied Yemen. In 1966 the British government agreed to withdraw all the troops by Independence.
A mutiny in the South Arabian Army in June 1967 spread to the Aden Armed Police. The insurgents fired on a group of soldiers entering Crater on reconnaissance, killing all of them. British forces were withdrawn and the township was taken over by the terrorist NLF.
After the Aden theatre was declared to be active service, Tower reminded the soldiers, not all of whom shared his enthusiasm, that the chances of being awarded a medal had greatly increased — they might get a mention in dispatches, an MM or even a VC. This prompted a shout from the ranks of: "The only VC I want to see is a VC-10!"
(The rest of the obit is on the Telegraph website if anyone wants to see the rest.)
Major-General Philip Tower, who as died aged 89, was GOC Middle East Land Forces in 1967 and supervised the withdrawal of British troops from Aden.
In 1963 the sheikhdoms of the Aden Protectorates were merged with the British colony of Aden to form the Federation of South Arabia. The following year Britain announced that the Federation would be granted Independence by 1968 but British forces would remain in Aden.
In 1964 Arab nationalists formed the National Liberal Front (NLF) and began an urban terrorist campaign in Aden. They were joined by a second group, the Front for the Liberation of Occupied Yemen. In 1966 the British government agreed to withdraw all the troops by Independence.
A mutiny in the South Arabian Army in June 1967 spread to the Aden Armed Police. The insurgents fired on a group of soldiers entering Crater on reconnaissance, killing all of them. British forces were withdrawn and the township was taken over by the terrorist NLF.
After the Aden theatre was declared to be active service, Tower reminded the soldiers, not all of whom shared his enthusiasm, that the chances of being awarded a medal had greatly increased — they might get a mention in dispatches, an MM or even a VC. This prompted a shout from the ranks of: "The only VC I want to see is a VC-10!"
(The rest of the obit is on the Telegraph website if anyone wants to see the rest.)
Last edited by TorqueOfTheDevil; 17th Jul 2013 at 09:15.
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I had many happy days deploying, or being trailed, to 4 continents in or behind these characterful and graceful aircraft. My abiding memory, though, is the perseverance of their crews, especially in the face of technical difficulties. They would work through almost any problem to ensure they landed somewhere either hot/exotic/good for rates. Always remarkably serviceable when getting out of places such as MPA of the Gulf, though......
Tom
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the 10s I saw had something like3 or 4 times the airframe hours on them in comparison to the 10 Sqn jets.
Over in Borneo in 1985 I was chatting with the Crew Chief of a (then 20 year old) RAF VC10 that was passing through. He said the aircraft was getting old and now had 18,000 hours on it. I pointed out that our 6 year old B737 on the next stand had 12,000 hours on it already.
Where I'm sitting right now, our 26 year old B757s have between 87,000 and 93,000 hours on them. Around 3-4,000 hours a year would be typical for a civilian long-haul jet.
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Might have been lower hours but had some serious landings on them, while the Airline versions used to climb up to xyz feet and cruise for six hours plus, the RAF used to stick 70 odd K of fuel in them and do circuits and bumps all day, day in day out...
Last edited by NutLoose; 17th Jul 2013 at 12:46.
Saw one in the Brize circuit today with no pods or pylons fitted, why is that? Can't have much of role without those bits hanging off the wings!
Quote:
I wonder what'll happen if there's a 2R 'event' after 20 Sep 13?????
What is a 2R event, BEagle?
I wonder what'll happen if there's a 2R 'event' after 20 Sep 13?????
What is a 2R event, BEagle?
The 2R hypothesis or Ohno's hypothesis, first proposed by Susumu Ohno in 1970,[1] is a hypothesis in genomics and molecular evolution suggesting that the genomes of the early vertebrate lineage underwent two complete genome duplications, and thus modern vertebrate genomes reflect paleopolyploidy.
- Google is not always your friend, ahem.
You know very well, MrB!!
Remember that famous trollop 'Anita Noprinciples'...
Remember that famous trollop 'Anita Noprinciples'...
Last edited by BEagle; 17th Jul 2013 at 16:49.
The best of all of them was the Gulf Air one parked at Brize, it was slowly gutted, I think there were issues with paperwork being missing so it never flew again... She was finally moved, jacked and her gear removed, then lowered onto her belly near the dog section if memory serves me correctly, they then decided it was in the wrong place and needed to move a bit, so she was jacked up, a full set of gear fitted then she was trundled over a bit before being jacked, the gear removed and dropped again....
ZD493 (G-ARVJ) V.1101 VC10 by Irish 251, on ipernity