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The Vickers VC10 is the mainstay of the RAF's tanker fleet.
Originally a long haul international airliner the VC10 first
entered RAF service in 1965 as the C.1 strategic transport.
The first tanker VC10s did not arrive until 1984. Nine ex
airliners, five VC10s and 4 stretched Super VC10s, were converted
to allow three point tanking from two underwing pods and a
fuselage point. Extra fuel tanks were fitted on the main deck
and a TV camera fitted to monitor tanking from the cockpit.
The VC10s were designated K.2 and the Super VC10s K.3 while
the K.4 designation was applied to a further five Super VC10s
converted later but not fitted with the additional main deck
tanks. The transport VC10 C.1s have been modified with a pair
of underwing refueling pods and redesignated C.1K to denote
their secondary refueling role. The VC10 is to be replaced
in RAF service from 2004 and all the K.2s and some C.1Ks have
already been retired
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