Vickers VC10 Standard

The Vickers VC10 Standard (Type 1101) is the original production variant designed specifically for BOAC's African and Asian routes which required excellent hot-and-high performance. First delivered in 1964, it featured four rear-mounted Rolls-Royce Conway RCo.42 engines producing exceptional thrust-to-weight ratio. Seating about 135 passengers in BOAC's two-class configuration or up to 151 in all-economy, the Standard VC10 could operate from shorter runways than competing American jets while carrying a full payload. The rear-engine configuration provided an exceptionally quiet cabin for its era. Known for its reliability and outstanding performance in challenging conditions, the Standard VC10 established the type's excellent reputation. The variant served primarily with BOAC and East African Airways.