Right up until their RAF retirement, they used to regular fly over my home in Worcester, many miles after leaving Brize Norton. These were usually on their way to tanking missions and be reasonably high up (about 10,000 feet plus) by that time but still climbing. You always knew (heard) when a VC-10 was heading North! They were much quieter on the descent on the way back, but you could still pick them up by the sound.
I was lucky enough to fly on the sultan of Oman’s VC10 a few times back in the 80’s which now lives at the brooklands museum. Magnificent aircraft. You could really feel that thing take off!
I flew on one in 1969. It vibrated like an SOB, and was worse the farther back in the cabin you ventured. It was a pretty plane, and advanced for its time.
I am so glad you produced this homage to the VC10. One of the most beautiful airliners ever designed. I had the pleasure of flying in BOAC/BA/East African Airways versions of the standard and super variants, many times as a youngster. Quieter inside than many current aircraft, feeling that amazing power and thrust on those steep takeoffs. Passengers and crew loved it. Sadly missed. Thanks for the memories :)
As a very young man I used to fly in VC10s to Iran in the ‘70’s. I spent many hours sitting in the cockpit with the crew probably boring them stupid with my excitement and constant questions! I remember one flight heading towards a very active lightning storm and a last second go-around as we were just about to land in Teheran when it became evident there was an aircraft still waiting on the runway. We then moved on to 707’s and from other parts of the Middle East the TriStar (and what an aircraft that was!)
I had an air experience flight out of Lynham in 87. Backwards seats and a fantastic time. The Herc was very agricultural but no less fun. Good old ATC.
As an 11 year old I flew with my family from the other iconic terminal at JFK to Prestwick in Scotland. My abiding memory is what appeared to be an almost vertical take off, being pushed back into my seat. A beautiful aircraft unappreciated in its day.
We used to have them over our house when the RAF had them at Brize Norton. VERY noisy taking off, especially on a cold day. On those days the engines also made a crackling sound.
A happy new year! 🏴 I’m either suffering from a case of Dàja vu or you’ve covered the VC10 before… not too worry as il watch it anyway as it’s one of my favourite aircraft. I flew in one as a cadet in the air training corps (ATC) on an air experience flight from Brize Norton to Malta and Cyprus in a day. In the RAF models, you sat facing the rear of the aircraft, unusual! 🏴
I remember listening to the Today programme one morning in 1972 when they were discussing the too late Chinese order for Super VC10s. Opportunities lost on all sides combined with general lack of production capacity. Although not mentioned in the video I think the arrival of the Boeing 747 was the biggest factor in the VC10's commercial demise.
The British Aircraft Builders listened too much to BOAC and BEA and then got screwed over by them. Same happened with the Trident. With the original design being more like the 727.
The VC10 and Il-62 don't really have much in common besides the shape. What's a little ironic is that the western plane was a rugged dual use one while the Soviet one was a pure passenger chariot for high end airfields
The VC-10 is another example of the UK aeronautical (and, come to that, transport) industry really struggling to read the room. Like the Trident, brabzon, Princess, Comet nd much else, "it's the economy, stupid" - British aircraft were always aimed at the wrong sector of the market and didn't understand that air travel was becoming increasingly about mass travel. We were wedded to imperialist ideas of small numbers of wealthy people travelling to the empire on state carriers rather than large numbers travelling on holiday and business for companies that were about making money. Beautiful, but flawed.
A beautiful aircraft, however (tips cap to Ruairidh), growing up in south London I distinctly remember how incredibly loud they were. Having said that, everything seemed noisy in the 70s, especially when Concorde accidentally slipped over Mach 1.
Grown up a eastern Victoria Harbour away from Kai Tak in the 1980's, can't help but agree (only operated by RAF [18:54-19:21] by that point), second only to Concorde while ahead of CAAC's Trident, made 707, 727 and 737-200 quiet by comparison!
Ridiculous excuses about not being able to put engines under the wings because of Fowler flaps. Such flaps were quite common, but were considered cutting edge in the UK at the time. The British just kept sticking engines on the fuselage. The more the better.
As a kid I saw/heard/felt an RAF vc10 departing heathrow with blaire on board. That shook the windows compared to jets twice it's size!
That's because it was only Stage 2 noise compliant, and commercial jets were mainly Stage 3 noise compliant.
Right up until their RAF retirement, they used to regular fly over my home in Worcester, many miles after leaving Brize Norton. These were usually on their way to tanking missions and be reasonably high up (about 10,000 feet plus) by that time but still climbing. You always knew (heard) when a VC-10 was heading North!
They were much quieter on the descent on the way back, but you could still pick them up by the sound.
I was lucky enough to fly on the sultan of Oman’s VC10 a few times back in the 80’s which now lives at the brooklands museum. Magnificent aircraft. You could really feel that thing take off!
