C/n 827 - XR807

Date
25 March 1966	First flight.
5-11 September 1966	On show at the 1966 Farnborough airshow.
1966	Delivery to Boscombe Down together with XR806 for acceptance trials.
17 November 1966	Handover to RAF 10 Squadron as XR807, the aircraft operated from RAF Fairford initially as Brize Norton's facilities were being adapted for the new VC10s.
November 1968	Named 'Donald Garland VC and Thomas Gray VC'.
17 June 1972	Operated Washington Dulles to RAF Brize Norton via Montreal. Total flying time 6:35hrs.
3 April 1979	XR807 flew to Yellowknife from Victoria, carrying the Prince of Wales on a ten-day tour of Canada.
18 April 1982	XR807 flew some 35 inhabitants of the Falklands back to the UK after Argentinia deported them.
27 May 1982	137 survivors from the attack on 'Sheffield' were flown to Brize Norton.
February 1983	Carried HM The Queen on a five day trip from London Heathrow to the Caribbean via Bermuda and then on to Kingston and Montego Bay in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and finally to Acapulco in Mexico. Callsign was Ascot 1148, crewed by Captain Sqn Ldr Mick Dobson, F/E Roy McMullan with Sqn Ldr John Waltham supervising the cabin staff.
2 September 1994	First flight after conversion to C1K tanker/transport.
12 September 1994	Delivery to 10 Squadron as C1K.
March 1999	XR807 was repainted into the new grey colourscheme.
13 May 2005	Flew from Cambridge to St. Athan in a black primer coat with one green primer wing and temporary markings.
14 October 2005	Transferred to 101 Squadron upon disbandment of 10 Squadron. Tail letter 'Q' allocated.
13 June 2009	Flew in formation with Vulcan XH558, together with XR808, at the RAF Brize Norton families day.
6 April 2010	Aircraft flown to Bruntingthorpe on its final flight, together with XV109. Total time: 42737 hours.
28 July 2010	Remains scrapped at Bruntingthorpe.

1. XR807 was present for the Farnborough air show in 1966, showing the RAF's new transport to the public. This photos shows XR807's arrival on 5th September 1966, but it could be a missed approach as well.
2. The VC10 was in good company, shown here with two Lightnings, a Jet Provost, Piaggio PD.808 and the C.160 Transall prototype.
3. This air-to-air shot was used as a publicity image.
4. In these images the aircraft still has the black radome.

1-2. Two photos showing XR807 in the classic 10 Squadron colour scheme.
3. XR807 on approach to land.
4. In the late 80s the VC10s received refueling probes.

1. This photo shows the aircraft at the 1995 Mildenhall air show on the 27th May.
2. A moody air-to-air shot of XR807.
3. XR807 formating on ex-EAA 5H-MOG, now K3 ZA150 with 101 Squadron.
4. Shown after landing at RAF St. Athan, the striking look of XR807 in black primer is shown. As the righthand wing was still green the 'stealth' look was not complete.

1. Shown after landing at RAF St. Athan, the striking look of XR807 in black primer is shown. As the righthand wing was still green the 'stealth' look was not complete.
2. Final approach at Bruntingthorpe. Together with XV109 these two retirements started the final round of scrappings for the VC10 fleet.
3. The end of XR807's career, its final touchdown.
4. A few days later Andy Martin caught this photo from an overflying aircraft. XV109 was scrapped first but XR807 fell to the scrapman's axe not too long after.

RAF	White over grey scheme with large blue lightning flash down the fuselage. Initially "Royal Air Force Transport Command" titles and roundels on the fuselage, later this became "Royal Air Force Air Support Command" titles. Titles changed to just "Royal Air Force" in 1972.
RAF	All over grey scheme with large lightning flash down the side of the fuselage. Toned down roundels and fin flashes, code letter 'Q' on fin (since 2005).