On Monday 18^th March, VC10 K3 tail number ZA149 departed from RAF Brize Norton for the final time.

The aircraft landed at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, where it will be dismantled for spares. Flight Lieutenants Stewart and Pryor  piloted the aircraft for its last flight, navigateded by Air Commodore Ager, with Flight Sergeant Mutton the air engineer, and Flight Sergeant Cutmore the Air Loadmaster.

Flight Lieutenant Harry Stewart said;

“I have been flying the VC10 since 2007. Since then I have been fortunate enough to be involved in operations and deployments around the world including Air-to-Air Refuelling missions over Afghanistan and Libya. The VC10 has proved time and time again to be a capable platform, acting as an effective force multiplier in often testing and dynamic environments. It has been a privilege to fly such a remarkable aircraft.”

On Wednesday 20^th March, the last RAF VC10 K4 will also depart RAF Brize Norton destined for decommissioning at Bruntingthorpe. Only 5 K4s were built from the BA models which were purchased by the Royal Air Force. The crew for this flight will include Flight Lieutenants Barwick, Millikin and Harrison, Flight Sergeant McClean and Master Aircrewman Abbott.

Flight Lieutenant Millikin said;

“I have spent 10 years on the VC10 Force; the last four years as a Qualified Flying Instructor on 101 Squadron and I consider myself very fortunate to have flown such an iconic aircraft. To be the Captain of a VC10 on its last flight is a real privilege and a memory I will cherish.”

The RAF has been operating the VC10 since No. 10 Squadron was reformed on July 1^st 1966. 101 Squadron received its first VC10 into the Tanker Training Flight in 1984 and has flown the K2, K3, K4 and C1K variants. 2011 was a particularly busy year for the Squadron when aircraft deployed to Akrotiri, Cyprus and Trapani, Sicily in support of Op DEFERENCE and subsequently Op ELLAMY, providing vital Air-to-Air support to missions over Libya. This was achieved in conjunction with other commitments; supporting operations over Afghanistan, the Falkland Islands and the air defence of the United Kingdom.

Several important milestones were achieved by the venerable fleet last year, with the Squadron celebrating its 95^th anniversary in July and the 50^th anniversary of the first flight of the VC10 in June. Today, 101 Squadron continues to fully support operations both at home, in the Falkland Islands and in the Gulf region and maintains a fully deployable Air-to-Air worldwide capability.

Wing Commander Kev Brookes, Officer Commanding 101 Squadron said;

“The aircrew and engineers of 101 Squadron are all hugely affectionate of the VC10 aircraft, and we are all immensely proud of what the fleet has achieved over many years of service. Fast, quiet and smooth, she has been a much admired platform for the last 29 years and has certainly been the Air-to-Air Refuelling platform of choice for UK and allied nation receiver aircraft. The VC10 aircraft and her operators have an excellent reputation for delivering a worldwide highly effective, flexibly minded and hard working Air-to-Air Refuelling capability. It was only in 2011 when the Sqn flew over 420 missions and dispensed over 8870 Tonnes of fuel during Op ELLAMY. Although the fleet numbers have now decreased, we look forward with pride to continue to deliver an expert refuelling capability in the Falkland Islands, around the UK and maybe further afield until the final retirement”.

Source and photo: MOD UK