The RAF’s last Vickers VC10 jetliners have completed their final mission after 47 years of service.

On their final flight the VC10s – affectionately known in the RAF as the “Funbus” – refuelled a Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado GR4, Hercules, Boeing E-3 Sentry as well as each other.

They also took part in flypasts over Newcastle, Warton, RAF Coningsby, RAF Marham, Birmingham, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Leuchars, and Prestwick.

The VC10 was built as a commercial airliner but has been the mainstay of the RAF’s air-to-air refuelling fleet.

It has also been used to deploy troops around the world.

Its replacement, the Voyager, is the RAF’s largest aircraft, with a 60m (197ft) wingspan, and is also nearly 60m long.

The RAF bought 14 of the aircraft under a 27-year private finance initiative contract worth £10.5bn with the AirTanker consortium.

As the meritous, 50 year, service of the RAF VC-10 draws to a close, the last two 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, on Friday 20^th September 2013.

The aircraft are expected to fly according to the following schedule:

ZA147 –

12.20 – Newcastle

12.40 – Warton

13.05 – RAF Conninsby (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.