You've just found it, on the internet (at http://www.VC10.net).
Why?
Two reasons: 1 - because I think the VC10 is a
magnificent design that deserves some attention. 2 - It hasn't been getting that
attention, as far as I know this was the first dedicated VC10 site, two other sites
have been active but one has disappeared and the other one has been inactive
for several years now.
When?
I started thinking about this sometime in 2000 but I finally got around to doing some actual work in April
2001. The site has been 'on air' since 27 April 2001.
For the specifics: ask Microsoft,
as this page was created using Frontpage 2000/2003. Where necessary, errors were
rectified using the best HTML editor available: Microsoft Notepad.
What's on this site
A lot of info. I started out without a real structure but as the number of
pages is growing I have tried to get it all organised. To get you back on track
if you get lost on this site I have produced a Site Map,
which can be found by clicking on the Site Logo that is at the top left of each
page.
News - This page is also used for VC10 related
items that have come to my attention but don't fit in another category. As
they are new to me I treat them as 'News' items.
History - The career of the VC10, from
the early Vickers beginnings up to its present RAF service. Also the histories of
several individual airframes are found here.
Technical - Mainly technical info on the
aircraft's systems and structure, specifications and dimensions can be found
here, along with other articles about technical aspects of the aircraft. Now
also includes several pages of performance data from operations manuals.
Data - Look here for production numbers,
type designations and first flight dates. A new addition here is a page with
routes and timetables.
Photo
Archives - This section will eventually contain a large collection of
photos related to, or showing, the VC10. Contributions always welcome!
Miscellaneous - Anything that I
couldn't fit in a category above. Includes background info on me, sources
used, info on books and videos and info and pictures from the Brooklands Museum Summer Project.
VC10
Memories - On these pages I would like to collect serious, humorous, sad
or otherwise noteworthy memories involving VC10s, in stories or photos. Your
help is needed to fill these pages!
Fly a VC10 - I wish I could, but here you
can find the next best thing: several VC10s available for use in Microsoft
Flight Simulator.
VC10
Forum - The place to discuss anything VC10 related.
Links - Several pages that I would recommend. Not
all VC10 related, but as I mentioned before, there aren't many pages with
VC10 information available.
Search this site - To quickly find information on
this site use this page, the search facility is powered by Google.
Legal bits
Where possible I have tried to
credit source or photographer for the images used on this site. If you know
where credit is due for an image on this site, please contact
me. Sources are listed in the text or on the Sources
page, all other material is copyright J. Hieminga.
There have been several
instances now where material from this site has been copied for use on other
websites. Please note that while I may have permission to use photos and text on
this site, unless you contacted the copyright holders yourself, you do
not! Blatantly copying material from this site is therefore not allowed!
I will be more than happy to arrange permission when needed, and when kindly
asked, but until this has been arranged any material on this site is for
personal use only!
Questions that will be asked frequently
What's with the name? During it's service with BOAC the VC10 gained a
lot of passenger appeal and BOAC responded to this by using these appealing
features such as it's quietness and smooth ride in their campaigns. At some
point someone coined the phrase 'a little VC10derness' and it appeared in some
of BOAC's commercials from that point on to describe the 'special treatment' you
got when flying on a VC10. I picked it to reflect on the fact that it's time
some of this tenderness is aimed back at the VC10 itself before it fades from
public memory. The picture on the right shows an example of BOAC's advertising which is
available on a T-shirt from Skyshirts.com
(look under Europe - British Airways to find it). Below is a small version of
the bumper sticker that BOAC issued with the 'A Little VC10derness' phrase on
it.
Image via S. Frampton
Why do you care, you weren't around back then, right? Indeed, when I
evolved from design phase to prototype form around 1975 the VC10 had already
been flying for 13 years, and it wasn't until a lot later before I even knew
what a VC10 was. This occurred around 1998 when I got involved in a project
through my school which involved restoring Brooklands
Museum's VC10. Look up my personal history for the longer version of this
story.
What are you, an aviation nut? Well, basically yes. I became
interested in aviation early on in my life and instead of just drooling over
nice airplane pictures I decided to try to do something more productive with my
ambitions. I've got a BSc degree in Aeronautical Engineering and have finished a
course at the KLM Flight Academy
for a 'frozen' ATPL.
So to be more precise: I am someone who is extremely interested in his own field
of work. Again, look up my personal history for the longer version of this
story.
Where does all this info come from? From various sources. I listed
them elsewhere on this site but mainly there are three books available
commercially that I used and then there's a lot of info that I picked up through
spending three summers working on the Brooklands
Museum Summer Project, mainly on their VC10. Also several people have
contributed material from their personal archives for use on this site. Unless
they did not want to be named, you can find their names throughout the site.
)
