Roden 329 Vickers VC-10 Super Type 1154 1:144

The VC10 or to use its correct title the Vickers Commercial 10 was a long range British Airliner designed and built by Vickers and first flew in 1962. The Aircraft had a high subsonic speed and was specially designed to use 'Hot & High' Airports such as Nairobi on the African routes.

The fist Super VC10 that is the subject of this model was13ft 0in (3.96 m) longer, had upgraded Conway engines, an additional fuel tank in the fin and first flew in service on the 7th of May 1964 with BOAC.

The mainstays of the BOAC fleet in the late 1950's and early 1960'-s were the DH Comet 4, Boeing 707 and the Bristol Britannia.

In the early 1950's Vickers at Weybridge were working on designs for a 4 engine jet airliner, known as the V1000, similar in layout to the DH Comet. It was a more modern design, featuring a wider fuselage, slotted flaps and had much better performance. Initial orders were for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and a civil version, the VC 7. Defence cuts in 1955 saw the project cancelled.

BOAC in the meantime ordered 15 Boeing 707'-s which proved oversized and underpowered for it-'s 'Hot & High' routes in Africa and Asia.

Several major companies including De Havilland and Handley Page offered suitable replacements but following route evaluation BOAC opted for the VC10 from Vickers.