Can this really be right?

[cstorey]

I think you will find it was Sud Est who built the tailplane. I don't know of any SAAB connection with the VC 10 . In any event, there are hardly any modern high tech aeroplanes which are not international to some extent . The 777 is a classic example , and this sharing of design function goes back as far as the Comet's nosecone

[DaveB]

I think Garry's quote of SAAB was for the 146 Chris, not the VC10

This is an extract from Toby's 146 site re it's manufacture..
The 146 brought work to many sites as its manufacture and assembly was dispersed to a number of places inside and outside the UK. Textron Aerostructures (part of the same company supplying the engines) manufactured the wings in the USA, SAAB-Scania of Sweden would build the tailplane and all moving surfaces such as ailerons, rudder, spoilers and elevators, Shorts of Belfast were to build the engine pods whilst the remainder of the aircraft was built at various BAe plants. Prestwick (formerly Scottish Aviation) would build the engine pylons, Hamble (formerly Folland Aircraft) would build the flap rails. The centre fuselage was built at Filton (formerly Bristol and presently part of Airbus), the rear fuselage were manufactured at Manchester (formerly Avro) with the fin and flaps being made at Brough (formerly Blackburn). Hatfield was responsible for the overall design, production of the nose and flightdeck, final assembly and flight testing.

ATB
DaveB

[cstorey]

Dave - ah, sorry I misunderstood Garry's post. The split of the 146 work is fascinating - all a bit reminiscent of BMC when bits of car were transported all over the UK which turned out to be not the most economical way of doing it

[DaveB]

The split of the 146 work is fascinating - all a bit reminiscent of BMC when bits of car were transported all over the UK which turned out to be not the most economical way of doing it

Yes indeed.. agree with that 100% Speaking to some of the chaps at Brooklands who were employed there at the time, there seemed to be an underlying requirement to keep as many people employed as possible and this, among many other reasons, pretty much killed off any possible modernisation for the 1-11 which was arguably.. equal to the 146 in every area. This is a common story though isn't it.. companies need new orders to survive.

ATB
DaveB