At 5.25pm, on Friday, 29 June, the first Vickers VC10, G-ARTA, took off from Weybridge on a "completely successful" maiden flight in the hands of Mr G. R. Bryce, chief test pilot of British Aircraft Corporation.
Mr Bryce made three pre-flight taxi runs during the course of the day, one at low speed to test the nose-wheel steering, one at high speed to test the brakes and reverse thrust, and the third to lift the nose. Time was then allowed for the brakes to cool before the maiden flight, which was watched by Sir George Edwards of BAC; the Air Minister, Mr Julian Amery; BOAC's managing director, Sir Basil Smallpiece; and BUA's managing director, Mr F. A. Laker. The VC10 and its test programme, which should result in certification within 18 months and first BOAC service early in 1964, were described in Flight International for 10 May.
Source: Flight International
