The VC-10 at Liverpool Airport

[Deleted]

With thanks to Viscount for compiling this data, which originally appeared on the old Forum....

VISITS BY VC-10s TO LIVERPOOL AIRPORT

1967

The first Vickers VC-10 to land at Liverpool was just 8 months after the 'new' runway was opened, before then the runway was considered too short. On 10th January 1967 BOAC Super VC-10 G-ASGA arrived from New York via Prestwick, having diverted due to weather at Manchester. Two hours later the aircraft departed for Prestwick and New York. The handling of this BOAC flagship type went smoothly, the airport showing it could handle the latest large jets. By sheer co-incidence, G-ASGA was at Liverpool again on 19th March routing Prestwick-Heathrow on diversion from Manchester.

1968

It was only just short of two years before the VC-10 again used Liverpool. On 9th November 1968 a BOAC Standard VC-10 G-ARVB diverted in, away from weather at Manchester. It routed Prestwick to Heathrow. Just one month later another BOAC Standard VC-10, G-ARVJ routed to and from Prestwick on 14th December on weather divert from Manchester,

1969

On 25th January 1969 Autoland development Super VC-10 G-ASGG crew trained with BOAC at Liverpool, from & to Shannon. Later in year further autoland training was conducted in G-ASGR on 21st May f&t Wisley and G-ASGF on 24th November routing Wisley to Warton.

Diversions in 1969 involved two on the same day on 4th February when Manchester was closed by the weather, G-ARVB routed Prestwick to Heathrow and G-ARVE in the opposite direction Heathrow to Prestwick. The following day, continued poor weather brought in G-ARVG this time f&t Prestwick. At the end of the year on 8th December G-ARVH diverted in due weather at Manchester, routing f&t Prestwick.

1970

In 1970 it was weather down at Heathrow that caused Super VC-10s to divert to Liverpool. Both were East African Airways examples, with 5H-MOG on 8th October routing Athens to Heathrow and 5X-UVJ on 13th December, this time from Rome to Heathrow.

1971

British Caledonian brought in their G-ASIX on 7th December 1971 which arrived from Tripoli, diverting from Gatwick due to weather. It positioned down to Gatwick the following day.

1972

No civilian aircraft called during 1972, but the RAF operated a number of trooping flights which involved 9 different aircraft from No.10 Squadron. The first would appear to have been XR808 on 30th June, f&t Brussels twice.

1973

On the 1st January 1973 G-ASGB diverted upto Liverpool due to weather at Heathrow, the aircraft arriving from Frankfurt. Not long after on 3rd January G-ASGM operated f&t Prestwick due to weather at Manchester.

During the summer further RAF trooping flights brought 8 movements utilising 5 different aircraft.

On 30th October 1973 poor weather at Manchester saw G-ARVF divert in and operate f&t Prestwick. This was the last visit by a BOAC VC-10 as on 1st April 1974 BEA and BOAC amalgamated to become BA.

1974

A further 5 RAF movements used 4 different aircraft, with flights in May, June and December.

1975

A total of 12 RAF movements spread throughout the year utilised 6 different aircraft.

Just the one British Airways Standard VC-10, G-ARVM which on 24th July operated from & to Prestwick for training at Liverpool.

1976

Super VC-10 G-ASGG on 28th January called for crew training, routing from Prestwick to Manchester. On 30th June 1976 it was the turn of G-ARVM for training at Speke, routing f&t Prestwick. Finally shortly before Christmas, on 21st December G-ASGL diverted from Manchester due to weather while on BA648/649 and routed f&t Prestwick.

Although only aircraft that land count as a 'movement', G-ARVM appeared ILS training at Liverpool again 27.5.76, 21.9.76, 22.1.77, 27.8.78 and 8.9.78 at least - however on each occasion performed go-arounds, rather than landings.

