Historic 1960s aircraft to go on display in Sharjah

Sharjah: The front section of a rare type of passenger aircraft used in early jet air travel in the UAE made its final journey when it arrived in Sharjah on October 20.

The 40 foot-long section of the Vickers VC10, a British jetliner, recently arrived from the UK by boat. Upon arrival, it was driven through the mountains from the coastal town of Khor Fakkan to Sharjah’s Al Mahatta Aviation Museum.

The aircraft section — the full cockpit, and part of the cabin and cabin hold — has been added to the museum’s permanent exhibits.

Vickers VC10s regularly touched down in what is now the UAE and throughout the Gulf in the 1960s and 1970s.

The aircraft was used in the region due to its ability to operate in hot climates.

Only 44 models of the British-made VC10 were ever built, despite it being second only to the supersonic Concorde jet in the time taken to cross the Atlantic by an airliner.

“We are honoured to be bringing this icon of air travel to Sharjah for people of all ages, and especially aviation enthusiasts, to enjoy,” said Manal Ataya, director-general of Sharjah Museums Department.

‘African past’

Sharjah’s Al Mahatta airport saw its first commercial landing take place in October 1932, today the site of the museum.

Built as a staging post for commercial flights en route from Britain to India, the airport is considered to be the first in what is now the UAE.

The section of aircraft to go on display in Sharjah is from a Super VC10. Built in 1969 for the East African Airways Corporation, a now-defunct firm set up in colonial times, the plane’s registration number is 5X-UVJ.

The plane flew on routes taking in London, Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala.

In 1979 it was sold to Britain’s Royal Air Force to be converted into a flight re-fuelling tanker and for a further 28 years it operated mainly out of an airbase in Oxfordshire.

Huge fuel tanks in its cabin replaced the rows of passenger seats. In March 2013 it flew its last flight in the UK and was taken out of service.