The VC10 was originally a civil jet-engined transport, built to a requirement issued by the British Overseas Airways Corporation in 1957. The requirement was for an airliner which could carry a 15,422kg (34,000lb) payload over a range of 6437km (4,000 miles) on BOAC's Commonwealth routes. Vickers responded to the requirement with a design called the Type 1100. The lift surfaces of the Type 1100 were optimised for use on airports on BOAC routes; the approaches to many of the runways on the route were 'hot-and-high'. The VC10 first flew in July 1962, & entered service with BOAC in April 1964. BOAC ordered 12 VC10s, Ghana Airways ordered 2, British United Airways ordered 3 & the RAF ordered 14 (designated C.Mk 1). 

The C.Mk 1 had a revised wing & greater fuel capacity than commercial VC10s. The Type 1100 design was then developed into the Type 1150, which entered service as the Super VC10, with Rolls-Royce Conway RCo.43 engines. BOAC bought 17 Super VC10s & East African Airways bought 5. The VC10 was less economic than the Boeing Model 707, & as a result most airports altered facilities to cater for the 707. The VC10 was replaced by most airlines with the Boeing 707 & Douglas DC-8. Some of the replaced VC10s were sold to the RAF. 14 VC10s & Super VC10s were converted to tankers, designated K.Mk 2, K.Mk 3 & K.Mk 4 in RAF service. Some of the RAF's old C.Mk 1s were also converted, & were designated C.Mk 1(K).

The VC10 can carry just cargo, just passengers or a mixture of the two. It can carry 150 seats, and is sometimes fitted with a VIP interior for the Royal Family or heads of state. It also has capacity for up to 78 stretchers in the casevac role, and can operate as a tanker. In the tanker role, it can be fitted with 3 probes for in-flight refuelling, and can carry up to 86,364 kg (190,400lbs) of fuel, which can be transferred through a hose at a rate of 1814 kg (4000 lbs) per minute.

VC10 K.Mk2

Type: Long range transport & tanker aircraft

Powerplant: four 9,888kg (21,800lb) Rolls-Royce Conway turbofans

Performance: Cruising speed at 9,145m (30,000ft) 684km/h (425mph); Service ceiling 12,800m (42,000ft); Range with max. payload 6,276km (3,900 miles)

Dimensions: Wingspan 44.55m (146ft 2in); Length 48.36m (158ft 8in); Height 12.04m (39ft 6in); Wing area 272.38m² (2,932ft²)

Weights: Empty 66,224kg (146,000lb); Max. take-off weight 146,510kg (323,000lb)

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