VC10 The Story of a Classic Jet Airliner

116 Pages·2015·23.45 MB·English

by  Stephen Skinner

FLYING THE VC10 TESTBEDS FALKLANDS SERVICE PRODUCTION LIST
• • •
VC10
THE STORY OF A CLASSIC JET AIRLINER
FROM THE FLIGHT DECK RAF SERVICE PROFILED VC10 DATA AND TYPE LIST
£7.95
001 VC10 Cover.indd 1 20/02/2015 12:21
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Introduction
This superb example of British with the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8, the competition and the airliner
engineering left a lasting impression on and by 1960 the world’s major airlines had consistently achieved higher passenger
many; those who fl ew it as pilots, or in it as already chosen one of these two types to load factors than the American jets on all
crew or passengers, those who worked on fl y their long-haul routes. The VC10’s routes.
the initial design, manufacturing or salesmen were faced with an almost Several other airlines ordered small
maintenance programmes, or those many hopeless task; the market was already numbers of the VC10 but its second biggest
more who simply saw it in the skies. satisfi ed. And technically, the heavier customer was the RAF, which initially had
After 51 years in the air the VC10s are structure of the VC10 meant the aircraft 14 for the passenger/transport role. As
now regrettably all grounded, but their was less effi cient than the 707 and DC-8, airline VC10s became redundant the Air
legacy lives on and this book is a tribute to despite its superior performance fl ying Force received an additional 14 VC10s
Britain’s largest jet airliner whose history from restricted airfi elds. which were converted to a specialist
spans the second half of the 20th and some To exacerbate matters BOAC had fl ight-refuelling role.
of this century. bought a fl eet of 707s which had entered As an engineering fi rm, Vickers had
In the late 19th century and for a large service in 1960 and were fl ying on their always built its products to last and, free
part of the 20th century Vickers was one of world routes. This need not have been the from all the earlier controversy, the Force’s
Britain’s major weapons contractors and case, for in the mid-1950s Vickers had been VC10s put in sterling service in peace and
engineering concerns, building aircraft, building a transatlantic jet airliner, the war and they were such superior assets that
liners, merchant ships, warships, Vickers VC7, which had orders from the RAF they were only retired from service in
submarines, weapons, tanks, nuclear plant and would have entered service ahead of September 2013. Those who designed it
and for many years was one of the country’s the American jets. But the VC7 fell victim to could hardly have imagined that it would fl y
greatest engineering innovators and cost-cutting while BOAC maintained that and serve for so long. •
exporters. their turbo-prop Britannias would continue Stephen Skinner
The VC10 was created to fulfi ll an to hold sway on their major routes. Less March 2015
extremely demanding requirement by the than a year later the airline had to order
UK’s premier airline; British Overseas 707s, but by then the VC7 prototype had Acknowledgements
Airways Corporation. The corporation been cut up and the British aircraft Contributors
needed an airliner that could carry a full industry, then the best in Europe, had lost Ken Haynes – VC10 Production list
payload out of challenging airports like the opportunity to compete on major Jane Skinner – editing
Assistance
Nairobi, which was sited more than 5,000 long-haul routes.
Paul Morris – RAF VC10s
above sea level and where the runways With the prototype VC10’s fi rst fl ight in
Photos
were comparatively short. Vickers 1962 Vickers was optimistic that with
Barry Guess, Trevor Friend (BAE SYSTEMS),
developed an aircraft with performance to BOAC’s large order as a solid backing it Bob Cooper, Jelle Hieminga, John Hilliard,
achieve these demands and then refi ned it would attract some further sales. Then in Paul Morris, Paul Robinson, Maurice Ungless
by producing the Super VC10. On the basis 1964 came the body blow: BOAC
of their achievement the manufacturer attempted to cancel its order for Super Front cover: After service with BOAC/BA,
might have expected substantial sales as VC10s citing its higher operating costs as G-ASGD was bought by the RAF and broken
Vickers had established a worldwide the major reason. Although a compromise up for spares. (Main Image: BAE SYSTEMS)
reputation with their best-selling airliner, was reached with BOAC accepting some of
the Viscount. its order, the VC10’s sales prospects were This page: ZA150, the fi nal Super VC10
Despite its worthy credentials, the VC10 seriously damaged. built and now preserved by the Brooklands
came to market too late. The American Notwithstanding a lack of commercial Museum, fl ies past Thule Island in the South
aircraft manufacturers had already interest from Vickers’ main customer, the Sandwich Islands in July 2013.
established a predominant market position VC10’s passenger appeal was superior to (Image: BAE SYSTEMS)
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Vickers VC10 3
003 Introduction.TM.indd 3 20/02/2015 14:23
Contents
06 V ickers-Armstrongs 54 British United – the VC10’s
Britain’s greatest armaments and engineering firm. Champion
When the VC10 most needed it, Sir Freddie Laker
10 Vickers-Armstrongs and the
spoke out in support of its virtues. With Sir Freddie
British Aircraft Corporation at the helm the VC10s took over former BOAC
Why Vickers joined BAC and how that affected routes and made profits on them.
the VC10.
