Vickers VC-10 (RAF 101 Sqn Brize Norton)

Product Description

Vickers VC-10 (RAF 101 Sqn Brize Norton) (1:144 scale)
- In 1978, the RAF had five ex-BOAC VC10s & four ex-East African Airways Super VC10s converted to air-to-air refuelling tankers. These were known in service as the VC-10 K2 & VC-10 K3 respectively. Both variants had underwing refuelling pods, & a centreline refuelling point installed in the rear freight bay. An in-flight refuelling probe was fitted on the nose, allowing fuel to be taken from other tankers. In 1981, with the retirement of the British Airways Super VC10 fleet, the RAF obtained 14 ex-British Airways machines, for use as spares hulks & for possible future conversions. The VC10 tankers were in fact so useful that the RAF decided to obtain more of them, awarding contracts in 1990 to Flight Refuelling to update all 13 surviving VC10 C.1 transports to VC10 C.1K/ Type 1180 transport-tanker configuration, & to BAE to update five of the spare Super VC10s to VC10 K.4/ Type 1170 standard. The VC10 C.1K conversions were relatively minimal, being fitted with Flight Refuelling Mark 32 HDUs (Hose Drogue Units) & appropriate control systems, but no centreline HDU & no fuselage fuel tanks, enabling the aircraft to retain their full transport capability. The initial flight of the first VC10 C.1K was on 11th June 1992 & the survivors of the fleet still serve today with No.101 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.