British flag carrier BOAC, later BA, effectively and deliberately sabotaged the commercial success of the VC10 because it wanted to buy Boeing airliners. The author has provided an excellent account of the political battles and the commercial skulduggery, the impressive service of the VC10s with those airlines that had the wisdom to buy it, and its outstanding service as a transport and tanker with the RAF. Much Recommended.
NAME: VC10 Icon of the Skies, BOAC, Boeing and a Jet Age Battle FILE: R2479 AUTHOR: Lance Cole PUBLISHER: Pen & Sword BINDING: hard back PAGES: 224 PRICE: £25.00 GENRE: Non Fiction SUBJECT: Jet liners, commercial aircraft, commercial competition, air lines, Boeing, BOAC, RAF, military transport, aerial tanker
ISBN: 1-47387-532-3
IMAGE: B2479.jpg BUYNOW: http://tinyurl.com/mnjybgt LINKS: DESCRIPTION: British flag carrier BOAC, later BA, effectively and deliberately sabotaged the commercial success of the VC10 because it wanted to buy Boeing airliners. The author has provided an excellent account of the political battles and the commercial skulduggery, the impressive service of the VC10s with those airlines that had the wisdom to buy it, and its outstanding service as a transport and tanker with the RAF. Much Recommended. The VC10 had the misfortune to see life during a period when British politicians saw their task of managing a rapid decline of Great Britain and a hope of giving it away to any other country that might want to acquire it in a fire sale. British flag carrier BOAC was fully signed up to the concept of doing Britain down and actively conspired to add requirements to the specification, under the deceit that this would allow them to place large and early orders for the VC10, with the intention of making the aircraft look uncompetitive with the Boeing alternative. In spite of all the political machinations, the VC10 was built, served with distinction in civil and military roles, and was much loved by its air crew. It was also widely regarded as the most beautiful airliner of its time, out shone only by the superlative Concorde that was later designed and built by the team that was responsible for the VC10. BOAC had added in requirements to operate from high and hot airstrips of limited length. A requirement the Boeing alternative was never designed for and required later modification to operate from those runways that had been enhanced to reduce the full need demanded of airliners. However, this was to make the VC10 and the Super VC10 ideal for operation in Africa and ideal for military use. As a result, the VC10 became a very successful aircraft for the growing African airlines. The RAF appreciated the qualities of the aircraft and those of its pilots who had also had experience flying jet fighters often remarked that it handled like a fighter, giving great response and agility. In RAF service, the VC10 was an outstanding trooper and freighter. Then being modified to serve as a aerial refuelling tanker, a role it also performed with distinction. The able text is fully supported by a very good photo-plate section.