RIP HM
I flew on one in 1969.
It vibrated like an SOB, and was worse the farther back in the cabin you ventured.
It was a pretty plane, and advanced for its time.
I am so glad you produced this homage to the VC10. One of the most beautiful airliners ever designed. I had the pleasure of flying in BOAC/BA/East African Airways versions of the standard and super variants, many times as a youngster. Quieter inside than many current aircraft, feeling that amazing power and thrust on those steep takeoffs. Passengers and crew loved it. Sadly missed. Thanks for the memories :)
As a very young man I used to fly in VC10s to Iran in the ‘70’s. I spent many hours sitting in the cockpit with the crew probably boring them stupid with my excitement and constant questions! I remember one flight heading towards a very active lightning storm and a last second go-around as we were just about to land in Teheran when it became evident there was an aircraft still waiting on the runway. We then moved on to 707’s and from other parts of the Middle East the TriStar (and what an aircraft that was!)
I had an air experience flight out of Lynham in 87. Backwards seats and a fantastic time. The Herc was very agricultural but no less fun.
Good old ATC.
I too but flew out of Brize Norton in a VC10 🏴
Fantastic footage from the factory. I am, again, totally amazed by your work.
As an 11 year old I flew with my family from the other iconic terminal at JFK to Prestwick in Scotland. My abiding memory is what appeared to be an almost vertical take off, being pushed back into my seat. A beautiful aircraft unappreciated in its day.
We used to have them over our house when the RAF had them at Brize Norton. VERY noisy taking off, especially on a cold day. On those days the engines also made a crackling sound.
It's a beautiful aircraft. The whine from it's engines and that trail of smoke was perfect.
A happy new year! 🏴
I’m either suffering from a case of Dàja vu or you’ve covered the VC10 before… not too worry as il watch it anyway as it’s one of my favourite aircraft. I flew in one as a cadet in the air training corps (ATC) on an air experience flight from Brize Norton to Malta and Cyprus in a day.
In the RAF models, you sat facing the rear of the aircraft, unusual! 🏴
Beautiful plane.
Loved that aeroplane. Saw so many of them flying in and out of Prestwick.
I remember listening to the Today programme one morning in 1972 when they were discussing the too late Chinese order for Super VC10s. Opportunities lost on all sides combined with general lack of production capacity.
Although not mentioned in the video I think the arrival of the Boeing 747 was the biggest factor in the VC10's commercial demise.
The crackle of the Conway’s at Heathrow on take off ,I can see how Gerry Anderson or Derick meddins got his idea for fireflash
The British Aircraft Builders listened too much to BOAC and BEA and then got screwed over by them. Same happened with the Trident. With the original design being more like the 727.
How cool and pretty was the paint on BOAC aircraft. Absolutely brilliant. I love that big blue line a lot. BA had to ruin even that.
I've never seen one a VC-10, wish I had. Thanks RMV. 🇦🇺
I remember watching the BOAC Super VC - 10 landing and taking off at Boston Logan Airport during the summer it was replace with the Boeing 747 jet
These were also permanently based at Incirlik AB in Turkey during the 90s and Naughties.
The VC10 and Il-62 don't really have much in common besides the shape. What's a little ironic is that the western plane was a rugged dual use one while the Soviet one was a pure passenger chariot for high end airfields
Excellent video, although one correction. ZA150 has since been abandoned and it looks like she’s awaiting the scrap man 😢
Ive got some bits off these when the tanker fleet was scrapped.
The VC-10 is another example of the UK aeronautical (and, come to that, transport) industry really struggling to read the room. Like the Trident, brabzon, Princess, Comet nd much else, "it's the economy, stupid" - British aircraft were always aimed at the wrong sector of the market and didn't understand that air travel was becoming increasingly about mass travel. We were wedded to imperialist ideas of small numbers of wealthy people travelling to the empire on state carriers rather than large numbers travelling on holiday and business for companies that were about making money.
Beautiful, but flawed.
Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head, there.
BOAC, The Boeing Only Aircraft Corporation!😂
A beautiful aircraft, however (tips cap to Ruairidh), growing up in south London I distinctly remember how incredibly loud they were. Having said that, everything seemed noisy in the 70s, especially when Concorde accidentally slipped over Mach 1.
Grown up a eastern Victoria Harbour away from Kai Tak in the 1980's, can't help but agree (only operated by RAF [18:54-19:21] by that point), second only to Concorde while ahead of CAAC's Trident, made 707, 727 and 737-200 quiet by comparison!
Gud vid 💯💥
Oh dear, sound is a bit weird on the narration. Sounds like you recorded inside a tin box. 😢
Ridiculous excuses about not being able to put engines under the wings because of Fowler flaps. Such flaps were quite common, but were considered cutting edge in the UK at the time. The British just kept sticking engines on the fuselage. The more the better.