VC10 Mach .94
 

Speaking with a retired RAF VC10 flight engineer the other day, he stated that it was possible to cruise the VC10 at M.94. I think the standard was .84/.86.. .. .Can any of you guys out there confirm this although I've no reason not to believe it.. .. .Thanks. .R4R

In actual fact Mmo was beyond Mach 1. The aircraft is actually overpowered, and with that slender wing the structural limit is the Mmo. The throttles were wirelocked to 98% at the fuel control units to avoid exceeding Mmo, but even so it is possible to attain Mach 1.2 in level flight ;-)

On my BOAC type training, we took a VC10 to either .91 or .93, I think it was the higher. It had no trouble getting there in level flight, but I do remember high speed buffet was occuring.

Was once told a story during training by an old BOAC Captain about trying to outrun the fuzzie-wuzzies over Sudan and doing 0.94 in a VC10. Said there was a shock wave starting to develop over the nose!

Mmo above M1.0......1.2? Me thinks a slight ah.....exaggeration...perhaps been at the red too long?:rolleyes:

In the past I've cruised across the Pond at M.88 indicated, but such things are no longer permitted. Cruising for optimum payload availability is the holy grail nowadays - and Mno is .866 indicated.

I'm authorised to take the old ladies briefly up to over .9 IMN on air tests, but I recover long before Mne of .94 IMN is reached - and they certainly won't do that in level flight! As for M1.2....err, no. Not possible!

Hope this one comes out.

Did a test flight in a 747-300 the other day, and took this snap -

http://www.billzilla.org/reallyhighmach.jpg

No, that wasn't from mach buffet, the blasted camera just wouldn't focus properly. ;)

Be surprised if the wings didn't fall off the old gal these days....

A BCal VC10 dropped a boom after being upset by some turbulence over the Andes once. All that happened was a panel dropped off.

The DC-8 was used for high speed research and during one test, it achieved M1.04 during a high speed dive. It was a -50 I believe. According to the book I read, there was very little buffet, no A/C damage.