I apologise in advance this is not strictly a VC10 item but I thought it noteworthy.
I watched a doumentary about classic British Aircraft last night on the Canberra and Nimrod. To my dismay they both are retiring next year. The Canberra PR9 like the VC10 has served reliably for 40 years + as well as the mighty Nimrod.
They pilots are sad and say there is NO replacement that can equal them or even do their job. Even the Americans admire the old Canberra! I never realised that they lock the poor old Nav into the nose compartment where he just has 2 tiny portholes and cannot get out unless he is let out. He has an ejection seat though!
There is a famous incident in which the Americans and Brits took part in an altitude competition to see who could go highest and get photos! well the Americans turned in their aerial reccy photos from 50 thousand odd feet cannot remember the aircraft (maybe an early U2). The RAF nodded appreciatively very good. Now they showed their photos taken ABOVE the American aircraft taking a picture of them taking THEIR photos from about 59,000 feet...............only a canberra!
A late friend of mine was actually IN that aircraft when this was done in the rear seat to verify it. Sadly he is now where the Canberra and Nimrod are going.
Farewell to 2 more great marques. Fly high, clear skies my friends.