Ownership transferred to Gulf Aviation Company Limited.
7 October 1975
Re-registered as A4O-VL in Oman.
December 1977
Leased to Air Ceylon.
Early 1978
End of service with Gulf Air/Air Ceylon. Initially sold to Dismore Aviation.
3 April 1978
Sold to RAF for conversion to type 1112 K2 tanker. Ferried Heathrow to Filton on this date.
25 June 1983
First flight after conversion at Filton.
25 July 1983
Delivery to 101 Squadron as ZA140 'A'. First tanker to be delivered.
1991
Acquired 'The Empire Strikes Back' nose art during its Gulf War service, along with an impressive mission tally.
21 June 1991
Took part in the joint service OP GRANBY flypast as the lead aircraft of the second element of the fixed wing formation of the Second Element. Due to low cloud part of the flypast, including the Second Element, had to be canceled and ZA140 returned to Brize. Carried commemorative covers.
May 2000
Withdrawn from service, final flight to RAF St. Athan.
March 2001
Scrapped at St. Athan.
Photos
Photo B. Wright
Photo collection J. Hieminga
Photo collection J. Hieminga
Photo collection J. Hieminga
1. A shiny new G-ARVL at Heathrow in its delivery scheme.
2. Wrong Vickers product... a BEA Vanguard departs while the preparations for G-ARVL's arrival are completed.
3. This was February 1965 and G-ARVL has just carried out the first Royal Flight.
4. HM The Queen arrives back at Heathrow after a state visit to Ethiopia.
Photo collection J. Hieminga
Photo collection J. Hieminga
Photo collection J. Hieminga
Photo collection J. Hieminga
1. HM The Queen arrives back at Heathrow after a state visit to Ethiopia.
2. Once the most important passenger has deplaned, the focus shifts back to a gleaming G-ARVL in the first Golden Speedbird colour scheme.
3. Family members wave to arriving passengers, or perhaps crewmembers.
4. A nice photo of the tail of G-ARVL sitting on the apron at the north side of the airport.
1. G-ARVL sitting on the apron after a job well done.
2. This bright image shows G-ARVL in the first BOAC Golden Speedbird scheme and with Nigeria Airways stickers at Ikeja airport, Lagos in 1969. It may have carried the old BOAC white striped livery during construction but this was changed before its first flight.
3. This is a promotional photo for the Thompson Refueller, but it shows G-ARVL in the background with Air Ceylon stickers on the doors.
4. By December 1969, when this photo was taken at Manchester Airport, 'VL had been repainted in the second version of the BOAC scheme.
1. Ownership of the aircraft was transferred to Gulf Aviation Company Ltd. but in effect the VC10s were still owned by BA and kept their British registrations.
2. In October 1975 the aircraft was re-registered as A4O-VL in Oman.
3. 'VL was one of two Gulf Air VC10s (the other one being 'VI) to receive the modern 'Golden Falcon' scheme.
4. A4O-VL with Air Ceylon titles taxiing past Omani A4O-AB at Heathrow. The aircraft was leased to Air Ceylon between December 1977 and January 1978.
Photo collection J. Hieminga via R. Thurston
Photo via Aviation Photography of Miami collection
Photo copyright BAE Systems / Brooklands Museum archives
Photo copyright BAE Systems / Brooklands Museum archives
1. A4O-VL was stored at Filton next to the ex-EAA fleet.
2. A4O-VL was still carrying Gulf Air colours but also wearing the Air Ceylon titles.
3. ZA140, ex-A4O-VL, is seen here in front while being converted to a K2 tanker. The next airframe behind it is a K3 with another K3 in the rear left corner.
4. The hole in the roof that had to be cut to get the extra fuel cells inside is clearly visible in these images.
Photo copyright BAE Systems / collection J. Hieminga
Photo copyright BAE Systems / collection J. Hieminga
Photo collection J. Hieminga via C. Knott
Photo collection J. Hieminga via C. Knott
1. The official handing over ceremony for the first VC10 tanker took place in a hangar at Filton.
2. As can be seen on this photo, a large group was present for the occasion. It also appears that a particular painting was involved, I wonder which one.
3. On 25th July 1983, a shining ZA140 is at seen at Brize Norton for the first time.
4. Although ZA141 had been the first to fly, ZA140 became the first tanker to be delivered, and turned up in the new hemp colours, contrasting with the white over grey 10 Squadron VC10s.
Photo collection J. Hieminga via C. Knott
Photo Crown Copyright
Photo collection J. Hieminga via R. Thurston
Photo collection J. Hieminga
1. The handover at Brize involved 101 Squadron crewmembers doing the honours.
2. Not until the aircraft was on the Squadron's strength was the letter 'A' applied.
3. ZA140 had the highest construction number of the five K2s but the RAF registrations were not allocated in sequence.
4. During the first Gulf War in 1991 ZA140 also acquired 'The Empire Strikes Back' nose art next to a BP logo. The logo referred to the squadron's radio callsign.
1. It is also obvious that the colourscheme has suffered somewhat during the missions that ZA140 carried out.
2. ZA140 was the only K2 to carry mission markings and ended up with 43 markings.
3. ZA140 is seen here with openings taped over, in temporary storage.
4. During the last years of its RAF service ZA140 was repainted in the modern grey colours of 101 Squadron.
G-ARVL can be seen in the background during the first part of this footage of HM The Queen arriving in Ethiopia.
Colourschemes
Vickers /BOAC
BOAC scheme of white over grey fuselage, dark-blue cheatline and fin with two white bands over fin.
BOAC
First version of BOAC 'Golden Speedbird' scheme with stepped, gold-edged dark-blue cheatline. Grey lower fuselage and white upper fuselage. Dark-blue fin with gold speedbird logo.
BOAC
Second version of BOAC 'Golden Speedbird' scheme, golden edge on cheatline removed and cheatline now arcs smoothly down towards the nose without the step of the previous scheme.
BOAC/BA
As above but with British Airways titles on the forward fuselage.
GA
Gulf Air VC10 scheme, overall white with a large red, purple and green cheatline flowing from nose to fin. Gulf Air titles on forward fuselage.
GA
Gulf Air 'Golden Falcon' scheme. Overall white with scalloped purple, green and red lines flowing from nose to halfway down the fuselage. Same colours on top of fin with large golden falcon image below it. 'Gulf Air' in gold western and arabic script on fuselage top.
AC
Same as above but with 'Air Ceylon' titles on forward fuselage.
RAF
First RAF 101 Sqn 'Hemp' scheme. Grey undersides with hemp colours on top and fuselage sides. Toned down markings and large letter on fin. In 1991 a BP logo and the text 'The Empire Strikes Back' was added to the nose in front of the crew entry door along with 43 mission markings.
RAF
All over grey scheme with large lightning flash down the side of the fuselage. Toned down roundels and fin flashes, code letter on fin.
