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C/n 801/2 - Test Specimen
C/n 803 - G-ARTA
C/n 804 - G-ARVA - 5N-ABD
C/n 805 - G-ARVB
C/n 806 - G-ARVC - ZA144
C/n 807 - G-ARVE
C/n 808 - G-ARVF
C/n 809 - G-ARVG - ZA141
C/n 810 - G-ARVH
C/n 811 - G-ARVI - ZA142
C/n 812 - G-ARVJ - ZD493
C/n 813 - G-ARVK - ZA143
C/n 814 - G-ARVL - ZA140
C/n 815 - G-ARVM
C/n 819 - G-ASIW - 7Q-YKH
C/n 820 - G-ASIX - A4O-AB
C/n 823 - 9G-ABO
C/n 824 - 9G-ABP
C/n 825 - G-ATDJ - XX914
C/n 826 - XR806
C/n 827 - XR807
C/n 828 - XR808
C/n 829 - XR809
C/n 830 - XR810
C/n 831 - XV101
C/n 832 - XV102
C/n 833 - XV103
C/n 834 - XV104
C/n 835 - XV105
C/n 836 - XV106
C/n 837 - XV107
C/n 838 - XV108
C/n 839 - XV109
C/n 851 - G-ASGA - ZD230
C/n 852 - G-ASGB
C/n 853 - G-ASGC
C/n 854 - G-ASGD
C/n 855 - G-ASGE
C/n 856 - G-ASGF
C/n 857 - G-ASGG - ZD235
C/n 858 - G-ASGH
C/n 859 - G-ASGI
C/n 860 - G-ASGJ
C/n 861 - G-ASGK
C/n 862 - G-ASGL - ZD240
C/n 863 - G-ASGM - ZD241
C/n 864 - G-ASGN
C/n 865 - G-ASGO
C/n 866 - G-ASGP - ZD242
C/n 867 - G-ASGR
C/n 881 - 5X-UVA
C/n 882 - 5H-MMT - ZA147
C/n 883 - 5Y-ADA - ZA148
C/n 884 - 5X-UVJ - ZA149
C/n 885 - 5H-MOG - ZA150

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C/n 815 - G-ARVM

G-ARVM seen at the RAF Museum Cosford in February 2000
Photo J. Hieminga

It was through BOAC's many changes in their orders that G-ARVM became the last of the BOAC Standards. When production of the VC10 commenced the order book listed 15 Standard VC10s and 30 Super VC10s for BOAC, both numbers that had already changed many times. In December 1961 the contract was once more amended to reduce the numbers to 12 Standards and 20 Supers (treasury intervention over capital expenditure being largely responsible for the three cancelled Standards), and this meant that BOAC would never receive Super VC10s with a cargo door, 8 of which had originally been ordered. But another result of this change was that the already planned c/n's 816, 817 and 818, to be registered as -VN, -VO and -VP, would not be built which automatically made G-ARVM the last Type 1101 Standard VC10.


At London Heathrow in 1969
Photo A.J. Altevogt


Parked at the Heathrow Maintenance base in mixed BOAC/BA colours
Photo BOAC/British Airways PLC via K. Darling

On July 8, 1964 G-ARVM made its first flight from the Weybridge runway, looking smart in the 'Golden Speedbird' scheme that was then the current paint scheme for BOAC VC10s. Entering service not long after, -VM was soon earning its keep on the different routes that the VC10 serviced in those days. Pilot training on the VC10 was usually carried out in Prestwick. Up there pilots converting to the type could practice take offs, standard approaches, and especially circling approaches. On the airfields in Africa, in those days, an NDB was a luxury, and therefore many approaches could only be flown towards one end of the runway, necessitating a visual circuit below the cloud ceiling after the instrument approach if the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. At some point during its career -VM ended up as the preferred training aircraft, and could often be found at Prestwick to train the new and also the experienced pilots that came over for some practice.

North of Prestwick is the Hansel Village for Handicapped Children. To many, the VC10 is not a quiet aircraft and its crews, mindful that they were no longer flying over uninhabited land, decided to pay a courtesy visit to the children. This they did and, later that evening, they reflected on how impressed they had been by the work going on at the Village. On the bar was a collection box for the home and, there and then, one of the Captains resolved to keep all loose one penny coins for the home which amounted to about £25 each year. Further talk turned to further action and a tie club was set up. G-ARVM, Victor Mike, was the VC10 most closely associated with flight training - it consequently gave its name to the Victor Mike Tie Club. Specially designed ties were sold at £2 per tie and the proceeds went to the Hansel Village. The ties were popular not only among the flying crews, but all of the departments concerned with VC10 operations. The Hansel Village children were most grateful and expressed their thanks over the years by sending photographs to BA of the ex-BA VC10s which were stored at Prestwick prior to their sale to the RAF.

