25 Years of the Funbus Tanker

Post by **DaveB** » 22 Jun 2007, 21:37

Tks for that Mr T. Don't remember it myself being but a boy in short trousers!!

Wonder if she'll still be there in another 25years?? :think: Doubt it somehow

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 22 Jun 2007, 21:38

Blimey. :redface: ....was it really that long ago.

How time flies

So the Tanker has served longer than the airliner did :think:

Garry

Post by **DaveB** » 22 Jun 2007, 22:27

No Garry.. it wasn't quite as long ago as when I was a boy in shorts though that was a likely scenario for the original 1101's/1151 and the C1's for the RAF. The first CMk1 was delivered in '66 by which time the production run had ended for the 1101's and 9 of the Supers had been delivered (or thereabouts). None of the CMk1's were tankers then.. this came a fair bit later I think. The anniversary Tonks has highlighted was for the first K2 which, as you know, was an ex BA/BOAC conversion

Tonks.. are any of the current K3/K4 airframes older than the C1K's or have they already been whisked off to South Wales??

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 22 Jun 2007, 22:39

Hi Dave

You posted while I was writing so I had no idea of your short trouser comment

My comment was purely it is surprising how long ago it was and the VC 10 tanker has been around longer than the VC 10 airliner served....not any particular airframe but the use of the VC 10 in those roles.

Just one of those amusing posts that looked like an answer to a post that was not there when I wrote it

Garry

Post by **DaveB** » 22 Jun 2007, 22:53

Yeh.. my thoughts exactly

Seems odd to think that the RAF have probably had more use (timewise) out of the K3/K4's than BA/BOAC ever did though thier former owner certainly clocked up a whole pile of hours/miles on them. Still, testimony to the original build and subsequent TLC from the RAF boys that they're still going

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 22 Jun 2007, 23:15

Unfortunately BOAC didn't want them so they were never going to make the best out of them.

The RAF have proved though that an essentially good design can be kept going and even though no they may be getting difficult now, they have lived longer than the designers could possibly imagined.

Garry

BTW DB nearly ten grand

Chris558 · Post by **Chris558** » 22 Jun 2007, 23:20

Dave,

I've just consulted 'Silent Swift Superb' (VC10 bible). There are only two K.4's that are/were older than the first C.1 (XR806, first flight, 29.11.65) They are....

ZD230 - first flight, 7.5.64, prototype, scrapped.

So that just leaves....

ZD235 - first flight, 17.5.65 - IS THIS ONE STILL WITH US?

Other 'earlier' ones were given military reg's, but used for spares.

Flashoflightning · Post by **Flashoflightning** » 22 Jun 2007, 23:21

Sadly living so far north my chances to see this classic are limited. But when I have seen it I've always noted what a graceful aircraft it is.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 22 Jun 2007, 23:25

I last saw a VC 10 during a trip to Heathrow in 1993 :sad:

I've seen VC 10's on about six occasions in my whole life..........apart from a few overflights in the 60's/70's :think:

Garry

Chris558 · Post by **Chris558** » 22 Jun 2007, 23:28

Oh, Garry....that's tragic :crying: you really MUST get out more....to BRIZE!!