N147ZA 1966 Vickers VC10 K.3
- 1966Built
- 175Seats
- 5,080 nmRange
- 480 ktCruise
- 43,000 ftCeiling
SPECIFICATIONS
Vickers VC10 K.3 specs
Published figures for the type, from public sources. A given aircraft varies with its completion, weight and mods.
- Model
- Vickers VC10 K.3
- Year
- 1966
- Serial number
- 882
- Engines
- 4 × Rolls-Royce Conway (Conway turbofan series)
- Thrust
- 22,500 lbf each
- Seats
- Up to 175
- Range
- 5,080 nm
- Cruise
- 480 ktas
- Published Mach
- 0.84
- Ceiling
- 43,000 ft
- Fuel capacity
- 21,527 US gal
- ICAO type
- VC10
THE AIRCRAFT’S LIFE
N147ZA, from delivery to today.
Registration events from FAA records, compiled November 2025. Maintenance, damage and component history live in the logbooks, not the registry.
-
East African Airways
Delivered new as 5H-MMT to East African Airways (civil passenger/Combi Super VC10).
FAA registry -
Ministry of Defence
Sold/transferred to the MoD (later re-registered ZA147 and converted to VC10 K.3 tanker/transport).
FAA registry -
GJD Services Ltd / Bruntingthorpe custodianship
Ferry to Bruntingthorpe for retirement/storage; retained for spares/preservation.
FAA registry -
Aerovision LLC
U.S. registration assigned N147ZA (entry used for parts/ownership transfer; airframe later dismantled/preserved).
FAA registry
FAA REGISTRATION
Registration details
- Registration
- N147ZA
- Status
- Current as of November 2025
- Certificate issued
- Jan 28, 2022
- Last FAA action
- Jul 7, 2023
- Registration expires
- Jan 31, 2029
- Mode S code (hex)
- A0BEF1
- Aircraft category
- Fixed-wing multi-engine
- Weight class
- Over 20,000lbs
From FAA registry data as of November 2025. Check the FAA registry for the current record.
OWNERSHIP
Registered owner
Aerovision LLC
ESTIMATED VALUE
What N147ZA might be worth
No estimate on record
Value depends on total time, engine program, damage history and the completeness of the logbooks.
Open the aircraft value toolEQUIPMENT AND HISTORY
As reported in public sources
- Cabin
- Military tanker/transport conversion (K.3), forward passenger/cargo arrangements varied by conversion; original civil Super VC10 layouts were high-capacity combi/intercontinental interiors.
Listings and registries are not the logbooks. A pre-buy confirms equipment, program status and damage history from the records themselves.
RESEARCH NOTES
About N147ZA
Compiled with AI assistance from the public sources listed below, November 2025. Not checked against the aircraft's logbooks.
Overview
This airframe, registered N147ZA, is a Vickers-built Vickers VC10 K.3 constructed in 1966 with manufacturer serial 882 by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd. The airframe is recorded as owned by Aerovision LLC (type LLC) based in West Palm Beach, FL, US, and carries a US registration; registered to Aerovision LLC represents the principal documented change in formal ownership. As a military tanker/transport conversion K.3 example derived from civil Super VC10 ancestry, this particular aircraft reflects long-term utility adaptations rather than contemporary passenger service, and its condition and valuation highlights are consistent with specialized conversion airframes held for niche roles.
Operations & Cabin
The airframe is a military tanker/transport conversion (K.3) in which forward passenger/cargo arrangements varied by conversion; the original civil Super VC10 layouts were high-capacity combi/intercontinental interiors. Typical mission profiles for this configuration include long-range transport and air-to-air refuelling or converted logistics work, leveraging the 5,080 nm range and cruise speed near 480 kts to operate between distant military bases or remote staging locations from its operator base in West Palm Beach. Avionics fit and exact interior equipment are conversion-dependent and not published in the supplied data, while maintenance considerations center on aging airframe systems and support for the four Rolls-Royce Conway turbofans, a legacy powerplant type requiring specialized spares and expertise.
Model & Market Context
The Vickers VC10 family occupies a performance niche as a long-range, high-cruise turbofan airliner adapted in military K-series forms for tanker and transport duties; the VC10 K.3 conversion emphasizes payload and range over contemporary fuel efficiency. Competing models in the broader market niche have historically included converted long-range tri- and quad-jet transports, but demand is limited to operators needing specific range and platform compatibility rather than mainstream passenger resale. Maintenance and resale considerations for this airframe hinge on the specialized nature of the K.3 conversion, legacy Conway engine support, and constrained buyer pools interested in a 1966-built fixed-wing multi-engine tanker/transport.
MOVEMENTS
Last reported flights
| Date | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| EGVN RAF Brize Norton | Not reported | |
| EGVN RAF Brize Norton | EGBB Birmingham Airport | |
| EGVA RAF Fairford | Not reported | |
| EGVN RAF Brize Norton | Not reported |
Public ADS-B and spotter reports up to November 2025. Not a live track.
SOURCES
Where this page comes from
Built from FAA registry records, manufacturer specifications, and public flight-tracking and market data, compiled November 2025. Values come from Radar’s aircraft value model. Owners and operators can ask for a correction or removal.
BUYING, SELLING OR FINANCING
What to check before a deal
- Pre-buy records reviewWhat to read in the logbooks before you sign
- Aircraft title searchLiens, registrations and the chain of title
- Aircraft valuationHow records, time and programs move the price
- Aircraft maintenance recordsWhat a complete records package holds
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N147ZA is not a Radar customer record. This page is built from public sources as of November 2025. Owners and operators can ask for a correction or removal.