1977

Sole VC-10 visitor of the year was G-ARVM which called on 10th May for training, f&t Prestwick. We were not to know it at the time, but this was the last appearance on the ground by a civilian Standard VC-10 at Liverpool.

1978

An interesting start to the year,with two Super VC-10s, G-ASGL and G-ASGR diverting into Liverpool due to weather at Heathrow on the same day, 18th January. Later in the year, after no flights for several years, No.10 Squadron R.A.F. reappeared with XR806 on 15th November, trooping to and from Belfast.

1979

Although the Super VC-10 was soon for retirement from the BA fleet, 1979 proved to be the busiest year for the type at Liverpool due to a five day strike in April and the two week strike closing Manchester in September.

The year started though with diversions from Heathrow on 15th January of G-ASGK arriving from Rome/Fiumicino and G-ASGI direct from Beruit. Both aircraft later departed to Heathrow.

Five days of industrial action at Manchester in April brought some Super VC-10 movements to Liverpool.
On Tuesday 3rd G-ASGC from Heathrow to Prestwick BA9439/185 and G-ASGB f&t Prestwick as BA184/081.
On Wednesday 4th G-ASGH f&t Prestwick as BA184/185 and G-ASGB BA080/081 f&t Prestwick.
On Thursday 5th G-ASGH on BA184/5 again, f&t Prestwick.
On Friday 6th G-ASGH once again on BA184/5 f&t Prestwick plus G-ASGI from Prestwick to Toronto direct as BA080/083

On Sat 8th September G-ASGF operated BA184/5, while G-ASGR operated BA84/5, both f&t Preswick.
On Sunday 9th, G-ASGF from Prestwick on BA184, to Heathrow as BA9434, G-ASGE from Toronto direct as BA82, to Prestwick BA185, while G-ASGR f&t Prestwick as BA9444/BA85.
On Monday 10th, G-ASGA arrived direct from New York JFK on BA184, departing on BA185 to Prestwick.
On Tuesday 11th, G-ASGA on BA184/185 f&t Prestwick.
On Wednesday 12th, G-ASGA on BA184/185 f&t Prestwick
On Thursday 13th, G-ASGA on BA184/185 f&t Prestwick
On Friday 14th, G-ASGA on BA184/185 f&t Prestwick
On Saturday 15th, G-ASGA on BA184/185 f&t Prestwick, plus G-ASGF Heathrow-Prestwick as BA9725P/83.
On Sunday 16th, G-ASGA from Prestwick to Heathrow BA184/9434. G-ASGF returned from Toronto direct on BA82 and departed for Prestwick as BA185, with G-ASGP f&t Prestwick as BA9444P/085.
On Monday 17th, G-ASGF f&t Prestwick as BA184/5 and G-ASGP also f&t Prestwick as BA084/081, departing after a night-stop.
On Tuesday 18th, G-ASGF f&t Prestwick on BA184/185
On Wednesday 19th, G-ASGF f&t Prestwick on BA184/5 and G-ASGP from Prestwick as BA80, to Heathrow BA9440.
On Thursday 20th, G-ASGF f&t Prestwick on BA184/5 and G-ASGH from Heathrow as BA9439 and to Prestwick as BA81.
On Friday 21st, G-ASGF on BA184/5 f&t Prestwick and G-ASGH f&t Prestwick BA80/85.
On Saturday 22nd, G-ASGF arrived direct from New York JFK on BA184, to Prestwick BA185 and G-ASGH f&t Prestwick as BA84/81. Then the Manchester strike was declared over and normality returned to Liverpool.

To complete the year I should mention XR807 Wildenrath to Gutersloh on 27th October.

1980

Final BA Super VC-10 movement through Liverpool involved G-ASGP which diverted in from Manchester on 3rd January 1980 operating BA184/185 f&t Prestwick.

Although the VC-10 continued to use Liverpool Airport for many years to come, they were R.A.F. military flights.

