MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands’ ‘friendly VC10’ retires from RAF service after 47 years
After 47 years of service for the Royal Air Force, the VC10 took to the skies on Friday 20 September 2013 for its final Air-to-Air refuelling operational sortie. The aircraft will retire on 25 September 2013. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rules'Ushuaia 2013-2014 cruise season opens ~ ...Moreover, the provincial government confirmed that the call will pursue Gaucho Rivero Act, which prevents access to the port of vessels of British origin (or FOC) having on its way to the Falkland Islands.
Sep 20th, 2013 - 08:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“The law is in effect. Important thing is to be known by providers. And in that sense they already know that if you put together a trip going to the Falklands and then attempting to enter the port of Ushuaia, the authorities will not allow entry . Applying an existing law is a matter of self-respect, ”he said INFUETUR president.'
http://www.sinmordaza.com/noticia/193435-ushuaia-inaugura-temporada-de-cruceros-2013-2014.html
'HOYLE BACKS DIALOGUE, BUT WITH AN EDGE ~ ...Mr Hoyle said that Spain’s actions, if left unaddressed, could embolden Argentina’s stance on the Falkland Islands...'
http://www.sinmordaza.com/noticia/193435-ushuaia-inaugura-temporada-de-cruceros-2013-2014.html
'Where Are Migrants Flocking to in South America? - Over Two Decades, Ecuador Has Fastest Growing Immigrant Population ~ ...the Falkland Islands comes in between the two with a 139 percent or 1,200-person increase...'
http://www.sinmordaza.com/noticia/193435-ushuaia-inaugura-temporada-de-cruceros-2013-2014.html
'Latin American leaders begin to arrive in New York for UN General Assembly'
http://www.sinmordaza.com/noticia/193435-ushuaia-inaugura-temporada-de-cruceros-2013-2014.html
'Inconceivable territorial cession to Chile'
http://www.sinmordaza.com/noticia/193435-ushuaia-inaugura-temporada-de-cruceros-2013-2014.html
It is always something of a melancholy experience when some piece of venerable equipment that has served long and faithfully is retired.
Sep 20th, 2013 - 09:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The VC10's have done their jobs well for a staggering period of time. I hope just one 'makes it' to a museum somewhere.
Fabulous aircraft, could only find two incidents where accidents resulted in loss of life.
Sep 21st, 2013 - 07:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0The first on landing due to pilot error, struck trees on approach.
The second on take off, struck an object, FOD on the runway, causing the aircraft to abort and overshoot.
Maybe we can sell them to Argentina, they seem to like buying knackered old planes that have been in service for decades. I guess it's all they can afford.
Sep 21st, 2013 - 09:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0@4 Captain
Sep 21st, 2013 - 10:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0I doubt they have anyone qualified to fly it. But it would be amusing to watch they cough up the US dollars (in advance of course), then watch it rust in some hanger due to lack of maintenance, just like they do with all their other military hardware.
Will we get something better, when this great plane goes to its new home...
Sep 21st, 2013 - 10:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Briton
Sep 21st, 2013 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0Click on the KC30-Voyager link at the bottom of the article.
Verrrrryyyy nice!
Good old ZD241 is now at Bruntingthorpe and likely to be dismantled. A very sad end to a true Lady of the Sky.
Sep 21st, 2013 - 12:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 07 reality check
Sep 21st, 2013 - 07:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0cheers, thanks for that..
It's funny how your ship can visit South Georgia and the South sandwich islands but not the falklands, according to the article on usuhaia.
Sep 21st, 2013 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The two remaining vc10s are flying out Tuesday and Wednesday, one to Dunsfold and the other to Newquay, both museums, and I believe one will be preserved in bruntingthorpe in running condition.
@2 Take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_VC10. There are already VC-10s in museums. But, apparently, no military ones. Perhaps the ones mentioned by txiki will be preserved. The one going to Dunsfold sounds promising.
Sep 22nd, 2013 - 12:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I saw ZA 150 on her farewell fly by at Prestwick. She still looked immaculate after years of service.
Sep 22nd, 2013 - 01:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I took some pictures of her in her former guise in East Africa Airways livery when their fleet was stored at Prestwick some 30 odd years ago prior to being acquired by the RAF for tanker modification.
A technical report I read found that the VC10 was structurally 3 times stronger than a Boeing 707....probably born out by the length of service both civil and militarily.
The VC10 still holds the speed record for a scheduled, commercial crossing of the N.Atlantic by sub sonic aircraft.
Now we are hearing..
Sep 23rd, 2013 - 07:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0BRITAIN’S new fleet of spy planes will fly in US air force colours as part of the latest Ministry of Defence cost-cutting drive.
The RAF’s three RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft will sport a white top, black nose and grey underside — the same colour scheme as the 17 flown by the US air force (USAF). The only difference between the two craft will be the RAF roundels on the wings and fuselage.
No doubt it will be on Mercopress tomorrow..
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