I was the construction manager for Gallifords at RAF cosford and spent many hours looking over and reading up on TSR2. Fantastic British engineering ruined by poor politicians
Great video of the RAF VC-10. Was at Biggin Hill in May 1978 for the annual air show. Also, had an opportunity of flying on a BA Super VC-10 in 1970 JFK/LAX/HNL. ✈️
I flew on the VC10 and Super VC10 back in the 1960’s from Brize Norton to Akrotiri…..many times a a child, fantastic up in the cockpit m flying very fast….RAF silver service treatment as well…not sure but we’re the seat facing the other way…..lucky me, flying on Comets, VC10, Hercules, Belfast, Britannia…..oh those were the days…..
spent a lot of my service time on Vs, Valiant, Victor, VC10 (did loads of trips in them), and right at the end Vulcan fitting martel missile for the Falklands.
I remember my father telling me to watch out for a big plane flying over Blantyre Malawi, we certainly heard it coming, children were running for cover. She flew right over head and headed out to Chilaka airport , it had come to take our president Dr Banda to meet the Queen. During the afternoon before taking off, our father took us to see her on the handstand. A few years later I was fortunate to travel many times on the VC10 , going backwards and forwards to boarding school in England, terrific thrill on take off, superb aircraft.
The vc 10 super should still be in service ...stupid Brits letting it go & letting the yank boeing crap take over.....er well it's not a show without punch ....hero America has to be top dog.
In early september , or possibly very late August ( I was nearly ten at the time !) , 1970 me and my Mum flew to Dubai and stayed over night at the Bustan hotel so we could catch an international flight to London Heathrow , which was not yet possible from Abu Dhabi . Little did we know that the VC10 we flew home on was going back to Abu Dhabi to do a fly past of the newly open International airport , now called the Al Bateen Executive airport , actually on the main island . Dad was a civil engineer , working for Pauling's , at the time , at the new airport ! Well the plane flew down the length of the runway , possibly the longest in the world ( for a short time anyway !) and then gained some height , not much , to bank around and do three laps of the airport . When I say bank I mean bank ; the plane was almost at ninety degrees over , a bit of an experience for any non fighter pilots on board , especially a ten year old ! Brilliant , we even saw our house near the airport ! We did not see Dad though ... he was probably having a crafty pint with someone , lol , mind you this was Abu Dhabi , so maybe a date sherbet ! The VC10 was my favourite plane . The Boeing 707 would shake all the overhead lockers open and the window plastic padded surrounds would detach almost on landing ! The Comet , earlier years for me , was perfectly fine . I loved the DC3 over the Fokker Friendship for short flights . The DC3 was like being in an open top sports car ; proper flying ! Thanks for the memories !
Beautiful aircraft, flew Tor-Mirabel-Glasgow & back due to fog in Manchester then to Manchester, second take of from Glasgow was full power & then of course return same route 3 weeks later
Thanks for bringing back some good old memories. One, Vc10, I flew in one once to Texas and back again as part of a trip to Columbia. It was a great aircraft. Two, memories of Biggin Hill where I learned to fly and used to instruct part time. Sadly Biggin has changed a lot, most of the old flying schools and clubs have gone and so has runway 11/29 and the grass runways, which all added character to the place. And, of course some of the great characters that used to hang out there.
Awesome aircraft... though I'm not sure why they need to have a bunch of peeps in slightly too tight orange jumpsuits running along with it and gesturing at it (and higing their slightly too tight behinds..lol)..Are the pilots blind? can't they see the taxiway? Or do the orange peeps feel a need to associate themselves with the aircraft to look like they are important or cool? Oh well I enjoyed this.. amazing aircraft!
I always believe that engine power is more when install in back .So the wings can do better when needed and if engine trouble it glides down either than straight down an another safety all planes jet. Should have is a parachute no more death if engine failure cause the chute stops impact an smother land in emergency .There few small jets got them but our bigger jets don't an they can for a safety that saves more life's not just rely on engine power
Never flew in one, but a friend of ours was a pilot in 101 sqn RAF Brize Norton. He gave me and my youngest son a tour of the VC10 he flies. Incredible.
