Take-off distances for VC10

[impearse]

Hi folks,

Can anyone point me at a table of some sort for take-off run vs weight for the VC-10s? I've seen the bits on the VC-Tenderness site but it's not enough. Many thanks in advance.

[DaveB]

Glad you popped in there Tonks as I couldn't find anything either other than as you say, perf charts for regularly used runways (which are available on A little VCtenderness for the standard airfields)

ATB

DaveB

[impearse]

The VC10 I'm flying is a K3 tanker. I'm operating out of a short runway so can't take the max fuel load to AAR, just need some way of working out what the max possible load is with the given runway length.

[NigelC]

It's in no way accurate or related to RW performance but the VC15 has a max take off weight of 335,000lbs and a take off field length of 8,750ft (from the VC10 web site). So, if you had say a 7500ft runway, 335,000/8750 x 7500 = 287,143lbs.

As a comparison, I did a jumpseat trip on a 1-11 475 (G-AZUK, I used to work for Mediterranean Express) out of Guernsey. MTOW = 44679kg, Take off Run required = 1676m (from BAC 1-11 website) and Guernsey runway length = 1463m. Using the above formula gives a restriction of 39000kg. Our actual RTOW taking into account all the factors (temp, pressure, wind, obstructions etc) was 39013kg. 13kg difference, close enough for FS in my book.

Nige

[DaveB]

That's a great rule of thumb Nige

ATB

DaveB

[impearse]

Nigel, I agree, that's an excellent rule of thumb... as the saying goes "close enough for government work" I should have thought of that myself. The runway I have available is just a shade under 6000' (RAF Chivenor) so it'll be interesting to see what fuel weight I can take up... fighters will be waiting to refuel, I may have to disappoint one or two!

Many thanks.

Ian

[Garry Russell]

Surely a refulling mission would operate from an airfield with sufficient length for the job?

[impearse]

Not when a surprise Operational Readiness Exercise has been sprung on you by the AOC! Apparently, managing the take-off restriction is part of the exercise.

[impearse]

The runway at Chivenor is 1833m, 27ft MSL

[NigelC]

ISA-10 would be close enough

Not gonna lift a lot though.... be a Bramble 1A departure as go through the hedge at the other end