EBAY ..PART OF THE PROTOTYPE HAS TUNED UP

[vc10boy]

i noticed a part of the vc10 prototype has turned up on ebay item number 230336957372, it went for over a hundred pounds..did,nt the apprentices of b,cal cut up the aluminium of the prototype into vc10 shapes and they then got mounted on a wooden plinths and sold for charity,now and again they turn up on ebay,has anyone got a pic of one?. A few years back a huge BOAC light up sign appeared that used to at heathrow,wounder who bought that?.Does anyone have a victor mike tie from the vitor mike tie club or a pic of one..also on the subject of GARV-M i herd a radio recording was made on board her on her first flight to malawi..i know its a long shot but i woundered if anyone has a copy of that radio recording, thought these two items would make great exhibits on victor mike at Brooklands.

[Jelle Hieminga]

Here's what the mounted pieces look like (images nicked off Ebay):

This silhouette has been produced from the original material of G-ARTA by apprentices of British Caledonian Airways in aid of the Golden Lion Childrens Trust
V.C.10 Prototype - G-ARTA
First flight - 19 June 1962
Withdrawn from service - 28th January 1972

Looks like this other piece that was sold (see here: Ebay) was saved during the scrapping process by someone. I don't think it was part of the same aid scheme.

If anyone can help with the other items that would be great. Also a better photo of a mounted piece of G-ARTA might be nice...

[vc10boy]

thanks for that jelle,i dont think that plaque was sold in the end if my memory serves me correct, do you still have the seller,s i.d?,did you ever get chance to veiw all the photo,s and dvd,s i sent you jelle?,maybe put a few of the items ive got in the surviving bits and peices section in the future?.i thought about trying to visit GARV-F this year but with a year old baby it is,nt easy,i woundered if there where any vc10 enthusiasts who fancy going and sharing the costs together?.i,m moving into a much larger old farm house in the late summer,as ive got a very understanding wife ive been allocated a room for my vc10 hobby..could,nt find any vc10 seats in the end so picked up some blue leather club class airbus seats,the bar/galley unit i have already out of th first cmk1 vc10 so cant wait to move..the bullet end of GARV-M,s tail is painted and ready to be mounted on the wall, i havent stripped down VM,s tail cone from the rear of her tail yet [due to new baby], it,s still in a very faded B.A red,perhaps the last peice of B.A painted vc10 in the world so maybe i should leave it that way?,i dont supose anyone has the light unit for it do they?..another long shot.

[Tonkenna]

vc10 boy... check your pm's

Tonks

[1103]

did,nt the apprentices of b,cal cut up the aluminium of the prototype into vc10 shapes and they then got mounted on a wooden plinths and sold for charity,now and again they turn up on ebay,has anyone got a pic of one?.

I was one of those apprentices - I have two of those plaques. Do you still want a photo of one?

[vc10boy]

yes, that would be great,thanx,send it to this web site please.what do you remember about the demise of the prototype?.was she stripped of all her spares to keep the rest of the fleet going?.How did the tens compare with the Boeng 707 in terms of reliability and ease of maintenence?.There,s a perception that B,CAL where,nt that keen on there inherited vc10,s? do you think that was true?.how many plaques where made,do you remember?.was there any co,operation betwean B,CAL and any other vc10 opperators?. thanks

[1103]

Sorry for the late reply vc10boy,

There,s a perception that B,CAL where,nt that keen on there inherited vc10,s?

I think you have to put that in the perspective of the fact BCal was an expanding airline and as such needed an expanding fleet of long haul a/c. Quite simply there were more 707's around, in fact they were still being built when Bcal came into being. On the other hand the VC10 was out of production. From an engineering POV there were also more spares avail for the 707 around the world than there were for the VC10.

How did the tens compare with the Boeng 707 in terms of reliability and ease of maintenence?.

I think the tens were as reliable as the 707's but from an engneers perspective they weren't as user friendly as a 707, for example Vickers preferred to use split pins & wirelocking to secure nuts as against Boeings user of self-locking nuts

how many plaques where made,do you remember?.

I've no idea. I'll post a picture of the plaque tomorrow

was there any co,operation between B,CAL and any other vc10 opperators

There is always engineering co-operation between airlines - you never know whan to boot will be on the other foot!