Last BA flight of the VC10

[Muzz]

Hi,

Just wondered when the last VC10 flight was for BA? I used to work as an air courier back in the late 70's early 80's, and I would fly to New York from London Heathrow approximately 5 times a mont, using flt BA 179 to JFK which for many years was a VC10. Must have flown on that bird 100's of times. Happy days they were....

Thanks

[vc10boy]

QUOTED FROM SCOTT HENDERSON'S VC10 BOOK....The last scheduled British Airways super VC10 flight was on the 29th March 1981 when GASG-F returned from London from Dares-Salaam via Arusha and Larnaca.On board where a group of aviation enthusiasts who had flown out to Deres-Salaam order to experience this historic flight.Among the enthusiasts was the Cyprus Director of Civil Aviation.At Larnaca Captain Mauleverer handed the aircraft over to Captain Sandy Sanders who commanded the final sector to London.During the hand over the two Captains where interviewed by British forces radio station when they marked the occasion by singing a song.Captain Sanders is reputed to have stated that ;the VC10 had flown with BOAC and BA without a single loss of life and he had no intension of altering that record on the final sector;. Four one hour charter flights where made over march organised by Ian Alan publishing and BA. On the 30th March Captain William Outram [the same captain who flew GASG-C to Duxford] flew GASG-L on a final two hour charter flying low over Manchester and Prestwick where the aircraft had built up long haul routs and over Filton where British Aerospace staff waved.In the crowd as Brian Trubshaw [VC10 test pilot].Former BOAC training captain Roger Price recalled flyng two of the charter flights from Gatwick he said ;he,d taken both flights down to Minehead,straight down the Bristol channel, that was the only place with clear weather,dreadful days,about an hours flight,he then took GASG-L to Derby where the engines had been made; The British Airways Brass Band played as it poured with rain on the final two hour charter on the 30th March 1981,the final charter was from Heathrows BA engineering base..an American passenger flew accross the Atlantic to make the flight...from a personal point of veiw i got a booklet off Ian Alan a month before but i did,nt notice the form on the back which was the form for the final VC10 charter flights until they had been and gone...bugger.