62 S tandard VC10s in Africa and
12 Origins of the VC10 the Middle East
The development of the Vickers V1000/VC7 and its The story of Ghana’s VC10s, Middle East Airlines
tragic cancellation. BOAC’s specific requirement for operations with chartered aircraft plus flying with
a jet airliner with superb performance that became Nigerian Airways and Air Malawi.
the VC10.
66 East African Airways and the
17 Technical Description
Super VC10
The design, structure, systems and ground rig
The Supers colourful time in East Africa, carrying
testing of the VC10.
the Pope and their eventual repossession by BAC.
24 The Rolls-Royce Conway
70 VC10s in the Gulf
The VC10’s powerplant, its development and
Gulf Air’s first airliners - its three-year sojourn with
flight testing.
the VC10 and the Gulf rulers who used them as
26 The VC10 Flight Test Programme their private jets.
Readying the prototype for its maiden flight. Chief 74 Selling the VC10
Test Pilot Jock Bryce tells his story of the flight. Damaged by BOAC’s negative publicity
Flight testing begins, revealing a drag problem. the bright hopes of sales were soon
The Super VC10 joins the testing and John Frayn dimmed.
Turner reports on trials at Torrejon in Spain.
76 Testbeds
38 Flying the VC10
The VC10 was not only a transport
Captain R E Gillman BEA Senior Training Captain, but an engine testbed with
Vanguard Fleet describes flying the VC10. Rolls-Royce for the RB211 and
was also used by the Royal
43 The VC10 in service with
Aircraft Establishment at
BOAC and British Airways
Bedford.
As the VC10 enters service the airline tries to axe
its Super VC10 order but fortunately a compromise
is reached. In service BOAC discovers that the
VC10 and the Supers have much more passenger
appeal than its Boeings.
4 Vickers VC10
80 The Vickers VC10 and the 104 The VC10 and the
Royal Air Force Falklands Island 1982-2013
The special features of the RAF VC10s and their The initial support given by the VC10 to the
role in supporting the armed forces around the Falklands as a transport and its later role stationed
world. on the islands to contain the Argentine threat.

88 The First Tanker VC10s 107 The last years of the VC10
The conversion of former airline VC10s to become As the VC10s were withdrawn and their numbers
Flight Refuelling tankers for the RAF. were reduced it continued to serve the RAF,
wowing the crowds until its last touchdown.
94 Operations Granby,
Desert Storm and the aftermath 110 VC10: Conclusion
VC10s supporting offensive operations by RAF and A great British airliner, a summing up of its
other force’s aircraft. development and 51 years in the air.
96 More Tankers Appendices
As the Victor tankers ended their lives, more Appendix 1 – Vickers VC10 Data and Type list
ex-airline Super VC10s were converted to support Appendix 2 – VC10 Production list by Ken Haynes
the RAF. As part of the same programme the C1s
were also equipped to have a limited tanking
facility.
101 Afghan and Iraqi operations
More offensive operations; flying over
Afghanistan after 9/11 and in the longer-term
supporting allied aircraft, also supporting
during the Iraq War.
Vickers VC10 5
Vickers-Armstrongs
The Vickers R100 airship under
construction at Howden in
Yorkshire. It flew in 1929 but after
the Government’s decision not to
pursue airship development in 1931
following the R101 crash it was
scrapped. (image: Author’s collection)
6 Vickers VC10
Chapt1_VickersArmstrongs.indd 6 19/09/2014 11:38
The shipbuilding, engineering and
armaments giant Vickers made its first
foray into aviation as Vickers-Armstrongs
(Aircraft) with the construction of an
airship, the Mayfly, at Barrow where the
company had large shipyards in 1909.
The company continued constructing
airships until the 1929 with the huge R100,
which was eventually scrapped after the
Government decided to abandon airship
construction following the loss of the
Government-designed and built R100.
Vickers had begun the construction
of aircraft at Erith in 1909 but its first
significant type was the Gunbus, with an
engine located at the back and a pusher
propeller which was ideal for a forward-
firing machine-gun. The Gunbus flew just
before the First World War broke out and
saw service during the war. During the
First World War the firm was engaged in
the manufacture of aircraft designed by
the Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough.
