"Swift, Silent, Serene"

[nwacrew]

Any former VC-10 flight attendants out there???

I've been a huge fan of those beautiful jets since flying on a BOAC 'Standard' and an East African Airways 'Super' back in the 1970's. How popular / unpopular were those aircraft with the cabin crews? Was one model favored over another? And were they easier or more difficult to work than the 707?

[aussieboy]

Hi nwacrew, saw your note about BOAC in "liveries". I know what you mean. The VC10 was great. There are still some ex-VC10 crew at BA, and they seem to remember it fondly. I was born too late, unfortunately, but I would have loved to have crewed on it.

I love my classic aircraft, especially the 727 with it's ventral stairs and the L1011 (deathstar) with the UFG and the "star-trek" wardrobes. I also loved the upper deck on the 747-200 - so intimate.

Had the "pleasure" of flying Aeroflot LHR-SVO-DEL-SIN on an Il62 (very much like the VC10) and Il86 with it's lower deck air-stairs that let you walk thru the hold before entering the main deck.

You guys still have the DC10, don't you? That's a classic.

[nwacrew]

Yes, AUSSIEBOY, I'm a classic aircraft fan myself. My favorite aircraft at Northwest are our 727's and DC10's; though I should mention that most of my colleagues groan and roll their eyes when I mention my fondness for those two types!

Our 727's are going fast. (Sniff) The last will be retired in September, 2003.

The domestic DC10-40's will disappear this year; replaced by 757-300's. And the international DC10-30's will be phased out over the next few years with the delivery of A-330's, which begins next summer.

I admit to being curious about the IL-62; the Soviet VC10 look-alike. But those Ilyushins have had such an APPALLING safety record over the past few decades that I've never been able to screw-up enough courage to fly on one. Glad you survived the experience once. Don't try it again!!! <LOL>

[Archer]

Now there's a question I should have thought of!!

I too would love to hear from anyone who has memories of the VC10. I set up a website as a tribute to this aircraft and am always looking for stories that involve the type. If anyone is willing to share their experiences please send me a message at: Vickers_VC10@zonnet.nl

Have a look at the site too: A Little VC10derness (http://Fly.to/VC10) and let me know what you think. Comments and criticism are always appreciated.

[AirBag]

My mother used to fly on VC-10s before she had me.

I'm not sure whether it was with B-CAL or BUA but she used to go round South America on them.

Apparently people would wait for the VC-10 to come through even if it meant missing a 707 flight to get back to London.

[nwacrew]

Hey "Archer" - what a great site! Glad to know there are some other die-hard VC10 fans out there!

When British Airways was in the process of disposing of the VC10's, about a dozen of them (plus one Ghana Airways model), were parked for a time wa-a-a-y out in the boonies at Prestwick Airport.

During a Glasgow layover in December, 1980, I spied the planes from my hotel window and before my working flight departed, I talked a BA Duty Manager into driving me out to the VC10's in his car, so I could photograph them. I knew it would be the last time I'd ever be able to get shots of all those beautiful "T" tails grouped together!

I still have the slides I shot that day; Standards and Supers, gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Let me know if you'd be interested in adding them to your "VC10-derness"site.

[Archer]

@ Nwacrew: see Private Message.

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[Delsey_Dragger]

My father was in the RAF and I grew up abroad, but for those frequest trips back to the UK (to be marched around Marks and Spencer by my mum.....shudder) of course we used to fly on the VC10 (The RAF use them and the Tristars) I have to say that they seemed super planes (The RAF have turned all the seats to face the rear for safety reasons). It seemed a really nice aircraft for the crew to work on, not like the jumbo which is just too many punters!