This just in from the Classic Air Force at Newquay, Cornwall: QUEEN OF THE SKIES TO BE PRESERVED AT NEWQUAY - CORNWALL AIRPORT Fastest Jetliner to fly into Classic Air Force on Wednesday 28 August On Wednesday August 28 one of the last three flying Vickers VC10 jetliners will land at Newquay to become a permanent part of the Classic Air Force collection. The VC10, which was built as a commercial airliner but has been the mainstay of the RAF’s air-to-air refuelling fleet for many years, is now being retired from service and the Classic Air Force was determined to preserve for posterity an example of the aircraft pilots refer to as “the Queen of the Skies.” “The performance of the VC10 was such that it achieved the fastest jetliner crossing of the Atlantic,“ explains Classic Air Force’s Trevor Bailey. “Only the supersonic Concorde was quicker and with the retirement of Concorde the VC10 took over the honour of being the fastest jetliner in the world!” The first Vickers VC10 made its maiden flight on June 29, 1962 and the type would fly with BOAC and laterally British Airways until 1979 plus a number of overseas airlines throughout the 1960s and 70s. The type would also serve the Royal Air Force with distinction in both the passenger and cargo configurations as well as in the air-to-air refuelling role. Its graceful ‘T-tail’ and four rear-mounted Rolls-Royce Conway engines made the ‘Vickie Ten’ one of the most distinctive and elegant aircraft of the era. The example acquired by the Classic Air Force was built in 1967 and began life with East African Airlines as 5Y-ADA. It was then acquired by the RAF and converted into a troop transport aircraft, latterly being converted as an aerial refueller. It served the RAF as ‘ZA148’ and, in common with all other RAF VC10s was named after a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) medal for gallantry. ZA148 took the name of ‘Guy Gibson VC’ who earned his medal as leader of the famous Dambusters mission seventy years ago in May 1943. “The Classic Air Force collection includes both military and airliner aircraft, so we are pleased to offer a home to a machine that crosses the boundaries and served with both the military and the airline world,” explains Tim Skeet, Chairman of the Classic Aircraft Trust, which supports the aircraft on display at Newquay. “As an example of British design and engineering at its best, it is fitting that one of the last airworthy examples should find a home with the Classic Air Force. This is a very significant addition to the collection and an additional attraction at Newquay”.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 08:06:19 +0000
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