Vickers VC10 - the lost flagship

[@clive373]

In 1977 I flew from Nairobi to London in a British air tours VC10. Take off was delayed, and we took off at noon. Nairobi is at 5500 ft. She was doing just what she was designed to do, and it was spectacular! I had, weeks before got my private pilots licence. I requested a visit to the cockpit, and was there for the entire flight, except for the two landings, and one take off. We had to refuel, and the crew were more like accountants, working out the cheapest place to stop. Varying landing fees, fuel costs, but also going as fas as possible whilst light, and not deviating off the best route had to be considered. That was definitely the best airliner flight I ever had.

[@duncanmulholland5993]

I was one of the flyers who scheduled some trips on the VC-10....There were no non stop flights from Glasgow to Seattle so instead of flying from Glasgow - London - Seattle, I flew Prestwick - New York - Seattle to fly on the VC-!0. It was a very comfortable and stable airplane to fly in. Incidentally I was a Boeing Engineer travelling on business.

[@seltaeb3302]

I flew from Brize to Washington, not Newcastle!, in 71 non stop, took about 5hrs. It was my first flight as a soldier, I stayed overnight in a hotel, the room was like a flat, bedroom, lounge etc, airports there had seats with coin operated TVs on them! then caught a DC10 with about 20 people on it, out to my destination Nassau Bahamas were I spent nearly a year working in Signals. My first time abroad too, boy the heat hit me stepping off.

[@luiginopellizzer8757]

​@@seltaeb33029

[@williamduncan5679]

Know it so well ❤❤❤

[@dongoldney]

My dad was a flight engineer on vc10s in 60s

[@dongoldney]

Dad was a flight engineer in 60s d a j Yorke- goldney

[@davidedwards6811]

The Super VC10, in my opinion the most beautiful looking aircraft ever made

[@betingbooks9735]

Fully agree

[@onceamoth]

Especially the most gorgeous airline livery of all time. ❤

[@martynmiller4247]

Only one design better, Concorde. VC10 is suberb, quite superb.

[@gazzabazz]

Absolutely!

[@barracuda7018]

Airliners don't buy aircraft because it looks beautiful.. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@SkyshipsEng]

A little remastered video about the legendary Vicky. Enjoy!

[@ATIMELINEOFAVIATION]

wait you made a video about this before right?

[@alanmccormick2805]

I flew to RAF Chang in one in 1969 and back after my tour was finished, beautifully smooth

[@ATIMELINEOFAVIATION]

@@alanmccormick2805 RAF?!

[@ATIMELINEOFAVIATION]

@Schlomo Baconberg in Zimbabwe?!

[@ATIMELINEOFAVIATION]

@Schlomo Baconberg wait it was so long ago in Rhodesia?!!

[@davidluck4608]

The best advert for the VC10 was the words of air stewardesses who flew on various airliners, comparing the smooth landing of the VC10 to that of the “controlled-crash” of the Boeing 707😉

[@barracuda7018]

Yes these air stewardesses must have been Aerospace engineers.. 😂😂 1000 707's have been sold as opposed to 54 VC-10 's... Controlled crash landing must have been the decisive sales argument. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@oldbutstillcurious3615]

@@barracuda7018 The video explains that the VC10 was specifically designed for low- impact landings on less than smooth and also shorter runways - hence smoother landing was presumably a formality, not a challenge.

[@manubird2475]

In September, 1967, I boarded a BOAC VC-10 in New York, bound for Manchester with a stop in Glasgow. I was 18 and headed to England for a year studying as a "foreign student", a year that changed my life in positive ways. After 54 years, I'm still in contact with some of my old school mates. Little did I know then how special flying on a VC-10 would become. Thank you for another excellent video. Aloha from Hawai'i!

[@ATIMELINEOFAVIATION]

WOW!

[@charlesscott1512]

I joined BOAC in 1966 by first subload flight on them was PIK-JFK--ANU-BGI, the flight originated in MAN and then continued to POS and GEO , coming back from BGI_ANU-BDA-LHR GARVI outbound GARVJ on the return

[@nickbannister775]

My father helped design and build the hydraulics for this beautiful plane. The original has my hand print in the underside as a small boy I inadvertently touched it during an open day at Weybridge. Later I did thousands of miles in them as a serviceman. A fantastic plane.

[@willp358]

Skydrol 500B an ester based hydraulic fluid. Lovely stuff(not) made by Monsanto..

[@TX200AA]

I saw them being built at the Brooklands factory either 1963 or 4. If you look at about 15.30 on the video you will see one of the fuselage sections which were machined on a huge horizontal milling machine from aluminium billets probably 30 feet long, 3 feet wide and about 4 inches thick, then formed into their compound curved shapes by shot peening, and bolted together with fitted bolts. It was truly a very impessive factory. I also saw an undercarriage leg being machined. The legs were the heaviest single part of the aircraft. Whilst you can call a big Boeing a million rivets flying in formation, that was never true of the VC10.

[@filthywings353]

How many hydraulic pumps did it have?

[@seltaeb9691]

I a Brown job flew many times with RAF & at Brize Norton you walked too it parked & up stairs. It's the only passenger plane that standing parked looks like it's still flying & that's a testimony for the person who thought of it (do we know who?)

[@charliespareacc]

@@seltaeb9691 afraid it stopped flying in sept. 2013 za150 is taxiable and zd241 is too (zd241 is at bruntingthorpe and that closed last year, hasnt been ran since before then)

[@jamesgibson2179]

My family and I loved this aircraft flying regularly between Saudi Arabia and UK. The ‘intimacy’ of the interiors and attention of staff made passengers feel very special.

