VC10 Changi
 

I previously left Changi by Vickers funbus in 1970.

I passed through again on Thurs 14th April 2005, lo and behold what should be sat on the pan but one of the none shiny ones (101).
Any body know why she was there?

Why did they call the VC10, Funbus? .......

Several of the heirarchy at Brize wondering that as well I'll wager...

PS- It is a "shiny" one (C1K)- they're all that colour now.

While looking for an answer to my question I came across this photo from an ex VC10 guy who retired to Canada ...

http://www.vc10.net/Memories/Images/...on00_00056.JPG

Goldcup

Shouldn't you be packing?:cool:

Vickers FunBus is an oblique link to the Vickers FB5 'Gunbus' of earlier years: http://www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/te...ickers_fb5.htm

..and the VC10K was a renowned party machine before the stupidity of those who should have known better robbed the squadrons of their individual identities....

But the FunBus took me to Hawaii 4 or 5 times, for example. Not to mention Cocoa Beach, Dayton, Pease and countless other fun spots long before the joys of sandy tents (which fortunately I never suffered).

Ah, the Funbus!!

10 Sqn Cpl Stewardess on stop over in Gan,,, sun, sea an sex, lots of it,, but got caught once.. Entertaining 8, repeat 8 !!!! blokes on the beach.. £25 each they paid, which was a hell of a lot in those days...but being there for months all alone must have made the cost worthwhile.. Very obliging girl.. God knows how any decent guy could marry her after her record!!!!!!

10 Sqn Ft Lt Loadie Boss told his wife he was off to Hong Kong on Royal Flt but flew to Rhodesia via Mid East to entertain former Miss Rhodesia, who he had previously met in London. The a$$ole had been up to his tricks again, but his number was up.. His Wg Co went spare but wanted it covered up as the ensuing embarrassment reflected on his own incompetence as he had put the idiot up for the MBE and he got it just weeks before!!!!!!!!!!!

10 Sqn Sgt (W) Airmattress aka Loadie working her way through the fleet's captains,,,,,,,,so much fun, till her number came up.. But the poor wives who had been cheated on,, poor souls....

So BEagle, from your experience, how does flying the FB5 Gunbus compare to the later offerings from Vickers?

The FB5 didn't have particularly good protection aginst pterodactyl strikes.........

Great a/c from a great British company. Wasn't this the fastest passenger a/c built, next to Concorde? not very fuel efficient I believe but still a wonderful aircraft.

I am sure there are many who enjoyed the "Chocolate Milk" and "Orange Juice" provided by 101 at various airshows round the world will understand the "Funbus" tag. For those of us that came from the V world the luxury of hot and cold running water, a fridge and cooker and comfortable seats to go tanking with all added to the pleasure. In addition the 10 is a delight to fly with power to spare though one has to admit the Conways are not the quietest engines in the world.:O :O :O

VC 10 IN CHANGI
 

The funbus you were talking about is VC10 C1K XR 808 and has only just come out of a major.
She is broken bigtime and has been at Changi for the past 10 days with heavy recs scratching thier heads. They fix one problem and another crops up.
She was involved in moving Ghurkas from Brunei along with 3 other clapped out 10s and 2 clapped out Js
I was there.

xr 808
 

vicky10. Thanks for that info I wasn't close enough to read the reg no. I flew on 808 many times when I was at BZN prior to joining 74 sqn at Tengah. Sorry to hear that the old livery is now defunct perhaps thats why she's playing up.

XR808 VC10
 

latest news on XR808 when recovered to Brize she will be ready for the parts bin along with 2 k4s. The begining of the end

Why not leave the frame in Changi. That way there will be a ready supply of spares in theatre during the next Ex Flying Fish!

A long time ago I had an ambition to get myself my very own Jet Engine ..... guess what I ended up with? .... a Rolls Conway of course :p

..... I must try and post a photo of it later .... it's a magical sight

conways
 

As of last month the fleet had 6 spare Conways, weve used them all in the last 3 weeks and now were stuffed.
Can we have yours?

This photo was taken a few days ago ...... the Conway was mounted on display in our Staff Canteen 15 years ago .... you can see how well it's being looked after ....

http://www.yorkshirekoi.co.uk/files/1745_conwayjpeg.jpg

Sorry Vicky .... you can't have it .... ;)

Nice Motor
 

Your right Hobie it looks to clean and shiny and we would go and break it for you

Beagle

Without a doubt the old "funbus" was a top party machine, I recall one particular airshow at Mildenhall in the mid 90,s when I closed up my Mighty Hunter and went looking for more action, I staggered passed the old Victor and was just about to move on past the "Funbus" when I noticed the fuselage bouncing on the nose leg.

the door was shut of course, but I took my chance and knocked on it to be let in, ...............I got in..............there must have been about 100 on board, there was not a sound to be heard outside but inside it was brilliant, I was offered.......Tonic (G &T) Orange (Voddy) and Coke (Bacardi) from the front galley, together with women and a disco in top form, I had one of my mechs with me, and he couldn,t believe his eyes.

We of the Kipper Fleet allways had a good beer call at shows, but the Funbus had one advantage over us, namely the Coffee Jockey...they just new how to look after you.

I also recall a certain Tonka Nav ex POW being on board who was completed wasted, what a laugh, what a muppet (top bloke though)

Happy days.