Final VC10 Sortie, 20th of September 2013

[jonf45]

Hi, Seems odd to be putting this in the nostalgia section as i cant believe this is now 10 years ago!!
The Final RAF VC10 sortie from Brize Norton, flown by K.3s ZA150 and ZA147, callsign "Tartan 51/52", 20th of September 2013:



VC10 K3 ZA150 + ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-5 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-6 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-1 (2) by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA147 + ZA150 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-2 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA150 + ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-1 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA150 + ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-6 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-13 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-14 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA150 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-3 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA147 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-15) by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



VC10 K3 ZA150 RAF Brize Norton 20.09.13-4 by Jonathan Francis, on Flickr



Thanks for looking

Jon

[LimaHotel01]

What an elegant aircraft the VC10 was and even more so in the original white and light grey scheme.

Thanks for the happy memories.

[Snoop 95]

Lovely aeroplane the VC10. Looks like someone repainted the cockpit area with their own choice of poorly-matching paint!

[F3]

That 1st shot is really excellent. Totally agree with the sentiments expressed above.

[Mustang531]

Another sadly missed type, great shots, thanks for sharing these with us.

[Rick]

Lovely aeroplane the VC10. Looks like someone repainted the cockpit area with their own choice of poorly-matching paint!

I believe the cockpit area was painted with Solar Heat Reflective paint to reduce the temperature in that area when on the ground.

[Unknown74]

I've gotta say I've really missed the VC-10, I like the Voyager seems an able successor............

[Mike Dodd]

Thanks for posting. A beautiful looking aircraft and the sound of those Conways .........!!

[paddyboy]

Lovely-looking ‘frame with a very distinctive engine note

Great set of shots, Jon

[H.A.Bucken]

Can't better the comments about Vicker's finest.
Why is it the M.O.D. condemns everything after 25 years service whereas KC-135s, B-52s, CVNs, Tu-95 variants etc just keep rolling on.
Roger

[POL]

Because there was a handful of VC-10s and airworthy parts left in the world, versus hundreds of KC-135s and associated parts (as a decent chuck could be taken from 707s)

The same applies for B-52s, with plenty of donor airframes in AMARG, and Tu-95s in Russia. Not sure what nuclear aircraft carriers have to do with it though.

[capercaillie]

Can't better the comments about Vicker's finest.
Why is it the M.O.D. condemns everything after 25 years service whereas KC-135s, B-52s, CVNs, Tu-95 variants etc just keep rolling on.
Roger

VC10s served the RAF for nearly 47 years, with the Ks also serving 30+ years having already lived as airliners prior to that. Not a bad run for a low production type.

To be honest in recent times we've had plenty of types serving mega shifts - Tornado, Puma, Chinook, Hercules (K variant), Hawk, Dominie, Nimrod etc, so we haven't done too bad. Yes there are types that were shelved too fast because lack of investment or hasty cutbacks - Harrier II, Sentry, Hercules (J variant), Sentinel, but we seem to be past the days of Valiants, Javelins and Swifts.

Very nice shots by the way Jonathan. I should have gone there.

[Supra]

Super first shot especially! Very appreciated as it was the shot I didn't get as my shutter-box reached its sell-by date & threw the 'Error 99' code as they arrived.