[@andrewsheedy6145]

Flying out of Doha via Beirut

[@peterharland3825]

James, we too would fly the VC10 out of Jeddah to LHR. An 8am departure from Jeddah, from the “old airport” would take off over our villa!! It may have been quiet inside, but it was bloody noisy down below. Cheers

[@jamesgibson2179]

@ …. and we used to arrive through the narrow aluminium door at Jeddah. … Happy, innocent days. Dhow trips to Shell Island. Bedouin weddings near Taif….. … Saudi was ‘innocent’ and friendly. Orange juice or tea in the old Suq.

[@peterharland3825]

@ , we arrived in Jeddah in August 77, and the “Old Terminal” at the airport was all that there was!! Pioneering times perhaps, but great times. Jungle Rules Volleyball at the Marine House in the US Embassy, seeing clients in the Souk during Ramadan at 3 am in the morning. We shared a shack at the north end of Jeddah Creek with some friends, and would sail our Lasers out over the reef until we lost sight of land, and then turn about. Always great to catch a flight out though, LH or AF, often KLM as we lived in Norwich then so the link via Schipol was excellent. Good memories indeed.

[@Cartoonman154]

I've flown in an RAF VC-10 with the reverse seat configuration, watched Eurofighters and Tornados jets be refueled, be refueled by another VC-10, and got to be in the cockpit for landing. What a fantastic flight. What a stunning aircraft.

[@SkyshipsEng]

Amazing experience!

[@Cartoonman154]

@@SkyshipsEng Very much so

[@stevebond6031]

I got to fly in a RAF VC-10 out to Belize through Washington back in 1992. Going into Belize we were then intercepted by two RAF Harriers based in Belize. That was fun, particularly as the Harrier pilots came into close formation to show Sooty and Sweep glove puppets taking bows.

[@alanmurphy9231]

Hello. I worked at Brise Norton for many years, at ASMT as tug driver and refueler etc, I too went for a jolly in a V 10, refuelling Tornadoes over the north Sea!! Brilliant, and like yourself landed sitting in the jockey seat, great experience. Flew to Akotiri as an indulgence flight.... Happy days!!😁👍✈️✈️

[@amp2amp800]

I also had the pleasure of flying backwards in an RAF VC-10 from Brize Norton to Frankfurt am Main. In 1974. Great memories of a fantastic aeroplane.

[@rolandsingh]

My very first flight, in 1974 - what an Absolutely Stunning Airplane, the VC10. One awesome creation, by the British Aviation industry, at that time a world leader in Civil Aviation. Those Rolls-Royce Conway engines, the Sound ! ❤❤ Roland Singh, Canada 🇨🇦

[@terryofford4977]

Such a pity that the British Government of the time did not support the British Aircraft Industry preferring the flying death trap Americans who are STILL building death trap aircraft.One may check Airliner Accidents from the sixties and count the huge number of Douglas aircraft crashes Boeing were no better either, and both corporations lacked the high technical skills of the British Manufacturers, The RAF Flew the VC 10 with no problems, converting many to become Tankers.Of my sixteen years in the RAF, I would say that the VC 10 was one of the best ever passenger aircraft and well suited to landing at most of the primitive airports of that time period. Looking back into history,the British Government gave the original Jet engine designs to the Americans and even the Russians which says a much about the pathetic governments of the day.Terry Offord

[@johnnypenso9574]

As a kid in the 60s and 70s growing up in Toronto we lived between the flightpaths of 23L & 23R of Toronto International and we were fascinated by planes. Absolutely nothing was as thrilling as a rare VC-10 with the engines at full throttle on takeoff. Still gives me chills to this day.

[@rdvqc]

I grew up between the takeoff paths of 24L and 24R at Montreal International (YUL) around the same time. Enjoyed seeing the VC10s. Could have taken a pass on a lot of the stretch versions of the 707 and DC8's. The cruddy power to weight and the scream of the old JT3 (or alternate) engines almost took the shingles off the roof. When we moved in the big traffic was Viscounts, Vanguards and Super Constellations.

[@promerops]

That crackle the engines made was unmistakable! Loved it!

[@BLOLite]

A real bacon cracking sound!

[@BLOLite]

@@rdvqc Fastest subsonic airliner of the time,VNE rating 0.86 Mach.

[@Haywood-Jablomie]

Best plane spotting in Canada is probably at the Wendy's/Petro Can right beside Pearson. The planes fly just feet over your head to land

[@airzulu2733]

For me the VC -10 Was a beautiful aviation sculpture. It looked so good in BOAC Livery and in my view britains finest civilian jet ever . I was lucky enough to fly on several Super VC-10, living in south africa . And sunday mornings arrival into Johannesburg on it's way to Hong kong was always a treat to see. My favourite aircraft of all time .

[@peterlewis2255]

Happy memories of VC10 flights between Heathrow and both Accra and Lagos back in the 1960s as an "unaccompanied minor". On the flights at Christmas time they were full of boarding school kids going out to visit parents on foreign service. Cabin attendants transformed into choir leaders and we dutifully sang carols for a good proportion of the flight. We all knew to board with a supply of rubber bands, so when the carols stopped, barf bags were shredded and the rubber bands used to propel paper pellets at any of our friends sitting close by. Wise adults knew to avoid those flights :)

[@bleizbreizh6264]

Were you in the BOAC Junior Jet Club too?

[@robinholmes785]

I might have flown with you!! The best part of my year was flying a BOAC VC10 Holliday special out to Africa! Have I got some stories!!

[@robinholmes785]

@@bleizbreizh6264 Yes! with my BOAC pin, Log Book, and Pilot Teddybear!!

[@johnds1963]

I remember flying on the VC10 a number of times and the little book they gave us. Flying was great back then. They treated you special.

[@bleizbreizh6264]

@@robinholmes785 Dont remember the Teddybear but treasured the other logbook and pin for years after. Regularly flew to Lagos in the 60s and amazed to have a flight on a VC10 with Gulf Air in the late 1970s, it felt so narrow after the new wide body jets

[@ณภัทรสุขแสง]

Great to look at, beautiful to fly in, knocks spots off today's planes. Way ahead of it's time.