G-ARVM making an interesting air show appearance at the Silver Jubilee Air Display at White Waltham on 15 May 1977, see the links below for more about this.
Photo Paul Robinson

Click to Enlarge

An impressive sight! Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the video.
Photo: J. Clements

By 1974 BOAC had merged with BEA to become British Airways, and with the merger came several changes, one of which was the introduction of the Boeing 747. BA decided that the Standards were no longer economically viable, a situation that had its origins in the higher seat-mile costs of the Standards when compared to the Super VC10s, but which was only worsened by the 747's introduction. The result of this was that the Standards were withdrawn from service in 1974, five airframes going to the expanding operation of Gulf Air, one to Nigeria Airways and one to each of the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. This left four aircraft, and of these G-ARVM got the best treatment. During the negotiations with Boeing BOAC had offered the three remaining VC10s as part payment on the purchase of several 747s, and Boeing had accepted this clause, but unfortunately not with the purpose of selling the aircraft on to another operator. Boeing immediately sold the aircraft to a scrap dealer in 1976, who scrapped the aircraft where they stood: on the tarmac in front of BA's maintenance base on the east side of Heathrow Airport. Many an employee was heartbroken at the sight of the three proud airliners being wrecked in front of their eyes. G-ARVM was spared this fate, and actually flew on for several years as a standby aircraft for the Super VC10 fleet. In 1979 the Super VC10s were also nearing the end of their BA career, and because of this G-ARVM was now also due for retirement. In October 1979 she made her last flight to RAF Cosford, where she was preserved in the 'British Airways' collection at the RAF Museum, joining other famous airliners at the site.

G-ARVM seen at the RAF Museum Cosford in February 2000
Photo J. Hieminga

For years 'VM was parked next to the only preserved Short Belfast, which was flanked on the other side by the VC10's main rival, an ex-British Airtours Rolls-Royce Conway powered Boeing 707. Unfortunately the interior of G-ARVM was completely bare of furnishings, these will probably have been removed before its flight to Cosford. The flight deck was complete, except for one exception: the control wheel buttons with the Vickers logo on them had been removed at some point. They probably serve as a reminder of those wonderful VC10 days in someone's private collection of memorabilia.

In 2005 the development of 'Divided World:Connected World' got underway at RAF Cosford. The major change includes a new building housing an extensive Cold War exhibition, including all three V-bomber types. Because of this aircraft began to be moved about and, once the new building sported a roof, more aircraft were moved indoors. Unfortunately in 2006 news began to emerge that the aircraft at Cosford known as the 'British Airways Collection' were facing an uncertain future. After leaked press releases, cries of outrage on various forums and lots of discussions the final decision for the VC10 was that it could not remain at Cosford and the intention was to move the forward fuselage to Brooklands. During the summer work got underway on the other aircraft, with the Trident 1 and 707 being reduced to a cockpit and forward fuselage section and the 1-11 and Viscount being dismantled for their move to Edinburgh. With the future of the VC10 still officially undecided, contractor ASI started removing the outer wings and engines from 'VM in September, and shortly after that the classic VC10 tail was also taken down and scrapped. Behind the scenes all parties were still discussing various options and in October this resulted in the move of the complete fuselage to The Brooklands Museum. In the end the fuselage was parted just in front of the wing at one of the original manufacturing joints and the resulting loads were just within the limits for the trip down south!

So why did the complete aircraft not make this move I hear you ask? After many years outside with no structural corrosion prevention program in place the airframe had suffered a lot. Technically corrosion can be dealt with, but this takes a lot of effort and money, which was just not available. Also limitations on the size of the final transport meant that moving the entire airframe was just not possible. Finally the museum obviously is also the home of ex-BUA and Omani Standard VC10 G-ASIX/A4O-AB and having a complete second VC10 next to it taking up space, time and money was hard to sell.

