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Maintaining the '10
Keeping a VC10 in the air is not just a case of topping off the fuel and
kicking the tires. A lot of elbow grease is needed to perform all the tasks
needed to ensure that an airframe is in good shape, to repair any problems and
to complete major servicing on these aging airframes. To pay tribute to the men
and women who keep the VC10s in the air here are some images (some old and some
new) showing various scenes from line maintenance to major servicing.
Photo N. Angus |
Photo N. Angus |
Photo N. Angus |
Photo via K. White |
1. Inspections are a very important part of any aircraft's maintenance
schedule, some of these can be done 'on the line'. VC10 K4 ZD242 is shown here
with some inspection panels open.
2. Once it gets more complex (or the weather turns bad) the hangar is the next
place to go to.
3. Here a VC10 is seen on jacks, surrounded by staging which gives access to any
part of the airframe.
4. This photo shows that not much has changed inside the Brize Norton hangars!
Same scene, but many years earlier.
Photo via K. White |
Photo via K. White |
Photo Crown copyright via D. Cobbold |
Photo Crown copyright via D. Cobbold |
1. C1 XR806 is the subject here, the spare wheel seen next to the front jack
may indicate a wheel or brake issue that was receiving attention along with a
lot of other tasks.
2. To get closer to the Conway engines a lot of panels open on the engine
nacelles.
3. RAF St. Athan is the place where major servicing is done on the VC10. Two
aircraft are seen here in front of the 'Twin Peaks' hangars.
4. VC10 K2 ZA143 is seen here parked in front of the hangar. She is engine-less
and with all openings and windows taped over, probably awaiting major servicing.
Photo Crown copyright via D. Cobbold |
Photo M. Burrell |
Photo M. Burrell |
Photo M. Burrell |
1. Once work gets under way the aircraft is taken apart almost to the bare
structure. A lot of inspections take place and all the components are replaced
or refurbished.
2. With the major work over the systems and engines are tested and for this the
aircraft moves outside again.
3. ZD242 is parked at the engine test facility, obviously not complete again as
the weather radar and a lot of panels are still missing.
4. The structure that the aircraft is parked against is a silencer which helps
to muffle the sound of the Conways, which is appreciated by those working or
living nearby I'm sure.
Photo Crown copyright via D. Cobbold |
Photo T. Everitt |
Photo A. Townshend |
Photo A. Townshend |
1. At the end of the reassembly and the testing phase the aircraft is flown
on an airtest and then departs RAF St. Athan again, usually in primer paint to
be flown to the painters.
2. In some cases the aircraft is completely stripped to bare metal again for the
repainting process. This photo shows a VC10 being masked off in preparation for
its first layer of new paint.
3. You don't always get to choose where you have to perform maintenance, in this
case a hydraulic pump decided to call it quits. The aircraft is VC10 K4 ZD240.
4. As can be seen from the skyline the location for this event was Mc.Carren
International Airport in Las Vegas. There are worse places to spend an
extra night!
Photo J. Thomas |
Photo J. Thomas |
Photo J. Thomas |
Photo J. Thomas |
1. VC10 K3 ZA147 'F' is parked at St. Athan after the completion of the
type's last major servicing.
2. The same aircraft taxiing out for take off during the test flights which are
performed after a major servicing.
3-4. Two more photos of ZA147 during the last two test flights. After completion
of the test flights the airframe will be flown to the painter for new coat of
grey.
Photo J. Thomas |
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1. ZA147 climbing away from St. Athan on 25 November 2010. With the last
major service completed on this airframe St. Athan will only perform minor
service on the VC10 from now on. The end of an era is drawing closer.
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