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Jem Shaw

Jem Shaw

22/08/2013 10:39:49

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Classic Air Force Goes Large

Our biggest aircraft yet will soon be joining the collection at Newquay.  On Wednesday 28th August we take delivery of Vickers VC10 ZA148, one of only three remaining in flying condition.  The VC10 was - and is - a giant of the skies that entered service as a passenger airliner in the early sixties. Even today, its passenger-flying time to cross the Atlantic has been beaten only by Concorde.  Our example is an ex-military version flown by the RAF and is named after Guy Gibson VC, the leader of the famous Dambusters raid.

Photo by Peter R. Foster

Rob Wyatt

22/08/2013 14:58:00

I suggested a few months ago that you should have a VC10, and you replied that you hadn't thought about it. Well I guess you have so well done for saving one of these Queens of the skies

Jem Shaw

22/08/2013 15:03:53

Thanks Rob. We were always hoping for one, and it's a big moment for us! IMHO the most beautiful jet airliner ever made.

Darren Foley

22/08/2013 17:51:36

If all things go to plan, when will the VC-10 arrive at Newquay please?

Trevor

23/08/2013 07:34:07

Current planning, Darren, is for the aircraft to arrive between 10.30 and 11.00 and complete some circuits and low approaches with go arounds before landing. Yee hah!

john swinnerton

23/08/2013 10:55:14

think we flew on one of these birds from Brize Norton, back out to Sydney, Australia with FOF2 staff - after we had flown home previous from Aquaba on a very noisy hercules!!, to rejoin our ships ongroup deployment in 1978 - its a great plane, and the service was tremendous. Thanks guys.

Derek Sharp

24/08/2013 12:02:00

Only C1s of No 10 Sqn were named after VC holders. This aircraft belonged to 101 Sqn, a tanker sqn. How do I know? I flew VC10 for 17 years :) However, 101 may well have used the name after the C1 holding that name was scrapped ;(

Jem Shaw

24/08/2013 12:31:05

Thanks Derek. I haven't seen the full history of ZA148 yet so I can't confirm whether she inherited the name, but it's certainly what the RAF have painted on her!

Please drop us a contact if you have any VC10 stories to share!

Mike Rowley

24/08/2013 20:18:16

Yes Derek Sharp is correct this name was given to XV102

Mark Franks

26/08/2013 11:01:35

Hi im Mark I work at Newquay airport. I served on both 10 and 101 sqns for 11 years, just checked my log book and did two globals on the old girl. It will be a real tear jerker to see her on the southside of the airfield.

Mark Franks

Not entered

26/08/2013 11:06:18

Sqn Ldr Sharp sir you are correct

Chris

27/08/2013 08:53:03

Wonderful news Jem!Hopefully the crew will give us the benefit of a land on/take off,power on,15 deg up,and listen to the conways sing,it might provide the collective inspiration we need to work out how to keep this "bird" flying!Will there be an opportunity for a Photo shoot with the aircrew?

Jem Shaw

27/08/2013 09:01:26

The plan is to get the Vickie inside our apron gates to give plenty of photo opportunities. I can't volunteer the aircrew for posing duties, but I'm sure they'll be as cooperative as our RAF visitors always are if at all possible!

Bill pagett

27/08/2013 09:59:11

I flew back to Brize after a deployment to the Med my ship remained on station and I came home on leave . What a joy to fly in, not to sure about the rearward facing seats though. Which aircraft it was I am not sure, but V C 10 it was.

Tim Dean

27/08/2013 23:00:06

On 19 May 1986 I captained 2 trips in ZA148, a 3hr MPA AAR sortie followed by a 7hr transit to ASI. They were my last flights as crew on the VC10, as I was returning to instructing after a great couple of years at the start of AAR with the wonderful VC10K. Very glad ZA148 is going to a good home.

coling (GST)

29/08/2013 23:51:31

Thank you Derek, i wondered why 148 was named 'Guy Gibson' as I flew on XV 102, the original 'Guy Gibson' on a test flight from RAF Lyneham to RAF Akrotiri just before i was demobbed from RAF Hendon. When 148 came through the arch of water it was very emotional for me and brought a tear to my eye

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