On 29 June 2012, 50 years after the first flight of G-ARTA, a new exhibition was opened in the refurbished fuselage of G-ARVM by Sir George Edwards' daughter Mrs. Angela Newton. The exhibition shows a section of restored airliner cabin, artefacts and a timeline of the VC10's development. Along with the interior refurbishment the fuselage of G-ARVM has been repainted and the wing root and engine stub wing remains have been covered, also many cabin windows have been replaced.



More info

Memories of G-ARVM

White Waltham Silver Jubilee Airshow (various stories, photos and video)

East African Airways maintenance


Timeline

Date  
16 January 1963 Registered as G-ARVM to BOAC.
6 July 1964 First flight.
22 July 1964 CofA issued, delivery to BOAC. Last of 12 Standard VC10s for BOAC.
25 January 1968 While taxiing to the runway at Rome Fiumicino no.2 nose wheel broke away, hitting the port undercarriage leg and causing a small fire.
22 July 1971 Hijacked near Malta, forced to land at Benghazi, Libya to hand over two passengers who were on their way to Khartoum.
1974 Photographed with Gulf Air stickers (Fast and Classic Jets Vol. 1 No.1 p.17).
1 April 1974 Ownership transferred to British Airways Board.
1975 Fitted with first class seating as back up aircraft for Concorde.
1976 Used as preferred training aircraft at Prestwick.
14/15 May 1977 Carried out flypasts at White Waltham during Silver Jubilee Air Show.
1979 Used as standby aircraft for Super VC10 fleet
22 October 1979 Final flight to RAF Cosford, captained by P. Riley. Suffered an engine failure en route.
9 November 1979 Registration cancelled 'permanently withdrawn from use'.

 

More images


Photo BAE Systems/Brooklands Museum archives

Photo BAE Systems/Brooklands Museum archives

Photo BAE Systems/Brooklands Museum archives

Photo BAE Systems/Brooklands Museum archives

1. Final assembly of G-ARVM in the flight sheds at Brooklands, seen on 13 April 1964, she is in the back behind two BOAC airframes and the first BUA Standard. Of interest is the fact that she is in the first BOAC scheme here, this was obviously changed before the first flight. The other '10s are G-ASIW (with cargo door), G-ASGB (at right) and G-ARVL (most likely).
2. Taxiing onto the runway at Brooklands for her first flight.
3. First take off from Brooklands for the short flight to Wisley. This photo and the previous one were taken from a Westland S.55 helicopter by Ian Macdonald.
4. 'VM's first take off as seen from the ground with the factory in the background.


Photo P. Human

Photo P. Human

Photo collection J. Hieminga


Photo collection J. Hieminga

1. Walking up to G-ARVM parked at Nairobi in the sun.
2. From close up the quality of the gold trim in the first Golden Speedbird scheme is evident.
3. Seen here at Heathrow G-ARVM carries Nigeria Airways stickers to carry out a service for this airline.
4. The last BOAC Standard seen at Heathrow when in service, by now repainted in the second Golden Speedbird scheme.


Photo copyright Paul Davis

Photo copyright Paul Davis

Photo copyright Paul Davis

Photo copyright Paul Davis

1. By July 1974 G-ARVM is sporting British Airways titles as well as Gulf Air stickers to carry out a service for this airline.
2. A couple of months later, in December 1974, the BOAC scheme is still in place with the added BA titles.
3. Seen here in January 1976, G-ARVM has a BA tail but still sports the BOAC cheatline. It would be the only VC10 to operate in this mixed scheme.
4. By August 1976 the full BA colourscheme has finally been applied, it would be one of three Standard VC10s to carry this scheme.


Photo collection J. Hieminga

Photo J. Hieminga

Photo J. Hieminga

1. G-ARVM parked at Heathrow in its full British Airways colours. Compare this to the photo at the start of this page which was taken at this same location in the 'mixed' scheme.
2. G-ARVM landing at the RAF Museum Cosford in 1979, becoming the first preserved VC10.
3. Unfortunately the interior of G-ARVM has been removed at some point. Photo from 1999 taken looking forward.
4. The flight deck of G-ARVM. Apparently the control wheel buttons were too good a souvenir to leave on the aircraft.


Photo J. Hieminga

Photo D. Lee

Photo D. Lee

Photo Brian A. Marshall

1. Another view of G-ARVM at the RAF Museum Cosford
2-3. David Lee visited Cosford in 2003 and took these photos, very aptly he named them "The classiest piece of tail the world has ever seen". We can only agree with that of course.
4. Dark clouds are gathering over G-ARVM as her days as a complete airframe may be drawing to a close, photo taken in April 2006. By this time the future of G-ARVM was uncertain.


Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

1. The dismantling of G-ARVM started at the end of August 2006.
2. The first step after she had been moved to a different location on the museum site was the removal of the outer wing panels and engines.
3. This photo by Richard Coltman (who kindly supplied most of these photos) shows the now engine-less rear fuselage and the cut in the right wing.
4. The engines and wing sections were dumped next to the airframe.


Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

1. This view of the engine nacelles shows that these parts were not treated very gently, also the intake blanks were apparently not removed.
2. By the 1st of September the tail section had been removed and was also lying on the grass.
3. The grass area next to the airframe was beginning to fill up with aircraft parts by now.
4. With the tail removed the classic VC10 shape was now no more.


Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Richard Coltman

1. Halfway through September more metal was removed as the inner wing sections were cut off, leaving just the bare fuselage on its gear.
2. This photo taken on 17th September shows the fuselage from the other side, the cradle standing next to it will probably be used to support the fuselage at a later stage.
3. Close up of the inboard wing area, showing the jacks that were positioned to help support the weight of the fuselage.
4. By the end of September (Richard Coltman took this photo on the 30th) the main gear had also been removed, leaving the rear of the fuselage on jacks only.


Photo Richard Coltman

Photo Brooklands Museum/Julian Temple


Photo J. Downey

Photo G. Roxburgh

1. The gear itself was lying on the grass, where many other parts had by now been reduced to rubble. The item next to the skip is a small inboard wing section with the large airflow fence on it.
2. Fortunately by now negotiations had ended in the decision to move the entire fuselage to Surrey, and here the front section arrives at the Brooklands Museum on 19th October.
3. Only a few days later the rear section arrived as well and is seen here being craned off its low-loader. The VC10 nose at the right of the photo is the VC10 test specimen which is also preserved at the museum.
4. Early in January 2007 cranes were fired up again to reposition the front fuselage section.


Photo G. Roxburgh

Photo G. Roxburgh

Photo G. Critcher

Photo G. Critcher

1. This was carried out on the 4th January and signified the start of 'VM's reassembly.
2. The result: the fuselage looks complete again, but the manufacturing joint that was de-riveted to section the fuselage still needs to be joined together again.
3. This photos shows that the two fuselage halves have been riveted back together again. Also the fuselage is now supported on its own wheeled cradle, similar to one which was used to move assembled fuselages around the Weybridge site during VC10 production.
4. In 2011 the fuselage of G-ARVM was moved from its place next to the Wellington Hangar to the area behind the Stratosphere chamber where Concorde G-BBDG used to be parked.


Photo G. Critcher

Photo J. Hieminga

Photo J. Hieminga

Photo J. Hieminga

1. In this new location work was started to bring G-ARVM up to display standard so that visitors could view the interior of this airliner again.
2-3. During the 'VC10 at 50' event on 29 June 2012 a new exhibition was opened in the fuselage of G-ARVM. This was done by Sir George Edwards' daughter Mrs. Angela Newton.
4. Shown here on that same day, G-ARVM shows off her new coat of paint, compare this to the photos taken in 2011 above.


Photo J. Hieminga

Photo J. Hieminga

Photo J. Hieminga

Photo J. Hieminga

1. The front section of G-ARVM's cabin is configured as an airline cabin, but with ex-RAF seats.
2. About midway down the fuselage is an area of seats facing two screens which show footage from the Brooklands archives about the VC10. Against the sides of the cabin are various panels that chronicle the type's history.
3. Several display cases contain a large number of items linked to the VC10, the Vickers factory and the design team.
4. The flight deck of G-ARVM is largely intact and in 2013 the museum was busy restoring the seats and tidying up some details, this will most likely include control wheel buttons.

 


The Silver Jubilee pageant at White Waltham in 1977 was recorded for posterity, but it took a while before this video turned up on Youtube. G-ARVM turns up around 2:44 minutes but the rest is also well worth watching.
Video from British Movietone archive, with thanks to D. Liscoe

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.
BOAC/BA As above but with 'Negus' colours on tail.
BA First British Airways ('Negus') scheme, white over dark blue fuselage with grey wings. Top of fin and stabilizer in red with Union Jack section. British Airways titles and small Speedbird on front fuselage.

 

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