Aviation Photography - Bruntingthorpe's Tankers

Bruntingthorpe's Tankers - Afternoon and night shoot
Bruntingthorpe
March 13, 2016

Neil Cave of TimeLine Events organised and ran this afternoon and late evening night shoot with three former RAF air refuelling tankers consisting a Vickers VC-10 K4, Handley Page Victor K2 and Lockheed TriStar K1.

Vickers VC-10 K4 (ZD241 'N'), Handley Page Victor K2 (XM715) and Lockheed TriStar K1 (ZD951).

VC-10 K4 (ZD241 'N') taxis under it own power down the runway for a high speed run. Sadly ZD241 was broken up at Bruntingthorpe in April 2022.

Left to right: Vickers VC-10 K4 (ZD241 'N') taxis down the runway.

Left to right: Handley Page Victor K2 (XM715) named 'Teasin Tina' joins the line-up, it is one of only two surviving Handley Page Victor K2 Tankers that are maintained in serviceable but non-flying condition (the other is at Elvington) and is looked after by the Cold War Jet Collection.

Left to right: Lockheed TriStar K1 (ZD951) is towed to the photo-shoot line-up, it is the former 216 Squadron tanker was retired after a 30 year RAF service in March 2014. It is held with five others by GJD Services awaiting a buyer.

VC-10 K4 (ZD241 'N').

Left to right: Vickers VC-10 K4 (ZD241 'N'). Only 54 VC-10s were built, the first flight coming on June 29, 1962 and the first VC-10 entering service in 1964; they were built up until 1970. The aircraft were used by the Royal Air Force from 1965 onwards for strategic air lifts and some were converted from passenger carrying service for air-to-air refuelling duties. Only Concorde has made a faster crossing of the Atlantic from London to New York and the VC-10's time of five hours, one minute remains the fastest by a sub-sonic jet airliner. Fourteen entered RAF service with the last flight of a VC-10 in RAF service coming on September 20, 2013 after a 47-year career. Former 101 Squadron VC-10 ZD241 arrived at Bruntingthorpe in March 2013.

TriStar K1 (ZD951).

Left to right: Lockheed TriStar K1 (ZD951) the former 216 Squadron tanker was retired after a 30 year RAF service in March 2014. It is held with five others by GJD Services awaiting a buyer.