Amongst its own designs built in that war
was the large Vickers Vimy bomber made
famous by the first crossing of the Atlantic,
piloted by Alcock and Brown, in 1919.
The first and last Vickers types together at Wisley in June 1966. The Vickers Gunbus
replica 2345 was built at BAC Weybridge in 1966. The Gunbus was the first truly all-
Vickers design and the world’s first fighting aeroplane designed from the outset as a gun
carrier, the gun being fitted in the forward cockpit ahead of the pilot. The VC10 is XR808.
(Image: BAE SYSTEMS)
Vickers became Vickers-Armstrongs
following the merger of most of
Armstrong Whitworth (but not its aircraft
company) in 1928. This is the VC10’s
control column boss. (Image: Bob Cooper)
Vickers Vimy G-EAOU (affectionately known as ‘God ‘Elp All Of Us’), was flown by the
Vickers had established a flying school
brothers Ross and Keith Smith (centre, Ross on left), to victory in the 1919 England to
at the Brooklands racing track, Weybridge,
Australia air race. It is seen at Hounslow before departure. (Image: Aeroplane)
in 1909 and following the huge drop in
orders post-War War One it relocated
its aircraft production to the site. The
company continued in aircraft and airship
manufacture and ten years later in 1928
took over Supermarine and merged with
Armstrong Whitworth to become Vickers-
Armstrongs. With the Supermarine
acquisition Vickers-Armstrongs (through its
A Vickers Valentia – the ultimate
subsidiary Vickers-Supermarine) became
development of the Vimy – seen here with
the parent firm for the Spitfire fighter, the
four torpedo/bomber Vildebeests.
most famous British aircraft of the Second
(Image: Aeroplane)
World War.
War years
Vickers’ prime contribution to the Second
World War was its twin-engined Wellington
bomber, which flew in 1936 and made its
first bombing raid on the second day of the
war. They were built in large numbers and
were the mainstay of Bomber Command
in the first part of the war until they were
superseded by the better four-engined Wellington Mk3 X3763, which crashed HMS Illustrious, an aircraft carrier built by
bombers. The Wellington was still in France in 1943. More than half of the Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Barrow,
employed in other roles and later marks bombers in the 1,000 bomber raid in May completed in 1940 and which saw active
flew with Coastal Command. The Vickers 1942 were Wellingtons. (Image: Aeroplane) service in the war. (Image: Aeroplane)
Vickers VC10 7
Chapt1_VickersArmstrongs.indd 7 19/09/2014 11:38
trainer for the RAF of which 252 and 163
were respectively manufactured.
The Viking, Valetta and Varsity were
superseded by the much more technically
advanced Viscount, the world’s first
turbine-engined airliner which sold hugely
worldwide making Vickers fair profits.
Vickers Viscount
The Viking had been an
unspectacular performer, but when the
Viscount entered service in 1953, it was
ahead of its time – it was the world’s first
turboprop airliner and had no serious
competitor. Airlines which adopted it found
that its impact on their routes was manifold
– load factors increased substantially as
people wanted to travel on the fastest and
most comfortable airliner available.
After its maiden flight in July 1948 the
King’s Flight Viking VL246 at Farnborough in 1947. (Image: Aeroplane) Viscount’s future did not appear to be very
bright, but fortunately in 1949 the prospect
Warwick was designed as a heavy bomber Viking production ended at the end of a developed Dart engines with 50%
development version of the Wellington of 1947 following the manufacture of 166 more power gave Vickers the opportunity
but was let down by being fitted with Vikings. According to no less an authority to offer a stretched Viscount 700 with a
under-developed engines and its further than Sir George Edwards, Vickers lost capacity of 40-53 passengers.
development was then overtaken by events money on the Viking as they were typically BEA ordered for 20 Viscount 701s
and the end of the war. sold for £34,000. However the firm did in 1950 and in April 1953 and the first
capitalise on the design by developing services took place. Orders rolled in from
Vickers post-War airliners it into the Valetta transport and Varsity European airlines and it soon received large
Anticipating an end to hostilities and
the slump in military aircraft orders, in
1944 Vickers-Armstrongs began design
work on the VC1 (Vickers Commercial 1)
under the leadership of Rex Pierson, the
company’s Chief Designer. As a ‘stop-gap’
design the twin-engined short-range VC1
employed the Wellington bomber’s fabric-
clad geodetic wings and the Warwick’s
tail surfaces, but had a new stressed-
skin metal fuselage. It was powered by
two Bristol Hercules and had a tailwheel
undercarriage. Its dimensions were similar
to the Dakota but it had 40% more engine
power and was eventually configured to
carry 36 passengers.
