One of the best aircraft ever - always ran outside as a teenager when I heard the BOAC VC10 take off towards our place from Brisbane Airport- had a picture of one above my drawing board at work- left drafting career to become an Air Hostess with Ansett- this was one of the aircraft that contributed to redirecting my career - spent most of my working life in the Aviation Industry one way or another 😍

I flew as Cabin Crew on VC10s from 1972 to her final flight in BA colours March 1981. I was also on the JFK-PIK record breaking flight. We were caught out as the Flight Deck hadn't told us we were going for the record. Naughty boys.... It was a warp speed breakfast service! A fabulous aircraft, reliable, fast and smooth. Queen of the skies.

One of my favorite designs. Do you realize how strong that rear spar has to be to withstand four engines at full military power? It not only has to keep all four stable and together, but then transfer all that force to the airframe to push forward. Amazing engineering and thought went into the design of this bad boy. Brilliant!

Still by far the most beautiful subsonic airliner ever built.

Ahhhh the true connoisseurs remarking on the various smells of engines. I remember famously smelling an old carb dash pot and passing it to another friend who also smelt it, and we both remarked how nice the smell of duckhams Q20 was and how you don’t get oil smelling like it anymore. The third person present was a friend visiting from New York and she nearly died laughing at us! Made me chuckle when I heard the guy say, caw smell that!!! Nice one. Great video

In my RAF days I flew from Lyneham in Wiltshire to Maguire AFB in New Jersey in a VC10, very quiet with the engines at the rear. A delightfull aeroplane, made when England Knew how to build great planes.

I was an RAF Air Steward on the VC10 1984-88..Flew to many countries during that time..Those Conway 301s have some serious kick,especially on a full powered takeoff.A beautifully designed airframe,that Is sadly no longer with us 😢

Damn that is a magnificent airplane. The looks, the power, the sound are all home run's...out of the park. Awesome airplane.

Gorgeous aircraft. Love the clean wings, high T-tail, and rear engines. I spent some time in East Africa in the late 70s (my dad was with AMREF [the Flying Doctor Service]), and I remember him explaining that Kenya Airways was one of the few companies that bought VC-10s. (Super VC-10s, actually.) Although they were inefficient and expensive to run, they were perfect for operating right on the Equator in the hot, thin air of high airfields with short runways in mountainous terrain because they were so ridiculously over-powered. Thanks for the video! 🙂

One of the most beautiful subsonic jets ever made!!!!

Remember tanking with these gents and this classic aircraft during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 (I was flying EA-6B Prowlers with VAQ-130) they were the best most dependable tankers out there.

Worked at RAF Brize Norton for about three years and never minded getting stopped at the airfield traffic lights when a VC10 was going to take off or land. Flew on one from RAF Brize Norton to RAF Bruggen (Germany) in about 45 minutes. Brilliant aeroplane which gave the RAF almost 50 years service.

I am 70 years old and in 1980 I took my family to Malawi on one of the last British Airways scheduled flights in this magnification plane. Hours of luxurious, smooth travelling - the most enjoyable flight of my life.

There never has been a more beautiful aircraft! Built several airfix kits back in the 60's. Beautiful!!

My first encounter with the VC10 was in 1978 at RAF Brize Norton as a ‘Space Cadet’ ....watching the, taking off and never heard anything so loud in my life as those 4 RR Conways revved up....so loud but aged 14 it was a fabulous introductions to life In the RAF

Wow! Even on video, this is just monumentally exciting. Thanks for posting this.

I'm really chuffed so many of you appreciate this video, it was the first time I'd seen a VC10 and at my 'local' airshow at Biggin too. Sadly it was the last airshow to be held there (2010) and having this amazing aircraft display was trully an awesome swan song. Please keep enjoying the vid and sharing your VC10 memories, they are fascinating to read... Oh, and just for the record, theres no photoshop... Peace.

Many windows, many engines, many flaps. "We want this plane to be safe so we put extra everything". classic 60's - 70's commercial.

The VC-10 and the 727 were the most beautiful glamorous jet airliners ever built. Nothing else comes close

Speedbird! Flew a BOAC VC-10 in 1972. JFK to Antigua WI. Fast,quiet,unforgettable. Best commercial airliner ever!

In 1970 I flew all the way from Sydney to London via USA in a BOAC super VC10,it's the best aircraft I have ever flown in,magic.All you need is a little bit of VC10derness!!!

1970, we went to South Africa on this marvelous airplane.

I remember the RAF VC10s doing the mail runs to and from UK-Zambia in 1966. Would finish letters to my GF on Sunday afternoon in Lusaka and they'd be delivered on Monday mornings in south Wales. Impressive aircraft and a VERY impressive mail service.

