The VC10 was designed as a long range airliner able to operate from short runways at airfields in hot and high conditions as found in Africa and the Far East.
The rear engine configuration meant that the cabin was very quiet. The aircraft had a high cruising mach number and had very good short field performance. However, this was achieved at the cost of very high fuel burn in the cruise which may explain why the aircraft attracted few overseas customers.
In the later part of its service the aircraft was modified for the tanking role but kept its passenger and freight carrying ability.
A gallery of photos can be viewed of VC10 XR808’s journey to RAF Cosford here.
There was a civilian VC10 at Duxford.