Vickers developed the Viking (as it
was now named) with great alacrity and in
less than a year after the finalisation of the
design, the first prototype G-AGOK flew
on 22 June 1945. The Ministry of Aircraft
Production had already placed an order for
50 and British European Airways operated
its first Viking service with G-AHOP on
1 September 1946. The prototype Viscount 630, VX211 (more usually registered G-AHRF) which flew from
Wisley in 1948. The Viscount design was lengthened and refined to produce the best-
The World’s first jet airliner selling Viscount 700 and then the 800 series. (Image: BAE SYSTEMS)
One Viking 1B (G-AJPH) had a remarkable
claim to fame as it was modified to receive
two Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines. With
its first flight on 6 April, 1948 from Wisley
it became the world’s first entirely jet-
powered airliner and in July 1948 it was
flown from Northolt to Villacoublay near
Paris in just 34 mins 7 secs.
The final Viscount and the 438th to enter service, seen at the BAC plant at Hurn in
The Nene-Viking, the world’s first jet January 1964 undergoing engine-runs. It was delivered to the Chinese state airline.
airliner. (Image: BAE SYSTEMS) (Image: BAE SYSTEMS)
8 Vickers VC10
Chapt1_VickersArmstrongs.indd 8 19/09/2014 11:38
The first Vanguard delivery to BEA at Wisley
in December 1960. Test Pilot Brian Trubshaw
(third from the left) handing over the log
books of G-APEE to two BEA Captains.
(Image: BAE SYSTEMS)
orders from Canada and the USA. Further 1951, saw action in a conventional role final Supermarine aircraft, the Scimitar,
developments led to the Series 800 and during the 1956 Suez Conflict and gave entered production. With the end of
810 with a fuselage stretch, greater Dart the UK its first nuclear bomber. It served Valiant manufacture in 1957 and only
power and higher weights. with the RAF not only as a bomber but in one small order for 76 Scimitars, Vickers
Vickers’ speedy development of the Photo-Reconnaissance and Flight Refuelling had no military projects to provide work,
Viscount made the most of its potential tanker roles. Its service career was short, having to rely on the more challenging
and resulted in sales to more than 60 as a change of role to low-level operations civil airliner market. In order to redress
operators in some 40 countries with over meant that the airframes suffered chronic this imbalance Vickers as a major defence
150 operators later receiving second hand metal fatigue and they were withdrawn contractor lobbied hard for the ‘Canberra
examples. The aircraft was also in demand from use in 1965. replacement’ contract and managed to
with Governments in an executive role and Using its experience with the Valiant, become prime contractor for the ill-fated
many served in the corporate market. With in the early 1950s Vickers developed a TSR2 with English Electric in a subordinate
438 sales the Vickers Viscount remains much larger passenger/freight transporter role.
Britain’s best-selling airliner of all time. version – the V1000, which the RAF Throughout all this time the Vickers-
ordered. BOAC was also interested in Armstrongs parent company continued
Vanguard an airliner version, the VC7, but in 1955 in its role as Britain’s foremost defence
Following a lengthy project definition stage the V1000/VC7 was cancelled leaving contractor; manufacturing the country’s
the successor design for the Viscount was the transatlantic market to Boeing and first nuclear submarine HMS Dreadnought
finally fixed on the Vanguard powered by Douglas. for the Royal Navy (which entered service
four Rolls-Royce Tynes, capable of carrying In 1957, following the contraction in 1963), the Centurion and Chieftain tanks
139 passengers in six-abreast seating in defence spending, Supermarine was for the British army along with many other
together with the capacious underfloor fully integrated into Vickers just as the items of military and civil engineering. •
cargo provision. When the prototype took
to the air for the first time in 1959, 40 were
already on order from BEA and TCA but The first of the ‘V’
only three more were ever ordered. Even bombers, the Vickers
though the Vanguard was very economical, Valiant. WZ365 is
by 1960 both passengers and airlines illustrated here.
wanted jets and by this time many European (Image: BAE SYSTEMS)
airlines had ordered the Sud Aviation
Caravelle twin jet with which the Vanguard
had to compete. So unlike the Viscount
which had proved very profitable, Vickers
lost £17m (at 1960 prices) with its successor.
Valiant
Simultaneously as Vickers developed
the Viscount, the first ‘V’ bomber – the
Vickers Valiant – also entered production
at Weybridge. The Valiant was powered
by four Avon engines and was the first of
the RAF’s three ‘V’ bombers. It flew in May
Vickers VC10 9
Chapt1_VickersArmstrongs.indd 9 19/09/2014 11:38
Vickers-Armstrongs and the
British Aircraft Corporation
10 Vickers VC10
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