"That was quite deafening, wasn't it?" my heart

Love the kid's closing comment... "that was actually quite deafening, wasn't it?" :-)

You guys across the pond sure did it right with this one. Long live the VC10!

I will never forget flying from RAF Brize Norton to Cyprus in 1978 I've never had a more pleasant flight in a fabulous VC10 and faceing backwards.

Flew on them several times as a small boy in the Middle East. A huge thrill, and all the seats in the RAF ones used to face backwards, as it's safer in the event of some crashes. Gorgeous lines too.

51 years flying for Great Britain. So beautiful- an airliner that handled like an RAF fighter jet

I remember seeing one of these flying over as a child, on the approach to Heathrow. The thing that grabbed my attention was the noise as it sounded very different to the other airliners flying at the time. That was the one and only time I saw one in the air and I regret not seeing them off, just before the RAF decommissioned them. Beautiful aircraft.

I had the pleasure of departing from Hamburg in one of these. The Captain briefed us before taxiing what to expect.........., seemingly there were noise issues around the airport and in order to comply with them we were to "expect a lot of noise and vibration before the take off roll", and a "steeper climb out than normal", to FL40. I have to say that was a ride and a half, sheer awesome, another memorable flight with the RAF. Good on you lads!

How on earth is this the first time I've ever seen this lovely airframe. Drop.Dead.Gorgeous.

Great footage of a jet that took me to, and brought me from Gulf Ops. I always liked the backward facing seats. My best memory in a 10 was arriving at Al Kharj with 43(F) Sqn and hitting the approach with a SAM threat. We approached high and dived over the airfield before pulling a high G turn to bleed speed. All I saw was sand as we turned, and I had no idea what was going on. When we got down and I was taken to my squadron, I found out what was happening. That was some good flying.

That is indeed a thing of beauty - and I love that sound. Brilliant.

Flew one of these summer 1970, Montreal to London, BOAC then. The cabin seemed much quieter than the 707 cabin. I specifically booked the flight because of the VC10. Loved it. The service was still with silver and light china. I couldn't drink in Canada because I was underage but in flight I could, so I had wine with my meal. I was 20 and it was a great experience, never to be repeated.

Nov 1965 at age 9 months , went to Singapore on one of these...Dad being posted from Middle Wallop to the far East. 3 years there then VC10 to next posting in Germany...Manser Barracks near Gütersloh. Boiled sweets handed out on takeoff to help stop ears popping. Great plane, impressive from outside or inside...

A extremely elegant design and one that will always be one of my favorites. Beautiful aircraft. :)

one of the most beautiful planes! Look at the swept tail plabe! Its a graceful bird! Good old days

love to see no-engine wings...it mades the airplane line quite more beautifull

The VC-10 was like something out of Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds. I strongly suspect The Air Terranean Fireflash was both based on, and really a nod to the sheer beauty of the VC-10.

To me, the VC10 is one of the best passenger jets that ever flew in terms of looks and sound.

Having flown out to Bermuda in a Comet in September 1973, I flew back from there in a VC10 in October. Beautiful aeroplane.

I think the little kid at the end really had the last word on this amazing aircraft!

I remember my father telling me to watch out for a big plane flying over Blantyre Malawi, we certainly heard it coming, children were running for cover. She flew right over head and headed out to Chilaka airport , it had come to take our president Dr Banda to meet the Queen. During the afternoon before taking off, our father took us to see her on the handstand. A few years later I was fortunate to travel many times on the VC10 , going backwards and forwards to boarding school in England, terrific thrill on take off, superb aircraft.

2:57 Even the VC10 dislikes the history channel

That sound! Rolls Royce must employ musicians because every one of their turbine engines from the Derwent and Dart, through the Avon, Conway, and Spey, right to the RB211 and Trent have that characteristic Rolls Royce whistle/whine that no other engine manufacturer has.

When i was a lad in the 60's...was in the Junior RAF (ATC)...We visited RAF Brize Norton and as a group we managed to scrounge an afternoons flight on a VC-10... We did about a dozen 'touch&goes' and then had a quick flight over to Cardigan Bay. all of us being invited to the flight deck...I managed to be on the flight deck on one of the 'touch&go' landings......memory still with me to this day......

My God...those flaps....that airplane in general!!

I flew on these a few times when I first joined up , Hannover to Calgary in 9 hours if I remember correctly, it felt safer seating backwards, I do believe it was one of the last flights before they started putting us on the Tristar which took 11 1/2 hours. Great aircraft both of them.

Great video! Love the shape of the tail wings!!

Flew on one of the VC10's in BA's fleet from Heathrow to Dar-es-Salaam. BA Pilots and Crew were the best! Comfy.