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There was never a series of Liverpool originating charter or scheduled flights by VC-10/Super VC-10s from Liverpool Airport. Most civilian aircraft calling on diversion, either due to weather or strike action closing Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester. There were also visits by for crew training/Autoland use.

The reign of the civilian VC-10 at Liverpool was fairly brief, just 1967 to 1980. The number of different aircraft that have appeared at Liverpool for each year is given (NB this list is NOT the number of visits by type) along with the registrations of aircraft appearing in each calendar year.

1967 1 G-ASGA First visit of Super VC-10 type 10.1.67
1968 2 G-ARVB, G-ARVJ. First visit of a Standard VC-10 9.11.68
1969 7 G-ARVB, G-ARVE, G-ARVG, G-ARVH, G-ASGF, G-ASGG, G-ASGR
1970 2 5H-MOG, 5X-UVJ
1971 1 G-ASIX
1972 9 XR806, XR807, XR808, XR810, XV102, XV103, XV104, XV105, XV106.
1973 8 G-ARVF, G-ASGB, G-ASGM, XR807, XV102, XV103, XV106, XV108.
1974 4 XR806, XR807, XV101 & XV106
1975 7 G-ARVM, XR806, XR807, XR808, XV103, XV105, XV109
1976 3 G-ARVM, G-ASGG, G-ASGL
1977 1 G-ARVM last visit by a civilian Standard VC-10 10.5.77
1978 3 G-ASGL, G-ASGR, XR806
1979 11 G-ASGA, G-ASGB, G-ASGC, G-ASGE, G-ASGF, G-ASGH, G-ASGI, G-ASGK, G-ASGP, G-ASGR & XR807
1980 1 G-ASGP last visit by a civilian Super VC-10 3.1.80
1981 0
1982 4 XR810, XV104, XV108, XV101
1983 3 XV102, XV106, XV108
1984 1 XV109
1985 2 XV104, XV109
1986 7 XR806, XR808, XR810, XV102, XV103, XV108, XV109
1987 2 XR807, XV108
1988 3 XR808, XR810, XV105
1989 4 XR807, XV102, XV103, XV104
1990 5 XR806, XV101, XV102, XV103, XV104
1991 3 XV104, XV105, XV106
1992 2 XV102, XV104
1993 3 XR807, XV106, XV108
1994 1 XV105
1995 2 XR808, XV109
1996 0
1997 0
1998 1 XV108
2000 1 XV103
2001 2 XR807, XR810
2002 4 XR807, XV105, XV106, ZA150/J
2003 4 XR807, XV101, XV104, XV107
2004 2 XV102, XV104
2005 2 XR808, XV106
2006 0
2007 0
2008 0
2009 0 XV101/S

This is now a complete list of the VC-10s to have visited Liverpool. Phil Butler has provided me with the dates and routing of the civilian and early military visits.

Current final visits of the VC-10 took place in 2005 with VC10 C1K XV106 on Tuesday afternoon 15th March, Atrokiri to Brize Norton and XR808 on the evening of 1st December 2005 Atrokiri to Fairford, on the ground 2052 to 2306 hours. See a later post, very final RAF VC-10 visit 20th August 2009 XV101/S.

No.10 Squadron which had operated the VC-10 C1 aircraft from new in 1966 disbanded during 2005, the aircraft becoming part of the VC-10 tanker unit No.101 Squadron. The RAF VC-10 C.1 aircraft were all modified to C-10 C1K standard in the early 80s with provision of drogues for air-to-air refuelling.

The shrill of the RR Conways will be remembered by all those around at the time.

A five minute question has led to hours of research. To all BB members, I hope that you find these detailed accounts of aircraft types once seen at Liverpool of interest. I've enjoyed collecting and sharing the information - I'm sure Phil Butler has too.

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If my count is correct there were 54 VC-10 and Super VC-10s built, including the prototype. Of these no less than 36 have been seen at Liverpool.

