Vickers VC-10 History
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In the early 1950's Vickers were already working on designs for a 4 engined jet airliner, originally known as the V1000. Compared with the earlier Comet, it was a very modern design, featuring a wider fuselage, slotted flaps, a variable incidence tailplane & much better performance.
Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the government pulled the plug on the project, as the prototype neared completion. This strange decision effectively stopped the aircraft from becoming the commercial success that it should have been.

BOAC stated that it still wanted the aircraft, but only to fly their 'Empire routes' to Africa & Australia. They did not want a Trans-Atlantic airliner. Their strict requirements were incorporated by Vickers & the project continued as the VC-10. BOAC ordered 35 in 1957, with an option for 20 more. The prototype first flew on 29th June 1962.

The VC-10 was designed to give good runway performance from higher altitude airports & hotter climates. Powered by 4 Rolls Royce Conway bypass engines, it's large wings, leading edge slats & huge Fowler flaps, gave it the take off & landing performance of a much smaller plane.
Vickers, woried about the type's appeal to other airlines, set the VC-10's fuel capacity high enough to allow non-stop flights across the Atlantic. BOAC had stated from the start that they did not want this.
Vickers also set about a stretched version, with a 28ft fuselage extension. BOAC demanded that the stretch be reduced to just 13ft before they would place an order. This not quite as stretched version became the Super VC-10.

The conflict of interests possibly led to a souring of relations between Vickers & BOAC, with the airline constantly changing it's order quantities & even publicly criticising the aircraft (without any real reason or data to back them up).
The Standard VC-10 entered service with BOAC in April 1964 & the Super VC-10 entered service with BOAC in April 1965, bizzarly on a Trans-Atlantic flight to New York.

Other airlines did take up the VC-10, but never in great quantities.
BUA (later B.Cal), Ghana, Malawi, Gulf Air, Nigerian had the Standard and East African had the Super. BOAC later became British Airways, who flew both types for many years. The RAF also used both types, taking most of the surplus from BOAC's reduced orders.

Renowned for it's quiet cabin & sparkling performance, the VC-10 was amazingly popular with both flight crews & passengers. It did managed some passenger service into the 1980's, but was on the whole phased out rather early. It now only operates in the RAF, where it has been a good servant for many years as transport & as the converted K2 & K3 inflight refueling tanker.
In all, only 54 VC-10's were built.
There are 4 preserved models on public display.
3 in England at Cosford, Duxford & Vickers Design Facility Weybridge/Brooklands.
1 in Germany at Hermeskeil.