I am a poor flyer, but flew from London to Cairo in 1981 on a BA VC10. It was so smooth that when I was wondering when we would take off, we were already airborne. A friend, a pilot in the US, for United, tried out the plane, but complained that the aircraft was just too powerful. They didn't buy it.

Cool plane. Engines sound / smoke remind me of the old 707's. Yeah, I know that the new engines are quiet and have very little smoke, but there's something about THUNDER and SMOKE that makes the heart beat a little faster.

I used to call the BOAC VC10s the 'shark plane' cos of that tail. Those engines, on take off, were the second loudest after Concorde's.

What a beautiful and elegant aircraft..my uncle worked in BOAC years ago..and after a company visit to London once..he brought back a scale model of the VC 10 (in their company colours..) accurate down to the last detail..my pride and joy for years.. thanks for sharing..!!!!

Still one of the most stunningly beautiful aircraft to grace the skies ❤️

I had the privilege of flying in this aircraft many times in the 60’s and 70’s to the Middle East to the USA and all over Europe! It was a privilege. I remember one flight from Sharjah the plane could only take off with a full payload of personnel but only enough fuel to fly to Malta for a refuel, the air temperatures and humidity was so high at Sharjah it wouldn’t have been able to take off. Good memories.🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👍

I have actually had the pleasure of flying on one of these aircrafts, back in 1969 with BOAC

I was at at that airshow,the VC10 was absolutely awesome,a n absolutely beautiful aircraft.

In my view, still the most beautiful aircraft ever made.

Looks like the advertising banner on the fence is History.......

i miss the noise and the smell of this wonderful aircraft. have lived around RAF Brize Norton all my life where these were based. have been lucky to have flown in them too as an air cadet passenger long before they were replacd with the tanker version as in video. now they have the C-17 Globemaster, A400m Atlas, A330 Voyager K2/K3 and of course the C-130 Hercules. all great aircraft too that sometimes keep me awake at night as i now live next to the base but i don,t care.

we emigrated from liverpool uk to brisbane austrailia in a vc10 in 1974 , took 3 days , i was 6 at the time , the pilot let me sit in the cockpit from damascus to singapore , how times have changed , needless to say but after that experience i wanted to fly , at 45 i can say i do , vc10 big noisy thing of beauty , made a little lad dream .

Damn that's a pretty airplane. Those 4 Conway's sound superb. I'd love to have a window seat right beside those beasts during a takeoff.

Name the top 5 best-looking aircraft ever, and the VC10 will be there.

Well this sudger had many flights on VC10s in the 1970s courtsey of the ladies of the RAF. Luved this plane & much later found that this was the fastest airliner after Concorde. It is the best looking airliner ever & Concorde takes second place this time. In fact its a bloody big fighter really if they'd stuck some canons on it. Maybe it started out as a fighter & someone enlarged the plans on a photocopier by mistake! It is just such a looker with those swept back wings & the stunning tail & attached jet engines. What were they thinking when the designer thought "we'll have the wings well back, stick this crazy tail & attach the engines to it!". But it never dates, its the bees knees. I LUV YOU VICKY!! I WANNA RIDE YOU AGAIN & AGAIN. SHAKE THAT TAIL BABY!!

I was there that day, loved it, but this? I almost shat my pants from the racket. I just wasn't expecting it!

I flew to and from Aden and Sharjah with the R.A.F. It was a really quite and smooth ride. The last time I saw one was, surprisingly, at McLennan A.F.B., CA, in the early '90s. I was eating lunch outside a cafe just south of the Base when it took off right over me. When my regiment was in Aden in 1966 and 1967 and an R.A.F. VC-10 would leave R.A.F. Khormaksor, which was very close to our camp, every night around midnight taking troops, civil servants and families home. The closer we got to our departure date we always wondered if we'd make the flight home. Fortune smiled upon us and all but one got home safely.

I first saw the VC10 from the Queens Building at Heathrow in 1964, 6 years later I flew on the RAF version to the Far East.

Aaah, the sound of lying in bed in RAF Akrotiri, Sout West Cyprus 2007 - 2010. Listening to that ghostly howl and powering up whilst going round a bend before shut down for the night. That was the ONLY military way to get to Britain from Aki. Flew on them 5 times in my life, and she is one of them!

I flew back from Belgium to Belfast in 1984 in an RAF VC10, tremendous experience especially when you sit facing backwards watching the ground disappear below. That thing had some poke !

