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Author Topic: The RAF VC-10 countdown to retirement begins  (Read 2286 times)

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Offline Angry Turnip

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The RAF VC-10 countdown to retirement begins
« on: September 04, 2012, 10:55:10 PM »
The RAF VC-10 fleet countdown to retirement has begun with a 3-ship formation flying over several UK RAF bases,before finally landing at RAF Brize Norton on the 28th August 2012.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/vc10-flypast-30082012

The final 6 examples will be withdrawn next year.

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Offline AERTANK

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Re: The RAF VC-10 countdown to retirement begins
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2012, 11:30:05 PM »
A great shame to see them go. I wish (don't we all wish from time to time) that it was possible to keep an example these and other classic aircraft alive and flying, maybe as part of the National Aeronautical Museum. Such a shame there are no Airworthy examples of Tridents, Belfast, Lightning, Buccaneer, Nimrods, Harrier (?) etc in the UK that could do the circuit of Air shows, and one off events.
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Offline Causeway74

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Re: The RAF VC-10 countdown to retirement begins
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2012, 08:20:14 AM »
Sad to see. It seems that in these days we are witnessing the passing of legendary aircraft far too often. The noise of these things was mighty. Pity we won't see any at Aldergrove any more.
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Offline Merlin

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Re: The RAF VC-10 countdown to retirement begins
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2012, 12:49:19 PM »
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome has a collection of Cold War aircraft several of which are used for fast taxi and take-off runs (Victor and Lightning amongst others).

Obviously the aircraft have to be in a certified condition to do these runs but would it be a huge jump to get from there to an airworthiness certificate?

Do we know if any of the VC-10s will be donated to museums?

Maybe the UAS could spring for one  ;D
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Offline Angry Turnip

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Re: The RAF VC-10 countdown to retirement begins
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2012, 09:03:00 PM »
Unfortunately it is a great leap to keep them airworthy-the CAA don`t like complex ex-military aircraft in civvie hands,even if almost all involved are ex-RAF that operated the types in service.

The Victor did make an accidental hop a few years back.

A company called HHA have a Buccaneer and a Sukhoi SU-22 plus several Hunters in flying condition.

They specialise in Defense Simulation.

More info here  http://www.hunterteam.com/aircraft_technical_data.htm
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