[@chrisjackets7658]

Brilliant aircraft! Was our aircraft of choice on African routes when we had the option available. British Caledonian operated the VC10 between Zambia and Gatwick, BOAC the VC10 between South Africa, the old Federation of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland and East African Airways the Super VC10 between Nairobi and Entebbe and Heathrow. For a while Air Malawi operated a VC10 to various destinations in Africa and Europe too. The VC10 was, in its day, the Airbus 380: quiet, and smoother flying than the competing 707s and DC8s. Take offs were always a thrill not only for passengers but for those on the ground too as the VC10 took off quicker than its American competitors and sounded so much better!!!

[@haroldpearson6025]

My first flight was in a VC10 in 1969 from London to Kano in Nigeria.

[@one42chrisp]

The best flight I ever had was on a British Caledonian VC10 in 1972, it was so quiet and smooth!

[@roaminpolansky586]

Agreed. Many trips from London to Nairobi and back were enjoyable on the British Cal VC10. Great service.

[@davekp6773]

I flew on a British Airways VC10 in September 1978 from London to Abu Dhabi. I remember very little as I was 7 but I do remember it was quiet too.

[@riazhassan6570]

Agreed

[@the_earlybirf1170]

@@davekp6773 yall are lucky. The best flight Ive had was on a BAE 146 into london city back in 2011. The pilots were super friendly and the landing was butter.

[@robinholmes785]

@@roaminpolansky586 me too!

[@andrewjkm1]

Grew up with a VC10/Super Senior Flight Engineer father. Had a 9-day jump seat (only 3 flight deck crew by then) tour to Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Tehran with him in 1969 - sleeping in 3A for night flights (after take off, off course). A beautiful plane. I followed that with similar on Concorde when my father made the transition.

[@justinmacneil623]

As a young Air Cadet in the 1980s I had a flight on an RAF VC10 with the reverse seat configuration as it did "bumps and circuits" round Brize Norton for 2-3 hours. The Galley was open and had coffee available to us - and I have a fond memory of seeing my coffee beginning to float up out of my cup as we hit some turbulence and dropped a couple of hundred feet! Unsurprisingly, a good proportion of those onboard were sick with the constant turbulence - I was fine until I had to go "dispose of some coffee" in the loo and was hit by the stench of those who had been in there before me to call Huey!

[@joshs4594]

Thanks for sharing this video. 👍 I had the privilege of flying on the gorgeous Super VC-10 twice in 1969, once to England then back to America. I was 12, and already an aviation buff. The VC-10 was a plane spotter's dream and it was a thrill to see it when it flew by my house on final approach to JFK, New York. It was the most beautiful and elegant aircraft and my favorite to this day. So much so that I often fly it on my flight simulator. Thank goodness there are videos around so we can also hear the wonderful "voice" of the VC-10, those Rolls-Royce Conway Mk 301 turbofans.

[@malcolmnewlove8597]

The best aircraft I ever flew on when I was young. Australia to England . loved the crackle on take off. and the quitetnes in the cabin. miss that plane sheer class ...

[@colinw7205]

Thanx Sky. My second airplane flight in my life was in 1968 on a BOAC Super VC-10 from Kingston, Jamaica to JFK Int'l Airport NYC with stops in Montego Bay, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas. Needless to say this 8 year old loved the additional landings and take offs on the way home to New York City after meeting relatives in Jamaica for the first time. I noticed that the ride was indeed quieter and smoother than the Rolls Royce Conway powered BOAC Boeing 707 me and my Mom took two weeks earlier. Even as a former British subject my late Dad was proud of the fact that the VC-!0 was technologically more advanced and faster than the offerings coming from Boeing and Douglas at the time. Truly a great airplane. Another case where the British aviation industry bested their American cousins in technological prowess but not outright sales numbers.

[@johnlinstead7827]

I was lucky enough to fly on this beautiful aircraft on the London Calcutta route on a number of occasions in the early seventies. It was quiet , restful even at the back of the aircraft. The BOAC service was first class even in economy. I also flew in 707s Dc8s and the Convair Coronados in the states, the VC10 beat them all for comfort and noise control. Bring them back I say. John Linstead, Sydney

[@stephenwilkinson949]

Do you think the yanks would ever live that down eh....oh dear if they're not top dog they're spitting the dummy.

[@gilliantracy7991]

Flew on this beauty with my Mom from JFK to Prestwick Scotland to visit my Grandparents several summers in the late 60’s. Still one of my fave airliners! Thanks for this!

[@golfhound]

I was a passenger on a VC10 several times in the 60's. It was the most awesome plane to fly. It was more quiet than a Boeing 707 and I never experienced any turbulence. Like the Caravelle before it, the VC10 looked so "space age" with its swept wings and engines in the back. The VC10 and the Caravelle were the coolest planes to fly in the early/mid 60's. Then both planes disappeared as there were Boeing 707's and DC8's everywhere.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

My first transatlantic flight was with a BOAC Super VC-10 LHR-YUL in January 1970. It was only Y class but I can still recall the onboard quietness and that feeling of flying a magic carpet.

[@zig_ziggy]

The video failed to mention that the reason high frequency flyers chose this aircraft out of many other options, was, besides it's speed, it's whisper quiet flight and spacious seating.

[@raytrevor1]

Yes, and back in the day it was easy to transfer your ticket between airlines - at no cost. I used to do it just to get a VC-10 from the Middle East.

[@Snoopy1944]

Back in the seventies it had the nickname "the hushpuppy".

[@TommyTCGT]

So quiet, the in the cockpit we needed to check the engine gauges.. to make sure they were running in the cruise.

