VC-10 to fly again?

[magpie215]

Seen some Internet chatter about an outfit called Kepler aerospace needing a Tanker.

Seems that ZA150 at Dunsfold might again fly.

https://ukaviation.news/kepler-aerospace-aims-to-g...

Edited by magpie215 on Wednesday 26th August 14:18

[Ayahuasca]

Interesting.

Why would they use an old VC10 that they won’t know much about when other platforms must be available ?

On Kepler’s website is a pic of a Starfighter, apparently to be used for launching rockets at Cape Canaveral. Did this ever happen?

[Yertis]

Maybe they're looking for a set of capabilities the the VC-10 meets better than other contenders. Fast, quiet, stable, good hot and high short runway capabilities, etc. rather than 'a tanker' per se.

[Dr Jekyll]

Ayahuasca said:

Interesting.

Why would they use an old VC10 that they won’t know much about when other platforms must be available ?

But nothing that looks as good.

[aeropilot]

KEPLER AEROSPACE (UK) LTD is registered with companies house, with a tangible link to GJD (who own both of the VC-10's at Brunty, and who have been looking after the 6 x Tristar's at Brunty for the US firm that bought them for the USN tanker contract bid, which is interesting given the transfer of ownership of the VC-10 at Dunsfold (and also rumoured to include the VC-10 sims held in storage at Brooklands)


I still will be surprised if any VC-10 fly again, let alone for a commercial tanking contract, given the issues with DA support and the real massive issue with spare parts, especially engine support for those RR Conways, which the RAF were struggling with a decade ago when still in service.

[magpie215]

aeropilot said:

I still will be surprised if any VC-10 fly again, let alone for a commercial tanking contract, given the issues with DA support and the real massive issue with spare parts, especially engine support for those RR Conways, which the RAF were struggling with a decade ago when still in service.

U.S experimental register does away with DA support.

There must be a shed load of spares about.

I would guess those 2 at Brunty if parted out could keep one flyer going for a few years.

[nonsequitur]

The VC10. Flew in them many times as crew. Very popular with both crew and passengers. 'Try a little VC10derness' I remember was an advertising slogan of the times. Two versions, Super and Standard. Covered all the African routes then USA and Middle East.

[aeropilot]

magpie215 said:

aeropilot said:

I still will be surprised if any VC-10 fly again, let alone for a commercial tanking contract, given the issues with DA support and the real massive issue with spare parts, especially engine support for those RR Conways, which the RAF were struggling with a decade ago when still in service.

U.S experimental register does away with DA support.

There must be a shed load of spares about.

You won't be putting it on US Experimental register to operate it on a commercial contract for US Mil.

There isn't a shed load of spares about either, the RAF were starting to struggle with them regarding sourcing spares in the last few years of service.

I would think that this is a short term (3 years maybe?) stop gap requirement though pending the retirement of more KC-10's from USAF service, which could then be taken up by the contract companies.

[andy97]

I assume that the US Navy want a hose as drogue capability? That said, wouldn’t it be easier (less difficult) to use the Tristars which were scheduled to go to the US anyway, and which may have an easier spare pool available.
The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe but I guess anything is possible given the appropriate cash pile.

[Tony1963]

andy97 said:

The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe

Why?

[aeropilot]

andy97 said:

I assume that the US Navy want a hose as drogue capability? That said, wouldn’t it be easier (less difficult) to use the Tristars which were scheduled to go to the US anyway, and which may have an easier spare pool available.
The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe but I guess anything is possible given the appropriate cash pile.

I think the issue maybe that the company that bought them and won the contract, only to have the lossing company cry foul, and get the contract comp redone, has apprentley now been dissolved/wound up, so the ownership or even resale of the Tristars might not be a simple task....
Which probably now explains why another company is now looking at the VC-10's instead as an option, as the prefered option of the Tristar's is a possible non-starter.

You couldn't make this st up!

[andy97]

Tony1963 said:

andy97 said:

The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe

Why?

Not sure that the runway is useable any more as large parts of the site are covered in cars. Might be wrong but the Waltons sold their car business tonCox Automotive recently.

[magpie215]

andy97 said:

The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe .

It's the one at Dunsfold that they are considering reactivating.

[hidetheelephants]

andy97 said:

Not sure that the runway is useable any more as large parts of the site are covered in cars. Might be wrong but the Waltons sold their car business tonCox Automotive recently.

I would think temporarily moving some cars off the runway is the least of the challenges in getting a VC10 back in commercial service.

[andy97]

magpie215 said:

andy97 said:

The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe .

It's the one at Dunsfold that they are considering reactivating.

I was taliking about the Tristars as a more easily supportable alternative.

[HoHoHo]

I live near Dunsfold and would be keen to see the brilliant VC10 fly again.

Many happy memories of flying on these as a young lad back in the 70’s to and from Teheran

[Fluid]

nonsequitur said:

The VC10. Flew in them many times as crew. Very popular with both crew and passengers. 'Try a little VC10derness' I remember was an advertising slogan of the times. Two versions, Super and Standard. Covered all the African routes then USA and Middle East.

RAF or civvie airline?

[magpie215]

andy97 said:

magpie215 said:

andy97 said:

The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe .

It's the one at Dunsfold that they are considering reactivating.

I was taliking about the Tristars as a more easily supportable alternative.

[hammo19]

When I was in the cadets I was lucky enough to do a 3 hour flight in the VC10 with a lot of circuit and bumps at Brize.

Fabulous aircraft and if I remember rightly the seats were facing the tail.

[aeropilot]

andy97 said:

magpie215 said:

andy97 said:

The difficulty would be getting them out of Bruntingthorpe .

It's the one at Dunsfold that they are considering reactivating.

I was taliking about the Tristars as a more easily supportable alternative.

See my post above regarding the possible ownership issue with the Tristars.