End of an era

[ALAN L]

Not sure if this has already been posted,but better to know twice that not all.Taken from the RAFA youth facebook page.

Below are the details of the FINAL VC10 sortie/flypasts on Friday 20th September (TOMORROW)

The last two VC10 aircraft (ZA147 and ZA150) will conduct their final air-to-air refuelling sortie, then diverge to carry out fly pasts of various locations around the UK.The aircraft are expected to fly according to the following schedule (all timings are local):

ZA147 –

12.20 – Newcastle

12.40 – Warton

13.05 – RAF Coningsby (VC10 will be accompanied by a GR4)

13.15 – RAF Marham (VC10 will be accompanied by a GR4)

13.35 – Birmingham

ZA150 –

12.35 – RAF Lossiemouth (VC10 will be accompanied by a GR4)

12.55 - RAF Leuchars (VC10 will be accompanied by a Typhoon)

13.15 – Prestwick

Both aircraft are expected to return to Brize Norton by 13.45 for a final fly past at 14.00.

All times are local, and subject to change, based on the conditions of the day and aircraft availability.

[bwm]

Also on the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24165590

[Big Tone]

Latest information from Warton is that the flypast at Warton should occur around 13.25 local; however, that's still subject to change. It's going to be a sad day.

[andrewman]

Are these the last ever flights or will there be any final delivery flights after this ?

[Trevster]

Both flights were showing on FlightRadar24 earlier (Premium members only as MLAT coverage):

http://fr24.com/TARTN51

http://fr24.com/TARTN52

Will likely reappear when they come back into coverage area later.

[DeanW]

Are these the last ever flights or will there be any final delivery flights after this ?

Rumours that delivery flights are taking place next Weds 25th.

[JackyRIATWilson]

Any ideas on routing for ZA150 after Prestwick? I get a lot of BZN - PIK and vice-versa traffic over here in Wrexham. So I will hopefully be able to hear the beauty if she passes over for one last time.

Jack.

[Rule 27]

The standard routing (of which details elude me at this moment! POL Westcott RC I think?).

[Seahornet]

ZA147 (TARTN52) currently heading out over the North Sea, off the Humber. Meeting up with the GR4 before the CBY and MRM flypasts, maybe?

(FR24)

[farnboroughrob]

Shame there is no flypast at Weybridge/Wisley or even LHR would have love to have seen one around London.

[JackyRIATWilson]

Cheers Chris!

Where will the airframes be headed on 25th? Will Cosford be getting one?

Jack.

[BDL]

Shame there is no flypast at Weybridge/Wisley or even LHR would have love to have seen one around London.

as they say - THIS!!!!!!

[StevenH]

ZA147 appeared on the horizon at EGNT (Newcastle) right on time at 1220 and she was a lovely sight for her flypast. Such a shame I'll never see the VC-10 again, I always loved seeing them in the circuit at EGNT from home.

[Rory76]

http://www.flightradar24.com/TARTN51

52 showing on FR24 free at the mo. Assume it's 51 that just flew over Ledbury- awesome.

[Andover]

HU - A report coming up on BBC Oxford news, on now.

[Russ]

Was stuck in a meeting all day, but still heard the distinct rumble of the four Conways over Birmingham city centre, as it transited back to Brize.

Very sad day and my favourite RAF aircraft is now retired.

[tommercer]

Cheers Chris!

Where will the airframes be headed on 25th? Will Cosford be getting one?

Jack.

One to Dunsfold for preservation and the other to be dismantled at Bruntingthorpe

[DerekF]

While it's sad that such an iconic aircraft has retired, an aircraft I had a special place for as I flew in XV104 and XV105 as an air cadet in 1979, it is also a testament to Britain's appalling procurement process that it was still in service in 2013 in the first place.

[Andover]

Update of todays proceedings on the RAF site...

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/ne ... C1DE924BDA

[Domvickery]

Was stuck in a meeting all day, but still heard the distinct rumble of the four Conways over Birmingham city centre, as it transited back to Brize.

I think I heard them over the jewellery qtr too, gutted I couldnt see it for the last time

[Andover]

BBC Oxford news report link, starts at 9.05.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... 0_09_2013/

[farnboroughrob]

Cheers Chris!

Where will the airframes be headed on 25th? Will Cosford be getting one?

Jack.

One to Dunsfold for preservation and the other to be dismantled at Bruntingthorpe

Dunsfold one is arriving Tuesday lunchtime, no exact eta. Apparently owned by Brooklands Museum but will remain on site for the near future. Strange for them to acquire another VC-10 as they already have the VIP example.

[Russ]

Just a thought, but with the exception of the BBMF (if they count?), is the VC10 the longest serving RAF aircraft of all time? Certainly can't think of anything else.

[Hasboman]

Just a thought, but with the exception of the BBMF (if they count?), is the VC10 the longest serving RAF aircraft of all time? Certainly can't think of anything else.

Expect the Canberra got pretty close!

[Kieran]

Just a thought, but with the exception of the BBMF (if they count?), is the VC10 the longest serving RAF aircraft of all time? Certainly can't think of anything else.

VC-10 did 51 years. Canberra (in various marks) did 55, I think?

IIRC, VC-10s started entering service between 1966-1968. So, 47 years for the Funbus!