he VC10 was the last in the line of successful Vickers Commercial post-war airliners designed and built in the Weybridge factory at the pioneering Brooklands airfield, the final aircraft produced by Vickers. With its advanced design, high performance, superior passenger appeal and robust construction, the VC10 achieved formidable success during half a century of operations. It served with a number of international airlines and, of course, the Royal Air Force to whom it rendered 47 years of distinguished front-line service in transport and tanker roles in many global operaitons and VIP flights in peace and war. One of the most famous and successful British aircraft, its popularity endures to the present day with a number remaining in active preservation.
This comprehensive study recounts the full history of the VC10 in exhaustive detail, including a wealth of new, previously unpublished information and data, drawn mainly from primary sources. The book corrects many of the mistruths that have become accepted VC10 folklore. Fresh insights on its operating economics help to demonstrate that the VC10 was in fact a very profitable airliner. Many previously unpublished photographs appear for the first time and specially prepared three-view drawings and colour side views depict the many VC10 variants, including unbuilt civil and military projects. The book also contains the most detailed VC10 individual aircraft histories yet published.
This new Air-Britain book has been researched by the author over nearly 50 years in his enduring ‘love affair’ with the VC10 as a fine tribute to this much-admired British aircraft.
Hardback, 320 pages, over 500 images, most in colour