Logged at Liverpool:

BOAC/BA G-ARVB, G-ARVE, G-ARVF, G-ARVG, G-ARVH, G-ARVJ & G-ARVM (7/12)
BOAC/BA G-ASGA, G-ASGB, G-ASGC, G-ASGE, G-ASGF, G-ASGG, G-ASGH, G-ASGI, G-ASGK, G-ASGL, G-ASGM, G-ASGP & G-ASGR (13/17)
BUA/BCAL G-ASIX (1/4)
E.A.A. 5H-MOG & 5X-UVJ (2/5)
R.A.F. XR806, XR807, XR808, XR810, XV101, XV102, XV103, XV104, XV105, XV106, XV107, XV108 & XV109 (13/14)

Airframes that have not visited Liverpool are:
G-ARVA (to 5N-ABD 9.69 and crashed 14km short of Lagos 20.11.69), G-ARVC, G-ARVI, G-ARVK & G-ARVL (all 4 to Gulf Air 10/75).
G-ASGD, G-ASGJ, G-ASGN (destroyed by terrorists in Jordan 12.9.70) & G-ASGO (destroyed by fire at Schiphol 3.3.74).
VC-10 C.1 XR809 was fitted with an RB.211 engine 1969 and eventually scrapped once flight testing was completed.
To complete the list 3 BUA/BCAL aircraft G-ARTA, G-ASIW, G-ATDJ, 2 del new to Ghana and 3 others del new to EAA.

If the count doesn't seem right, then I need to mention that ZA150/J a VC-10 K.3 is the same airframe as visited 32 years earlier as 5H-MOG!

[viscount]

So the final visit to Liverpool by a VC-10 did not happen in December 2005. The new contender for the honour is XV101/S on 20th August 2009 ..... there are a few years before retirement yet though.

[khardwk]

Looks from Brian's postings, that the first visit to Liverpool by today's aircraft (XV101) was 35 years ago in 1974!

As Tony said it still looked superb, but how slow it was climbing out compared with our usual modern 737s and A319/320s!

Hoping someone got some nice pictures today.

K












PS. In August 2009 we clearly hadn't got the habit of sharing images - there were no photos submitted that day at all. So plenty of illustrations of the first aircraft to visit to Liverpool, but none of the last! (Admin 2023)

[andyh]

The VC-10 can climb Keith...I recall some years ago an RAF machine departing 09 on a positoning flight back to Brize Norton. It's take off roll was increadibly short - it was airborne before the intersection with the 27 fast turn off (so less than about 2,500 ft) and just seemed to go almost vertically up and into a sharp right turn to head off south. Fantastic sight.

Seeing yesterday's visitor coming over the garden amost brought a tear to the eye...and almost scared the sh*t out of the cat!!!!

[crumb]

When I was in the ATC at school in the 70s we stayed at Abingdon for a week. Some of the cadets got a flight in a HERC, some in a Britannia and I was fortunate to get a flight in a VC10 from Brize Norton. Plane was stripped out half a dozen rows of seats at the front and the same at the back. We did circle and bumps out of Brize Norton and I could not believe the incredible power from this aircraft. Empty the performance was incredible. HAPPY DAYS. Something I'll never forget.

[viscount]

THE VICKERS VC-10 AT LIVERPOOL AIRPORT

Somewhat to my amazement it appears as though the 'VC-10 at Liverpool' thread has never been illustrated, unless in frustration I deleted the post a few years back after Photobucket obscured all the images? Certainly I can now double the number of images available to me to post - although some on the occasion of the first visit by the type are already on a nostalgia thread elsewhere on NWAN.













These 6 black & whites all taken on the occasion of the first visit by type, a Super VC-10 G-ASGA on diversion 10th January 1967 away from Manchester. The aircraft was on a flight from New York via Prestwick, later leaving with passengers for New York via Prestwick. The BEA Viscounts were also Manchester diversions. Someone has clearly used apron access to get some good angles on arrival, with other aircraft and with the terminal building.



