VICKERS VC10 - Cameo

Legend: “Cameo” images are paintings  or colored pencil drawings  small in size, A4 sheet, they can sometimes be real "artist proofs" followed by a larger painting.

G-ARTA VICKERS VC 10 PROTOTYPE 803 – “cameo”

The image is a free representation of the first flight of the prototype of the VICKERS VC10  G-ARTA on 29 June 1962, photographed from an English Electric Canberra that was flying on its wing during its first test flights.

This first flight was surrounded by much uncertainty, as the 1,152 m runway at Brooklands was initially deemed too short for the VC10; after some calculations, it was decided that a "take-off" distance of 685 m was sufficient. G-ARTA took off in the late afternoon with ample room for a short flight to BAC's Wisley test facility, a few miles away, for the start of an extensive series of tests. The test aircraft, entering commercial operation,  then took the model designation 1109.

 Probably given the short take-off distance, it was the first true STOL ( Short Take-Off & Landing) " liner" in history.

This specific aircraft is depicted in a livery that was never actually adopted. on jets by BOAC but used during a transition period for the official paint scheme. This aircraft never entered BOAC service but was sold and used first by Laker Airlines, which leased it to Middle East Airlines, and then by British United Airlines, which merged soon after with British Caledonian Airlines. The image therefore presents a unique feature and a graphic design hypothesis used exclusively for marketing purposes , the importance of which had already been understood in 1962.

G-ARTA remained the sole prototype, but was later joined by other aircraft built to BOAC's production standards. More than 2,000 tests were conducted, resulting in the writing and development of the entire operations and flight manual. On January 28, 1972, during final approach, the co-pilot misinterpreted a command from the captain and, still several meters above the ground, activated the spoiler/airbrake. This command completely destroyed lift, and the aircraft plummeted to the ground, causing serious damage to the airframe. Parked in a corner of Heathrow Airport for evaluation and inspection, it sadly awaited its final dismantling and scrapping in April 1975.

Image format made on A4 cardboard sheet, 21X29.7 in grease acrylic with passepartout and black frame.

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