[@Gordanovich02]

I recall reading a story of an EAA VC10 having all four engines shut down during climbout, likely due to water in the tanks not being drained properly. Only one passenger noticed the engines winding down.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Indeed. I was working in the travel industry in the late 1960s. I used to book many transatlantic flights for my firm's corporate accounts. Yes the VC-10 was the preferred aircraft but I found that, in the case of a major US-oil company, its executives were obliged to patronise US carriers for their transatlantic flights to the UK.

[@stevenbrannan9775]

I remember watching one taking off from Ringway - Manchester and the steep angle of takeoff and rapid climb was a joy to watch. Nothing came close at the time

[@mycroft1905]

Probably my most satisfying 'spot' whenever I spotted at Tullamarine Airport in the early 1970s. Thanks for posting. The standard of these videos is exceptional.

[@JPR3D]

Ever since you teased us during your Il-62 video, I have been looking forward to this. My favorite commercial aircraft of all time, and possibly the most beautiful airliner ever made. My mom and her family have fond memories of flying England Bahrain on the VC-10s.

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

I agree, she is a true beauty. But she only comes second, right after Concorde :-)

[@andrewwenzel3600]

Most beautiful aircraft ever built apart from Concorde, the 4 podded engines, clean aerodynamic surfaces and some of the lovely paint schemes worn by it (particularly the BOAC Cunard livery) will never be beaten. Brooklands museum (where the VC-10 was built) has an ex VIP VC-10, lovely exhibit and great, knowledgeable staff who will happily give a tour around the interior. Well worth a visit for anyone in the London area.

[@Blackbird58]

My thoughts exactly!

[@stevebourne9387]

So very beautiful but of all aircraft built til now I believe the Handley page Victor is the most, not one straight line and remove it’s camouflage to appreciate it’s incredible aesthetic beauty

[@alastairmurray3153]

Agree Andrew but in reverse, the VC-10 was more beautiful than Concorde, never flown on either (many flights on Viscounts and Vanguards) but used to go plane spotting at Heathrow in the 60's and these beautiful aircraft were (it seemed like) touching distance on their final approach above our home in Upton Road, Slough. Very fond memories!

[@timmotel5804]

My father worked for BOAC and ultimately retired from British Airways (BA) in the U.S. I flew to London from NY in 1962 when I was 10 years old on a BOAC 707. I remember upon departing London for the U.S, that there was a VC10 parked next to my airplane. I was in awe of this beautiful aircraft and wished that I could fly on it. Great video. Thanks.

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

What a great looking aircraft! I have never gotten tired of its shape, lines and wing geometry. I love the part of the narration when, from 11:57, they start showing all these quad-engined beauties on the tarmac. Each aircraft model had its own pedigree, design and peculiarities, much unlike today, with all these look-alike twinjets...

[@LRBerry]

I can remember VC10s flying over the house towards Manchester airport in the 60s/70s and have always thought them to be a wonderful sight. In the 80s I was in the Air Training Corps and went to RAF Brize Norton on a week's summer camp. We got to fly on an RAF VC10 during the week. It was a training flight during which the trainee pilot had to perform a number of touch and go maneuvres. This was straight after lunch, and as a result, saw quite a few being sick, including me.

[@BillHalliwell]

G'day Sky, My very first British Airways ticket got me on-board an old VC10. The age of the aircraft was obvious even though BA had tried hard to refurbish the interior at, shall we say, budget prices. Given all that, my two flights on a VC10 are among the best and most memorable of my long history of aircraft travel. I was up the front on both flights and I've got to say it was one of the quietest cabin interiors I've ever encountered, the engines being way back behind me. I did take a stroll down to the back of the aircraft and was surprised that engine noise was not as greatly increased as I had imagined. For the time, the interiors were extremely comfortable, roomy plus the food and service standards were excellent, according to my old travel diary of the time. What an ironic change in attitudes to 'over engineering' in civilian aircraft. I can't imagine an airline pilot today not 'trusting' their autopilot technology. Overall, the Americans caught the jump on the British passenger aircraft because of the Comet disasters but by the time of the Comet 4; its 'over-engineered' safety features were crucial to the Comet going on to be a success story. Sadly the Comet just couldn't shake its early history. Amazingly few people know that the Comet became a long-serving, trusted airframe. Meanwhile, modifications to the 707 sealed the fate of the British passenger aircraft industry. Once the 747 was rolled out the UK industry relied heavily on military contracts and deals with smaller, remote foreign airlines, but otherwise lost its lead and prestige forever. This was a great pity. Then in a more recent development, dripping with irony, we now see companies like Boeing, allegedly cutting down on engineering and other costs to a point where the seemingly never ending 737 MAX saga is almost a reverse of the UK's early problems of building complex yet extremely reliable aircraft. Given that developing a totally new passenger aircraft can take up to a decade, the industry has always had trouble keeping up with travellers' trends and airlines' expectations that can change almost 'overnight'. So many have forgotten about the Lockheed Tristar incidents, yet that 'hiccup' drove Lockheed to pursue military contracts big time. Were it not for the USAF and other air forces around the world and its outstanding success with their C-130 variants; Skylifters and Galaxies, Lockheed may have disappeared from the skies. Finally, it was a great shame that the innovations and flight control systems of the VC10 were discarded so quickly, (yet the RAF stuck with the aircraft into the 21st Century). In a final irony, an aircraft LIKE the VC 10: single aisle, narrow body, rear engine, clean wing advantages etc. would, today, be attractive to small, regional and developing countries' airlines around the world. Come to think of it, in the far-off world of electric aircraft, a VC10 design base would be absolutely ideal. Why? That's for another long comment ;) Cheers, BH

[@John_Findlay]

My mother and I flew in one of these to Bahrain in 1968, on an RAF flight taking families out. Beautiful and quiet, and the pilot had to tell us we had landed, it was so smooth. Years later at an air-show at Leuchars, I watched a VC-10 doing slow-speed manouvers with the landing gear down, it looked almost as if it was turning aroung its wing-tip. Absolutely stunning and much missed.