Clearly this is also G-ASGA, and from the tip of a British Eagle Viscount tail beyond and the same miserable wet conditions, is almost certainly shot on 10th January 1967, however this aircraft was diverted into Liverpool again on 19th March 1967.



This shot, although the registration is not quite clear, could well be of G-ASGL (or it could just be G-ASGB, G-ASGD or G-ASGE?). G-ASGL called in 1976 and 1978, G-ASGB called in 1973 and 1979, while neither G-ASGD or G-ASGE ever visited.





Standard VC-10 G-ARVB, the colour transparency labeled 9th November 1968. This aircraft had diverted in due to weather conditions at Manchester, arriving from New York via Prestwick. The b&w has no notes on the rear of the print, but from the position of the apron equipment is the same occasion, using two cameras!



Although this image is clearly intended to depict the passengers loading on to a diverted BA BAC-111, in the right background, outside the International Terminal is Super VC-10 G-ASGM.



Nothing on the back of this print to indicate when this VC-10 was caught on finals for 27. Very likely G-ARVM on one of a number of occasions it used Liverpool for crew training during the period 1975 to 1977.





Due to disputes closing Manchester Airport, 1979 had more visits by VC-10 aircraft than any year previously. By now BOAC had long become part of British Airways, the blue and gold replaced by red, white and blue. Upper of this pair is G-ASGE, the lower G-ASGF. The Ontario Worldair Boeing 707 places the photo of G-ASGF as Saturday 8th September 1979, while the visits record earlier shows that G-ASGE would be on Sunday 9th September.





Digitised from transparancies this visit by XV104 was on 25th September 1982, bringing in troops from Dusseldorf. Clearly the lower image was intended to capture the Genair Bandeirante with the VC-10 just providing a background.

THE VICKERS VC-10 AT LIVERPOOL AIRPORT

This thread is number 150, posted in March 2009 only days after the forum had disappeared with the shutdown of xsorbit as host. Fortunately Dave Graham had the information provided by me still saved on word to transfer onto the new proboards hosted forum. Since that time the forum has grown by 40,400 more threads, and during that period this particular one has been visited just over 4,000 times.

In May 2023 images added and the text tided up a little. Enjoy.

If anyone has further images of the VC-10 at Liverpool to share, I'd be delighted to see them shared here.

[ronturner]

I remember seeing the first VC-10 to arrive. I was probably standing next to Bob O'Brien by the looks of it. I received a phone call from Phil Butler giving me the news and hi tailing it down to Speke from Huyton.

I can add a couple of photos here, which according to my notes were taken on 19th March 1967, G-ASGA :-



G-ASGA Speke 1967 by Ron Turner, on Flickr

Save0013G-ASGA Super VC-10 by Ron Turner, on Flickr

[Samba]

Glorious shot Ron, two EAGLES and a Cambrian wagon, very nostalgic, I had the chance to work on VC 10s later but stayed on 747s instead.

[ronturner]

I aim to please.

With regard to the shot of G-ARVB, (Don Stevens collection photo) I see a Colt in the background cam anybody detect what reg. it might be, or even what colour. According my logbook I was flying RKR that day. Would that it could be me taxying past a VC-10.

[viscount]

Zooming in on the original image, the Colt fuselage flash is certainly brown/tan. Ron, look in your e-mails. Brian.

[andyh]

One to add to this thread of XR808 in (I think) 1988…

[robaero]

XR808(BOB) as some referre to her, is now preserved at Cosford.

[John Jones]

Just one classic taken by me,1995?. XV109 Royal Air Force BAC Vickers VC-10 C1K (1180). Delivery to RAF 10 Squadron as XV109, last of the original fourteen RAF VC10s to be delivered. Named 'Arthur Scarf VC'. 23 December 1979:
vc10f by john jones, on Flickr

John J