10 FLYPAST August 2018
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
Passengers enjoy
high-speed VC10 run at
Bruntingthorpe
The VC10 Preservation Group,
which maintains Vickers VC10 K.
ZD241 in ground running condition
at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire,
was able to take 36 passengers for
a high-speed taxi run on May 27,
during the venue’s Cold War Jets
Open Day.
Formed in 2017, the group has
recently obtained the necessary
cover from Lorica Insurance
Brokers to run up to 40 people
aboard the four-engined jet.
Passengers are asked to make a
donation towards running costs.
“The reaction of passengers to
the sights, sounds and smells, not
to mention the mighty acceleration
of the jet, was extremely positive,”
reports trustee Keith Wilson. “All
left with big smiles on their faces,
with many promising to return
to repeat the experience in the
future, particularly when the full
length of Bruntingthorpe’s 06/
runway is once again available.”
The VC10 fi rst fl ew as G-ASGM
in February 1968 before joining
British airline BOAC. After being
retired from civilian service in theearly 1980s, it was stored at Abingdon
in Oxfordshire. It then went to
Filton, Gloucestershire where it was
converted into a K.4 tanker for the
RAF’s 101 Squadron in 1995.
The jet was retired to Bruntingthorpe
in 2013, but was made ‘live’ again the
following year by a team of volunteers
and with the support of Gary Spoors’
GJD Services. The subsequently
formed VC10 Preservation Group aims
to ensure the long-term future of the
airframe as a live exhibit and for STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering
& Mathematics) engagement and
activities. In addition to passengers,
the ZD241 team welcomed a party
of STEM staff and students from
Leicester College on May 27. It hopes
to host other school and college
groups in future.
The next opportunity to ride aboard
ZD241 will be on Sunday, August 26.
Those interested in securing tickets,
or wishing to seek information about
the group and its activities, should
go to: http://www.vc10preservationgroup.
org or Facebook page ‘ZD241 – VC
Preservation Group’.
WITH THANKS TO KEITH WILSONA head-on view of VC10 K.4 ZD241 as
it accelerated down the runway at
Bruntingthorpe recently. GERRY WEATHERHEADChris Haywood (right) and Pete Ruffl e at the controls as ZD241 makes a high-speed run on
May 27. KEITH WILSONPassengers and crew after the VC10 run on May 27. KEITH WILSON