More Delays To FSTA, Effect On VC10 — Military Forum

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More Delays To FSTA, Effect On VC10

Bennett123 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 6005 posts, RR: 2
Posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1396 times:

There is a report in www.vc10.net that EIS for the FSTA is now 2015.

Surely there must be limits to the life of the VC10.

The Tristar is no youngster either.

4 replies: All unread, jump to last

Saintsman From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 2065 posts, RR: 2
Reply 1, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1354 times:

One of the problems with the VC10 when it came into service was that it was too well built and therefore not as competative (price wise) as the competition.

The fact that they were so well built (like a brick s/house) means that they are confident that it will last 50 years in service.

Mind you, they won't be cheap to maintain though.

KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11025 posts, RR: 53
Reply 2, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1335 times:

The VC-10s are very well built airplanes. The RAF should look at keeping them as long as possible. But, if that is not an option, perhaps they can look at leasing some of the KC-135s stored at DM as an interium aircraft?

Bennett123 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 6005 posts, RR: 2
Reply 3, posted (5 years 3 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1235 times:

Given that the VC10's are getting very long in the tooth, I think the RAF needs to think about availability issues.

The last VC10 was built in 1970, and the last Non RAF VC10 retired in 1987. This means that the availability of Non RAF VC10 engineers and spares worldwide is zero.

However, there are Tristar's out there, ATA and the retired Saudi fleets spring to mind.

It might be worth acquiring them, for parts if nothing else.

Connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3140 posts, RR: 12
Reply 4, posted (5 years 3 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1220 times:

Quoting Bennett123 (Reply 3):
Given that the VC10's are getting very long in the tooth, I think the RAF needs to think about availability issues.

I agree. How big a spares inventory is there for Conways, for example ? It wasn't exactly produced in huge numbers and IIRC the VC10 uses the highest-power version (RCo. 23???). And there aren't a lot of airframes they can cannibalize, unless they want to part out one of the existing fleet.

Is the delay in EIS for FSTA in any way related to the mooted big defense draw-down ?
(see UK To Cancel New Carriers For The Royal Navy? (by Lumberton Jan 23 2007 in Military Aviation & Space Flight) )

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.