The new Defence Review that was released as a major cost cutting exercise in the UK's politics includes the following statement about the air-to-air refuelling assets:
We will accordingly ... reduce the role of the VC10 transport/tanker aircraft to undertake air-to-air refuelling only, with the target of withdrawing it by 2013 as A330 enters service;
This means that the until now planned out of service dates, which stretched back as far as 2017 while the A330 program slowly moved along, will be changed to a new target of 2013 which is only 3 years away. This may also impact the schedule of spares recoveries which has been agreed with GJD services, which has seen the recent scrapping of XR807 and XV109.
2013 has always been the expected OSD for the aircraft here at VC10 Central. There were even suggestions of earlier dates at one time but '13 was the one most of us were expecting to see. The retirement program has had some swapping and changing but I think even this will see little change to what we expected.
Never had a GE's wallet. It was always empty when I got back but I always had a smile on my face
Actually that may have been my memory playing tricks with me. Now that I've looked at some information I cannot find dates past 2014 but I'm sure I have seen later dates mentioned somewhere. That may have been guesswork of course. Anyway, the A330s are on their way and the VC10 is definitively on its way out. As LSS says, we need to take photos while we still can. A sad day indeed
In some ways it might have been satisfying to see some of the fleet make 50 years in service ...... and I know there are still a few DC3s around, but 40+ years is probably time enough for complex machines. And they will remain elegant in profile till the very last!
AJW wrote:
I hear 808 is going to bruntingthorpe for taxiing. And one to cosford, but any ideas of any more?
I think the other way around; "BOB" to Cosford with it's history as a VIP ship and as the first at Brize in '66, and I suspect someone at Bruntingthorpe may be interested in another VC10 of some description for taxying purposes.
I'm sure (I hope) it's possible to try and keep one or two "or more!!!" in airworthy condition. Otherwise it will go the same way as Concorde: Just a distant memory. "Did you know? Once there was a supersonic airliner" (or) " One upon a time there was a British Aviation Industry!" - "Really, you're pulling my leg!" The same goes for the VC10. Excepting of course that it was not "quite" supersonic. Though I'm sure the RAF tried as there is no barber pole on the IAS!!!!! And, the mach meter is calibrated uo to M1.0
vololiberista
There were other dates bounced around, 2020 was once uttered [-o< , and 2017 did seem a good average of the wish list. However, we all really knew that that was not going to happen. We will continue to give the old girl a good servicing, (sorry, I could not resist that ), and leave the crews to show her off to the best of their abilities.
Never had a GE's wallet. It was always empty when I got back but I always had a smile on my face
Some additional thoughts on whatever aircraft are to be kept away from the scrapyard when the time finally comes. I thought this had been mentioned on here once before, but I can't find a relevant thread or post so perhaps it was something mentioned by one of our 101 Sqn hosts at a 10 Sqn Reunion visit to Brize. Whatever the case, the impression then was that one of the original 10 Sqn C1s would go to the RAF Museum at Cosford and that a K3 was likely to go to IWM Duxford. (I don't recall anyone saying anything about one going to Bruntingthorpe.) Time will tell, but I very much doubt that any retained aircraft would be kept in an airworthy condition. As desirable as that would be, the costs of doing so would be considerable, as the Vulcan project has demonstrated. Personally, to have another VC 10 sitting beside its former BOAC sister at Duxford, just 15 minutes up the M11 from me, would be highly agreeable. And to have one of those in which I've flown go to Cosford, where it would join a Meteor NF14, Argosy, and Belfast also in my logbook, sounds even better!
As to the choice of airframe to be kept, I'm interested by Charlie's reference to 808's 'history as a VIP ship.' Any details? I only ask because my recollection of the mid-70s years is that Eng Wg normally selected one of the 100-series aircraft for 'full' VIP tasks - ie as opposed to the installation of a small 'VIP Fit' upfront on a schedule, something that happened regularly after the demise of 216 Sqn and its Comets. All aircraft in the fleet would have had this happen lots of times - indeed, in those days, I'd say some 50% of Dulles schedules had one installed, and it was such a frequent occurrence overall that no attempt was made to ensure that crews had VIP endorsements. All of that apart, however, 808's seniority at Brize would make it an excellent choice for retention.
I'm sure a "keep the last all British built aircraft in the Air" charity could be set up. A small subscription and donations should cover the cost to at least keep it airworthy for airshows etc.,
however, for when the end does come I'm sure Brooklands would be interested in one of your simulators.
vololiberista
I really believe that that the chances of keeping a 10 flying is nil! It has been hard enough to keep the Vulcan funded and that is far more iconic and famous... outside of the enthusiast no one has heard of the VC10. It is way more complicated than the Vulcan in many respects, and the RAF is spending shed loads keeping her going... the cost would be unbelievable. If it could be done I would certainly be happy to fly her, but I just cannot see it ever happening. I would just be happy to see a couple kept in good condition in a museum...
Until then though there is still plenty of life in the old girl yet...
As an old(but not bold) pilot myself I too would love to fly the VC10!! In my younger days I had many flights on the vc10 visting my parents abroad. Riding in the cockpit. When I was 14 my Mother took me to Beaconsfield model village where they had a model airport with the prototype VC10 on the runway. I remember being completely "blown away" (it must have been those RR Conways!!) It was this visit that inspired me to become a pilot.
vololiberista
The realities of keeping a large ex-Service aircraft flying are only too painfully apparent here and, on the face of it, the Vulcan may be only days away from being grounded once again:
I'm sure that Tonks is right - unless BAe or a company of that size agrees to take one on and keep her airworthy, the very best we can hope for will be the Museum option.
Edited now I realise how the URL insertion process works!
), and leave the crews to show her off to the best of their abilities.