[@seltaeb3302]

I knew always when we had landed. Where you on drugs!

[@paulboulter7823]

As a child of British military parents,we flew Brize to Hong Kong 🇭🇰 via Columbo & I think Gan in the Maldives 🇲🇻.That was back in 1972

[@carouselred8994]

Excellent. Good summary of the decline. My favorite jet by far. Flew JFK to Antigua British West lndies as kid in 1972. The best memories.

[@39iMAGES]

Between 1969 & 1972 my brother and I flew from London to Boston 3 times each year ( and back ) for the school holidays. In those days it was normal to travel in school uniform as well I recall. Loved this aircraft.

[@peterhenshaw1655]

VC10 flew low over my house into Hucknall, Nottingham airfield - operated by Rolls Royce. Some while later it flew over again, this time with two conways and one RB211 as a test bed. The RB211 looked enormous in comparison. Somehow the 4 conways looked much better than 2 RB211s would have looked. A quite beautiful aircraft.

[@frostyfrost4094]

Was it not one RB11 and two conways ?

[@samclark8468]

@@frostyfrost4094 "this time with two conways and one RB211" as written :-P

[@DerekGM6]

As a teenager I flew London - Mauritius numerous times back in the early 60s. Unaccompanied minors had to sit at the back, but it was still quiet. Moving forward it became quieter and quieter until all you could hear was the whisper of the wind on the fuselage. Marvellous. And takeoff was always thrilling: it just leapt off the ground. Twenty years later I flew on a 747 to Sydney and sitting next to a window near the rear of the wing was an ordeal. So noisy. I flew on many other types as an adult but the VC-10 was incomparable.

[@jmp2072]

Lovely video thank you. My father was a senior pilot with BOAC on the VC10 and took part in one of the proving flights to New York. I remember as a child of 9 having the opportunity to fly with him in the cockpit (Navigators seat) from LHR to Montreal for Expo 67. Fantastic experience! I recall seeing icebergs in the North Atlantic and the cockpit glass freezing over. Almost as exciting as the Navigator leaving me with the biggest bag of crisps I had ever seen LOL. Dad always enjoyed flying the plane and decided to stay with it until his retirement even though he was offered the opportunity to go on to either the 747 or Concorde😀

[@the_earlybirf1170]

The UK really does have some engineering marvels but as usual the timing and complexity always hits.

[@NealyLL]

Investment and a good management system was sadly missing .

[@filledwithvariousknowledge1065]

@Wallace Carney They’ve not ordered from Boeing since 777-9X in 2019 and are now 90% Airbus excluding the 777 and 787 thanks to the 747 and 767 retirements so your point is invalid and biased quite frankly

[@the_earlybirf1170]

@@filledwithvariousknowledge1065 That is actually true though its quite unfortunate they retired the 747 and 767's

[@filledwithvariousknowledge1065]

@@the_earlybirf1170 I wish I tried them out before BA started having service cuts under Alex Cruz who ruined the airline by cutting services but the ticket costs weren’t lowered much if they were. My 2 last flights with them prior to Covid was on a 777 and A380 and I wasn’t impressed with the level of service even for economy class but the flight ticket costs was still expensive which is what has put me off BA and I hate to say this as someone who lives in the UK. Hopefully BA can improve service soon now that Alex Cruz is out

[@the_earlybirf1170]

@@filledwithvariousknowledge1065 Trust me when I say they were absolutely marvellous. The 767 was a bit cramped but it was also very smooth and the 747 was like a flying hotel. It was also pleasant to see the 747 taking off. It was like a blue whale jumping out the ocean for a dive.

[@robgardiner9054]

My first overseas flight was on a BOAC VC10, Brisbane to Singapore, 1969. Beautiful aircraft, quiet and very comfortable.

[@chrismarx1803]

I had many joy rides on the RAF VC10s including one tanker sortie. The CMk1 was legendary and I often had the aircraft to myself, in the cabin. Spent many hours on the flight deck during circuits and bumps along with a few long distance journeys. Even from an onlooker's view, she was the queen of the skies.

[@morganlefey]

in 1965 our BOAC VC10 landed unexpectedly in Khartoum in the middle of the night - hydraulic problems. We passed 24 hours in Khartoum Airport sipping orange juice and watching the vultures and sand storms while new parts were flown out from England. VC10 was a dreamy aircraft.

[@auntbarbara5576]

I've been waiting for this one!!!! Truly one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made.

[@ericyoung6566]

In July 1968, my wife and I flew on VC-10s for our honeymoon trip from JFK to Prestwick and return 4 weeks later. Fantastic flights - smooth and quiet. We also flew on VC-10s when we took our 15 month-old daughter "home" to Scotland and England in 1972. Great flights! What a beautiful plane!

[@167curly]

In April, 1965 my wife & I flew from Bermuda to Trinidad and back on our honeymoon in B.O.A.C. VC10s. They were very quiet with the rear-mounted engines and very comfortable. We then flew on to Tobago and back in B.W.I.A. DC3s. I am so glad to have flown in such historic aircraft.

[@davekidney2350]

Had one opportunity to fly on a Super VC 10 from JFK to POS. A lovely aircraft.

[@robertphillips2983]

I finally saw a Super VC-10 fly over my house in the early 1970's in Melbourne Australia. I was very glad to have actually seen one, as they stopped coming out to Australia not long after. It's a very distinctive and beautiful planform, lovely!!

[@thomaschan1062]

I flew on a BOAC Super VC10 between Sydney, Australia and Hong Kong in 1969 and then again between Hong Kong and London in 1975. They were outstandingly wonderful flights. They were smooth, quiet and went up like elevators. Spoke with the Captain on the latter flight and could easily tell that he was in love with the bird. Seriously good plane!

