MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calf. -- A Royal Air Force VC10 passenger/ tanker aircraft landed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar June 13 to pick up British soldiers who were training in various locations in the San Diego area.

The aircraft landed on Miramar’s runway with the pilots and three crew members and, a liaison for the RAF stationed at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

The plane is capable of cruising at 518 mph, because of its four Rolls-Royce Conway 301 turbofan jet engines enabling the plane to fly as one of the fastest passenger aircrafts in the world with a range of more than 3,000 miles and is an aerial refueling aircraft as well as acting as a tanker jet.

This amazing aircraft can hold 150 passengers as well as a crew of nine.

The aircraft has not always had the mission of an aerial refueling jet.

It wasn’t until 1993 when it was converted by adding a pod under the outboard section of each wing. The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 154,000 pounds of fuel.

This unique aircraft is special in that it can also be refueled by another VC10 while in flight.

The VC10, which is more than 40 years old, is also used as an areomedical evacuation (areomed) aircraft to transport patients.

“It is my job to organize events which go on in the United States when we have training in this area of the country,” said RAF Sgt. Nigel, Malyon, RAF Liason, 101 squadron, Brize Norton. “We landed today and plan on picking up our troops tomorrow morning and flying back to England.”

The RAF along with the United States has been sharing the aerial combat role in the war on terror since 2001.

The RAF also helped out in various reconnaissance, and surveillance missions in Afghanistan during Operation Veritas.

“We are picking up troops that have been training at Coronado for the last few weeks,” said RAF Sgt. Jon Batten, ground engineer, 101 Squadron, Brize Norton. “This is our second day in this country (referring to the U.S.) we flew into Norfolk, Va., yesterday and flew here today.”
Because the VC10 is such a versatile aircraft and flies long missions it must be maintained daily and kept in the best condition at all times.

“If anything were to go wrong with the plane, it is my job to fix it,” said RAF Senior Aircraftsman John Mcgow, engineer, 101 squadron, Brize Norton. “I specialize in the propulsion aspect of the aircraft, and have a lot of knowledge on the engines of it.”

The three man crew takes care of all the ground maintenance of the aircraft as well. We are pretty much the go-to guys, said Mcgow.

“When the plane lands, and the pilots head in, we stay on the flight line to ensure the aircraft is properly shut down, refueled, checked over, and is ready for its next flight,” said Mcgow. “We make sure it is ready for its next mission.”