Records are made to be broken and I really wish them the best of luck! The flight provides a great opportunity to keep the record within the 10 / 101 Squadron family We spoke to him about the possibility of that record being broken. Wing Commander Mike Westwood RAF (Retd) was part of the VC10 crew who set the record in 1987. 101 Squadron who pre-positioned at Ascension Island and joined them on their route down to Mount Pleasant. The VC10 was air-to-air refueled by additional aircraft flown by No. The added element uncovered throughout this capability, is that it also presented an opportunity to attempt to break not one, but two world records! In 1987, the VC10’s delivered great speed and operated by No.10 Squadron, flew direct to the Falklands in a time of 15 hours 45 minutes.

By providing a necessary crew rest facility on board, crews are able to safely operate this direct flight, negating the need to stop at a mid-point location.ĪirTanker worked with UK Defense to establish the concept and furthermore delivered this capability and incredible achievement with the support and hard work of our whole force team civilians, regulars and reservists working together. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the capability to fly direct to the Falkland Islands was developed to support the global effort to minimize the risks of the virus spreading, increase transport options and provide greater flexibility to UK Defense. After a short stay, G-VYGM returned to the UK on 5 June flying direct in another record time of 13 hours and 22 minutes. Travelling 6,948 nautical miles with no additional refueling and to a remote location with a challenging and ever changing climate, this maiden flight set a new world record, previously held by the VC10, operated by 10 Squadron in 1987. The civilian registered Voyager A330-200 aircraft, G-VYGM, flew direct from RAF Brize Norton to Mount Pleasant Airfield in a record time of 15 hours and 9 minutes. The modified aircraft, G-VYGM, took its maiden flight on Tuesday 2 June 2020, as part of the scheduled South Atlantic Airbridge and returned directly to the UK on Friday, setting two new world records in the process. Travelling 6,948 nautical miles with no additional refueling the maiden flight set a new world record, previously held by the VC10, operated by 10 Squadron in 1987Ī new capability to fly directly from the United Kingdom to the Falkland Islands has been achieved. After a short stay, G-VYGM returned to the Brize Norton on 5 June flying direct in another record time of 13 hours and 22 minutes.

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