Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Final flight of the VC10

From the MoD:

After 47 years of RAF service, the VC10 has taken to the skies for its final air-to-air refuelling operational sortie.
 23 September 2013


 A VC10 aircraft from 101 Squadron refuels a pair of Typhoon jets


The VC10 aircraft accomplished its final aviation milestone on Friday, 20 September, and will retire from service on 25 September 2013.

Group Captain Steve Lushington, Station Commander at RAF Brize Norton, home to 101 Squadron and the last 2 VC10s, said:

You only have to look through the chapters of aviation history to find the VC10 has played a part somewhere along the line, be that the return of people held hostage around the world or flying the Royal Family, the Queen, heads of state and prime ministers to all sorts of wonderful locations as part of state visits.

There is a significant amount of VC10 history at RAF Brize Norton and we’re very proud of that heritage.

 View from the cockpit of a VC10 aircraft [Picture: Senior Aircraftwoman Helen Farrer, Crown copyright]


The VC10s, ZA147 and ZA150, flew together in a sortie that involved refuelling Typhoon, Tornado GR4 and Hercules aircraft, along with refuelling one VC10 from the other.


To mark the significant role the aircraft has played in providing a service for the fast jet customer, a VC10 flew over various RAF stations, including RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Coningsby, RAF Marham and RAF Leuchars, as well as sites in Warton, Birmingham and Prestwick....


Much more on this historic sortie, here.

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