[@davidl3846]

As a kid in Australia I still remember the adds for the BOAC VC 10 in the early 70s. It featured a suave BOAC captain / actor extolling the virtues of the VC10 "hush power". Apparently with the rear mounted engines it was much quieter in the cabin. This was rather ironic as it was easily the nosiest commercial aircraft that flew over our house. I think it was around 2.00pm on a Sunday the VC10 on full takeoff power would make us run out of the house to witness the source of such a deafening roar.

[@robsmith4790]

I was a Corps squaddie, I got posted to Belize APC in the late 80’s. Every Wednesday, we waited for “ vicky” to scream in, waiting for the “days to do, were getting few” and our time back home. Apparently the RAF Tried a Tristar into Belize international “ 😂, it had to turn back to Dulles as it couldn’t manage the short runway~ Vicky s reverse thrusters were the ONLY way in. Loved that plane!

[@ChrisHunt-q1z]

Same here but 1980 for me. Slightly delayed journey home due to change of US president. Then a diversion to Prestwick in the flight home. Ironically, given the discussion on automation, due to fog at Brize.

[@flybobbie1449]

Concorde the flashy debutante, VC10 the graceful Lady.

[@rogertycholiz2218]

fly bobbie - Very nicely stated!

[@stephenwilkinson949]

& the yanks green with envy blocking it from landing ....prats.

[@Petriefied0246]

I love the VC10, they're so elegant and I'd love to see a large rear engined like this in the air again. I flew on the VC10 when I was in the British Army, it was a real privilege! I also wish that the RAF had kept these airframes to fit out as the replacement for the Nimrod.

[@Petriefied0246]

@Wallace Carney that was more likely the paras, they love a bit of skatplay.

[@stanleybuchan4610]

No way the VC10 could do that role and too expensive to refit.

[@Paul-kw1og]

A truly beautiful airliner. It still outdoes the latest in the looks department!

[@paganphil100]

Paul Blackshaw: Also in the "noise department" (for passengers).

[@seltaeb3302]

Now they are just cabbages. Zero beauty.

[@stephenwilkinson949]

Same with the comment

[@HankD13]

My favourite airliner. Flew in VC10 to Kenya many times as a child growing up there, and then much later with the RAF Transport version when I joined the British Army - facing the tail, since that is so much safer. Abiding memory of short take of and landing in Vanuatu (Brize Norton to Gander, to Sacramento, to Hawaii, to Fiji, then short land and having to exit via ladder!) in 1980 and the slow, low circle of the capital when we left. Beautiful aircraft.

[@MarkSmith-hy9ll]

Excellent video of my favourite civil aircraft. The only type, as a spotter, I can claim to have seen everyone built. Great memories.

[@MarchHare59]

A very concise, well-researched and thorough retrospective. Well done!

[@Southwest_923WR]

He does his homework on topics, love this channel!👍🏿

[@Rasscasse]

I heartily agree. Superb work 👍

[@patrickinottawa27]

Had the pleasure in 1971 Montreal, Quebec to Prestwick, Scotland. Even got to visit the cockpit. I'll always remember it....

[@theart8039]

I flew on three BOAC VC10's between Hong Kong and London when I was a young boy (I have my Junuor Jet Club log books to prove it)...I remember it as being a lovely plane to fly on; quiet and very comfortable..I was allowed into the cockpit once where Captain Nelson explained all the dials etc which was wonderful for a nine year old plane nut. After that we used to fly on the 707 which was inferior in my view in terms of comfort...Unfortunately we couldn't compete with Boeing...a real pity because this was a lovely plane and sadly short lived for commercial routes

[@alandavis5950]

An entertaining record of a beautiful airliner. Thank you. British airliners of the 50s and 60s had a look that was distictive and graceful. The VC10 was surely the pinnacle of this era. But was spoiled by being tailored too closely to the requirements of BOAC at the time. You coverage of other facktors in world affairs and aviation is enlightening and praiseworthy. Thank you again.

[@NickOakley]

As kid in the 60s I hid in a ditch between the lights at the end of the runway as they practiced touch and gos. It was thrilling to see right into the cockpit just as it rotated to take off. The sound as it passed overhead was unbelievable and pummeled my entire body.

[@francopetre6171]

Uh, no.

[@briancarno8837]

did it affect your hearing....huhh..?? DID IT AFFECT YOUR HEARING..?..whats that about veering..?

[@caseyjonessnr1200]

I air trooped on RAF VC10’s in the early 70’s from RAF Brize Norton to Singapore and Hong Kong with stopovers at Gan. They rear facing seats were excellent and I always managed to get a seat in the last row nearest the tail. A superb aircraft.

[@marcrcbally]

Growing up in Kenya, we used to fly back home to Europe about once a year. I really don't remember any of those flights except for the time we flew on an East African Airlines VC-10. The flight went from Nairobi to Kinshasa and then on to Zurich. I still consider it the best airliner I have ever flown. The cabin was very quite and comfortable. I remember that the cabin seemed to slope a bit towards the rear. Sad that the VC-10s where not more successful commercially.

[@codprawn]

I flew in a VC10 from Kenya back to the UK when I was a kid. Loved it. I remember being so excited it wasn't a boring Boeing! I think it was BOAC.

[@stephenwilkinson949]

Er thanks to the envious yanks pushing their crap.

[@Slaktrax]

Possibly the most beautiful of all civil airliners, it looked majestic.

