In the 1960s, the market for regional jets was a crowded field with multiple manufacturers in the game. You had big names like the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, the BAC One-Eleven, the Sud Aviation Caravelle, and the Hawker Siddeley Trident. But there was another player that didn’t get as much attention but was still unique in its own right—the Vickers VC-10. What set this jet apart was its four engines, all mounted at the back of the plane. In contrast, the Trident had only three rear engines. So, let’s dig into what the Vickers VC-10 is and the story behind this unique aircraft.
The Vickers VC10 was a British jet airliner that first flew in 1962, designed and built by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd. It was a mid-sized, narrow-body, long-range aircraft. What made this plane stand out was its rear-engined quad layout, a feature it shared only with the larger Soviet Ilyushin Il-62 and the smaller Lockheed JetStar business jet.
Tailored for Long-Distance Routes and Short Runways
The VC-10 was made to fly long distances from shorter runways, which were common back in the day. It was especially good for flights from African airports because it could perform well in hot and high conditions. The VC-10 was so fast that it set a record for the quickest Atlantic crossing by a subsonic jet airliner, taking just 5 hours and 1 minute. This record was unbeaten for 41 years until a British Airways Boeing 747 broke it. The only aircraft faster was the supersonic Concorde. Even though not many VC-10s were made, they were in service with BOAC and other airlines from the 1960s until 1981.
Advanced Wing and Engine Design
The VC-10’s wings were devoid of engine pylons, which allowed for a cleaner airflow. Additionally, the wings featured full-length leading-edge slats that maximized the wing area during the slower phases of flight. These design elements were crucial for the extra lift performance required in challenging climate and altitude conditions. The aircraft also had good short-field performance, thanks to these aerodynamic features.
The engines were mounted on the rear fuselage, which had several advantages. First, they were higher off the ground compared to engines mounted under the wings. This made them less likely to ingest foreign objects from the runway, an important consideration for BOAC when operating in African airports with less-than-ideal runway conditions. To further adapt to these conditions, the VC-10 was equipped with wider, low-pressure tires.
| General Characteristics | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Crew | 4 + 3 flight attendants |
| Capacity | 151 passengers |
| Length | 158 ft 8 in (48.36 m) |
| Wingspan | 146 ft 2 in (44.55 m) |
| Height | 39 ft 6 in (12.04 m) |
| Wing Area | 2,851 sq ft (264.9 m2) |
| Empty Weight | 139,505 lb (63,278 kg) |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 334,878 lb (151,898 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 17,925 imp gal (81,490 L) |
| Powerplant | 4 × Rolls-Royce Conway Mk 301 turbofans, 22,500 lbf (100 kN) thrust each |
| Performance | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Maximum Speed | 580 mph (930 km/h, 500 kn) |
| Cruise Speed | 550 mph (890 km/h, 480 kn) at 38,000 ft (12,000 m) |
| Range | 5,850 mi (9,410 km, 5,080 nmi) |
| Service Ceiling | 43,000 ft (13,000 m) |
| Rate of Climb | 1,920 ft/min (9.8 m/s) |
| Takeoff Distance to 35 ft | 8,280 ft (2,520 m) |
| Landing Distance from 50 ft | 6,380 ft (1,940 m) |
The Commercial Life and Passenger Experience of the VC-10
BOAC was the primary operator of the Vickers VC-10, and the aircraft served as its flagship from 1964 to 1975. The main selling point for passengers was the quietness in the cabin, thanks to the rear-mounted engines. BOAC even used this feature in its advertising, coining the slogan “Try a little VC-Tenderness.”
However, the Vickers VC-10 faced stiff competition from other long-range aircraft like the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8. These planes didn’t have the same short-field capabilities as the VC-10, but their popularity led many major airports to upgrade their runways, negating one of the VC-10’s key advantages.
Assembling the VC-10
The assembly process of the Vickers VC-10 was complex and required a high level of precision. It started with the construction of the fuselage, made from sections of aluminum alloy. These sections were joined together using riveting and welding techniques. The cockpit, tail section, and wings were then added.
After the basic structure was complete, the installation of various systems began. This included the hydraulic, electrical, and fuel systems, as well as the engines and landing gear. Each system and component was installed with great attention to detail and underwent rigorous testing for safety and reliability.
One of the most challenging steps was installing the aircraft’s four Rolls-Royce Conway engines, each weighing over 6,000 pounds. These engines had to be precisely aligned with the fuselage and securely fastened using bolts and brackets. Once all systems were in place, the aircraft was painted in the livery of the airline that had ordered it, using a combination of spray-painting and hand-painting techniques.
The final stage involved a series of ground and flight tests to ensure the aircraft met all safety and regulatory requirements. These tests were conducted by highly trained engineers and technicians who checked every system and component.
The Vickers VC-10 was an aircraft that showcased British engineering at its finest. It was an airplane that met very specific needs, from its unique design to its ability to operate on challenging runways.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