Thanks for bringing back some good old memories. One, Vc10, I flew in one once to Texas and back again as part of a trip to Columbia. It was a great aircraft. Two, memories of Biggin Hill where I learned to fly and used to instruct part time. Sadly Biggin has changed a lot, most of the old flying schools and clubs have gone and so has runway 11/29 and the grass runways, which all added character to the place. And, of course some of the great characters that used to hang out there.

Thank-you so much for this great video, Viddy. To me, this aircraft was such a graceful and wonderful piece of art. I am so sorry that it did not have the market to keep it in production. I would have loved to have flown it. Similar to Mr. Cummins below, I lived very near the flight path of US Air Force aircraft taking off and landing. It was many years ago, and the aircraft were C-7’s, C-123’s , C-130’s, C-141’s, and C-5’s. I did not mind the noise at all, since I grew up with a love for airplanes. As for airliners, I am very nostalgic. I really miss the B-707’s, DC-8’s and 9’s, and I even flew on the Convair 880’s and 990’s. I guess I am showing my age now and will not say anything about my DC-3 flight. Anyway, again, thank-you for the great video and keep them coming!

Flew on one back into theatre in 95. Never thought I'd see one, let alone be a passenger in one. Kiwi contingent UNPROFOR

How could anybody not love this beauty?? I use to fly from Montreal to London via BOAC on these when I was a school boy. Wish I still could...

What a beautiful aircraft. Thanks for sharing.

I have bitter-sweet memories of the VC10. In 1964 I was on the first commercial flight of the VC10 out of Nairobi - a flight that was to take me from the city of my birth never to return.

I love this plane. I think the idea of four engines mounted on the rear and having a clean wing is just a brilliant idea. The thrust is so concentrated that if you lost one or two engines that it would not affect the yaw at all. Normally if you lose an engine, the plane wants to yaw towards the dead power plant. Like a 727 but only better. I wonder why this idea never really took off? (no pun intended).

Great video of the VC-10 and amazing sound!

Wonderful video! Thanks for sharing! :-)

Vickers built two versions of the VC 10, the short version and the stretch version that had uprated engines. The RAF used the short version but equipped with the uprated engines. First time I flew on one was in 1965, owned by BOAC as it was called at the time. Flew from Heathrow to Singapore. Next time was in an RAF one from Brize Norton to Hong Kong great aircraft, was so good Tupolev made a copy.

Great video, always been my favourite plane since it come out in the 60's. Still a beautiful looking plane. I'd rather fly in a VC10 than these modern planes. Today's planes have to much electronics in them. I have no faith in electronics today. . There is always something going wrong in cars.

Nice video! I rode in one of these from Guangzhou, China to Beijing way back in 1978--a few days after riding in a Boeing 747SP from San Francisco to Hong Kong. Both were extremely interesting flights for an aviation buff.

Never flew in one, but a friend of ours was a pilot in 101 sqn RAF Brize Norton. He gave me and my youngest son a tour of the VC10 he flies. Incredible.

I spent 4000 aircrew flying hours on the RAF VC10 including this one (XV106). My first flight on them was in 1964 ... the RAF scrapped them in 2013. Value for money. I also got 3500 hours on the DH Comet 4C and Comet C2 (which Paulmentions below) . Guess I was just very lucky

flew on them to Cyprus, Singapore and Canada lovely aircraft..from RAF lyneham

I saw the one at Duxford and thought how beautiful it looked. Nice to see one actually flying.

i went in this classic aircraft to canada in 1994and sat in the cochpit with the pilot for about 2 hours it was one of the things that stay with you for life. thanks to the RAF people that made that a once in 10 lifetimes happen...thanks

Ah man I'd love to be there and smell that sweet warm exhaust.

"That was actually quite deafening, wasn't it?" lol

Very very beautiful plane. I had completely forgotten about it.

I'm 73; flew on BA VC-10 from England to Canada in 1976. Great flight, comfortable plane, faster than most at the time.

Beautiful thing. I flew in a few of these in the 70s before they were converted to tankers.

The best looking/sounding airliner ever

I've not seen a vc-10 before watching this video. What a pretty plane! Absolutely beautiful lines. Thanks for the upload

Flew in VC10 often while working in Qatar in 70s and 80s and our company had a club and used to look after the crews and used to take them out to an island about 3 miles offshore.Whilst on the island a departing VC10 came low over the island no more than 100 feet up and actually did a wings waggle as if to say thanks for looking after us whilst in Doha.

Most beautiful airliner ever?

This is one of the best aircraft of the 60s and 70s fantastic plane!!!!!!!! I just wish this would come back to service as a passenger plane

Fantastic video!!! What a beautiful, classic piece of engineering.

Flew a BOAC VC10 into Entebbe in 1964. One of the nicest planes of the period (and it's one of the best periods for comfort on planes).