[@RichieRouge206]

Apart from a 747SP, the VC10 is my absolute favourite plane. Such an elegant, efficient design. Great video my friend

[@turbogerbil2935]

BOAC VC10 to Africa and Hong Kong; happy memories. Trooping flights on the RAF passenger version - the seats facing backwards (sleepy soldiers occasionally trying to enter the cockpit, assuming it was the "rear" toilets!). Sat in the cockpit of a C130 over the South Atlantic staring up at the magnificent sweep of a VC10 tanker tail and wings as we refuelled en route to the Falklands. IISTR the VC10 had to throttle back and the Herc had to go full throttle plus a shallow dive, just to keep together for the fuel transfer. The aircraft was very quiet inside, but noisy for those on the ground. Actually this was useful for us expats living in places like Khartoum, Nairobi or Dar es salaam. The BOAC flight from London was often delayed ("sandstorms over the Sudan", etc). Instead of waiting hours at the airport in the steaming heat, you could just sit at home/ on the beach/ somewhere with aircon, and listen out for the thunderous roar from the direction of the airport which meant that the VC10 had finally arrived.

[@johannesbols57]

I watched these beauties on final to JFK in the 1960s. I lived due south of the Canarsie approach in Hicksville, Long Island, New York. The BOAC gold speedmarque against the blue background is something once seen, esp. on a VC-10, is never forgotten. By an aviation geek, that is..

[@the_earlybirf1170]

Your lucky I wish I could see planes like the Caravelle and L1011's flying. I was able to visit a Air Force base in Ft. Lauderdale with my dad and we saw C5's, C17's and Tankers pulling super take-offs and climbing at crazy speeds. It's not as interesting as what you were able to see though.

[@andrewjkm1]

The symbol is called “Speedbird”.

[@the_earlybirf1170]

@@andrewjkm1 m8 no one said anything about the british airways callsign

[@samclark8468]

@@the_earlybirf1170 The symbol is called “Speedbird”. Emphasis on the "Symbol".

[@cameroncameron2826]

Great memories of the VC10 growing up around Heathrow - breathtaking and beautiful.

[@RobSchofield]

A well-written, nicely balanced critique of this wonderful aircraft. Excellent!

[@chrisscott4896]

Indeed. As one with time flying both the VC10 and the B707-320, am impressed by this balanced, well-researched presentation. The VC10 was definitely the pilot's aeroplane, but the bean-counters understandably preferred the Boeing for long-haul ops between the big cities. Except perhaps at higher-altitude airports like Nairobi, where the extra thrust of the VC10 gave a payload-range advantage, or short or narrow runways.

[@commerce-usa]

Flew on the VC-10 from Los Angeles to Australia as a boy on BOAC. Thank you for covering this plane.

[@nickbenfell4327]

I was really really disappointed when a flight I had booked on a BOAC VC10 was changed to a Boeing 707 and thus missed out on flying in a VC10. Grates with me to this day as it was much the superior aircraft.

[@golfhound]

I know how you feel. I wrote a lengthy comment about about my times on a VC10. The 707 was so very noisy compared to a VC10.

[@patagard8253]

Same thing happened to me. July 1976, BOAC JFK to LHR, they changed from the VC10 to the 707... I was super disappointed and never got another chance to fly on it and for the return flight the air traffic controllers were striking in Europe and BOAC changed the aircraft to a 747 for maximum capacity. I enjoyed the 747 but I was well acquainted with her....

[@pattyeverett2826]

From this and the British documentary I watched, it was superior except when it came to making money. The Boeings were superior in that field and that was what mattered.

[@barracuda7018]

@@golfhound On the contrary RR Conway engines were noisier than any other engine in its category...

[@clive373]

@@barracuda7018 Not from inside the cabin! And if they anoyed you, well let me assure you, it was worth it. Thanks.

[@philipplace9990]

Worked on these during my RAF service in the 70s. I have over 400 passenger hours on them! One of the most beautiful planes put in the sky. It still holds the London to New York subsonic speed record!!!

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

Flew on the VC10 to Heathrow twice from Canada with my family back in the day. The VC10 was a beautiful Bird indeed

[@woofgbruk5947]

Flew on VC10s many time sin the early 70s to Nassau Bahamas Via JFK. They were so quiet, smooth and comfortable, they are still my favourite aircraft.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Sky is just incomparable. His narration is utterly marvelous. 🙏🏼💛

[@the_earlybirf1170]

The accent bro.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

@@the_earlybirf1170 Yah, Playz, that Slavic sound!

[@ddpeak1]

Fowgee weather. Brill.

[@JasonJason210]

Yes kind of a little bit old-fashioned. Sort of what you'd expect to hear in a Werner von Braun government made film in the USA from the 1950s.

[@derekheeps8012]

My first ever flight was in a VC-10 , way back in 1970 . The push in the back as we rocketed down the runway , then the climb on rotation was mind blowing at the time !

[@erikwoods821]

I was raised adjacent to Heathrow in the '60s and spent hours watching aircraft. When a VC10 took off it almost shattered all the windows! The noise level from those rockets at the back was incredible. They were so graceful, really beautiful to watch, but deafening...

[@BLOLite]

I gathered from aircrew that they had quite an early throttleback height out of Hearhrow due to noise abatement regulations,so it could have been even worse.

[@CrusaderSports250]

​@@BLOLitethrottling back while taking off, just shows the performance those four engines gave. Engines were not as reliable as they are today and remember reading if Boeing or Douglas suffered a failure on take off it could be quite serious, VC10 pilots would just push the other three levers a bit further and worry about it later, never flown on one of these beautiful creations mores the pity.

[@BLOLite]

@@CrusaderSports250 I also gathered it was fitted with one of the earliest "stick- pusher" alarm systems due to the earlier- identified catastrophic risk of deep stall on rear- mounted jets owing to slowed air intake flow profile in near- stall conditions and the inherent slow windup of jet engines,whereas with props you get immediate lift over the wings and control surfaces on engine power increase.

[@namron46]

As a young Aircraftman in the RAF 1964-69 I flew i a VC10 twice to the Middle East. It was a very impressive aircraft. I remember sitting in the rear of the aircraft as we took off. It seemed to me that I was still on the ground, but the people at the front of the aircraft were already in the air. Ah memories.

[@markdichter]

I flew on the VC10 in April 1968 from Montreal to London. I also flew on the Comet 4 in 1963. I remember the Comet as being loud and configured like a DC 9, 3 by 2 seats per row. The VC10 was comfortable and quiet, but then we were not stuffed into airplanes like today.

[@brucemcpherson8832]

My first ever flight was in 1967 on a BOAC VC10 from Prestwick to New York - and my second flight was on a BOAC VC10 from New York to Prestwick 3 weeks later! Since then I have flown many times and in many different aircraft, and most of those flights have been entirely forgettable - but my memories of my VC10 flights remain vivid - the VC10 was a special and beautiful aircraft

[@gerritliskow2399]

Great job, very much appreciate your video. Clearly an aircraft that was to good for this world, though I must admit that I find her curves very pleasing to the eye, particularly in BOAC livery. Many thanks again.

[@rickcullarn1347]

The VC10 was my first airliner flight. I was in the British Air Force age 19 flying from UK to Singapore via Cyprus, Dubai and Gan. Marvelous, I will never forget it!

[@offrails]

While I never had the opportunity to fly on one of these (wrong time and place), I did get to check out the Sultan of Oman's private plane at the Brooklands Museum.

[@markirvin2809]

I flew from Townsville Australia in 1978 to Brize Norton in one of these - backwards! We went on exercise in England and the seats were positioned so that we were facing the tail. Don't know why. It was a great flight and a great way to see England.

[@solarsailor55]

I had a number of flights on the VC10 during my time in the Royal Air Force, and of all the passenger aircraft types I've flown in (and there have been many) the VC10 was by far the smoothest and quietest. Quick too.

[@seltaeb3302]

The fastest sub sonic jet ever, think it was near 900mph.

[@Robert_N]

@@seltaeb3302 The fastest sub sonic jet was the H.S Trident. It cruised at 0.88 Mach and was capable of Mach 0.96 if fuel consumption wasn't an issue. My late father RIP was a captain on the Trident.

[@BLOLite]

@@Robert_N Thanks, didn't know that.

[@normancomerford6148]

Lived & worked near Heathrow in the 60's... among the hordes of aircraft in the mornings, there was the unmistakable beauty of a VC10 descending along the Great West Road into Heathrow....!

[@thebluegrocer]

Great video Sky, a well told story, and very fair as well. Thanks!

[@pjedicke]

My first flight as a youth was on a VC-10. I had only an inkling then that this was a technological marvel, but I have treasured the memory all my life

[@jimspackman8527]

Beautiful aircraft. I was lucky to be able to fly in them at RAF Brize Norton in the 1970s.

[@simonjones8111]

As a 15 year old I flew to South Africa and in the rear of a Super VC10, even there it was quiet, smooth and comfy. Awesome, beautiful aircraft.

[@paulshepherd8295]

My Dad took me to Brooklands to watch the maiden flight, but sadly I have no recollection of it, as I was 3 years old. What I do remember is watching them from the roof of the Queen's Building in the 1970s. Great times.

[@gazzabazz]

Sky, I am so glad you produced this homage to the VC10. One of the most beautiful airliners ever designed. I had the pleasure of flying in BOAC/BA/East African Airways versions of the standard and super variants, many times as a youngster. Quieter inside than many current aircraft, feeling that amazing power and thrust on those steep takeoffs. Passengers and crew loved it. Sadly missed. Thanks for the memories :)

[@melvyncox3361]

A real beauty!My second favourite airliner,after the DC-8,even though the Vicky was arguably the better looker! Great piece Sky❤👍😎

[@terryofford4977]

iI did like the design of the L1049G's and the DC 7's, and its successors, The Super Connies were good lookers though not so fast of course.Terry Offord

[@rbeard7580]

Thank you for a very interesting presentation. In the early 80's, I was able to fly aboard a Royal Air Force version from Guam to Fiji, and then back again. If I recall, the crew said it had been originally belonged to BOAC. It appeared to be modified as a cargo & troop carrier, and still had quite a number of ordinary airline-style passenger seats. The tourist class ones, of course!

[@TheHumanFro1092]

I’m fortunate enough to live about 6 miles from Brize Norton and my house is on the flight path. I’m also luckily enough to an ex RAF grandfather and have grown up watching them fly over my house nearly everyday back in the 2000s. Such a beautiful aircraft. The fact that we don’t even own our own tanker fleet now a days shows just how far the UK has fallen.

[@stephenwilkinson949]

Er....it was on the "cults" plans mate ....ref to David Icke about the "cult".

[@zenzen9131]

I did 10 years working on the RAF VC10 Flight Simulator at BZN and was lucky enough to get many flights on the aircraft as well :)

[@joshualengers7743]

Great video! Perfectly explained. What a gorgeous plane.

[@alant1647]

Well narrated video, thank you. I was an apprentice at BAC 1967-72 when we were building these planes. Fantastic aircraft, I remember (rather unwisely) standing at the end of the Brooklands racetrack when a brand new Super took off in a few hundred yards. My hearing took days to recover! The VC10 was sadly doomed by its lack of operating cost competitiveness and BOAC indifference.

[@brianwillson9567]

The plane that gave its passengers VC tenderness. Truly a queen of the skies.

[@mockeyson]

When I was at school my friend Andrew’s father Max was a VC10 pilot flying mainly to Nairobi. One weekend I was invited to go with Andrew to Heathrow to see the VC10 simulator. Of course Andrew’s dad had a Mk2 Jag and the 70 mph drive along the M4 was part of the excitement. A day sixty years ago that still excites! RIP Max and Andrew.