N148ZA 1967 Vickers VC10 K.3
- 1967Built
- 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
- 1967
- Serial number
- 883
- Engines
- 4 × Rolls-Royce Conway (RCo series, RCo.43 variants)
- Thrust
- 22,500 lbf each
- Range
- 5,080 nm
- Cruise
- 480 ktas
- Published Mach
- 0.86
- Ceiling
- 43,000 ft
- Fuel capacity
- 21,527 US gal
- ICAO type
- VC10
THE AIRCRAFT’S LIFE
N148ZA, 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 to East African Airways as 5Y-ADA (civil airliner) following first flight.
FAA registry -
Royal Air Force
Sold/converted to RAF service and redesignated ZA148 (K.3 tanker conversion).
FAA registry -
Classic Air Force / Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre
Purchased/accepted for preservation and ferried to Newquay for museum display (preservation ownership).
FAA registry -
Aerovision LLC
Re-registered as N148ZA to Aerovision LLC for spares/parts; FAA N-Number later issued certificate 2022-01-28.
FAA registry
FAA REGISTRATION
Registration details
- Registration
- N148ZA
- Status
- Current as of November 2025
- Certificate issued
- Jan 28, 2022
- Registration expires
- Jan 31, 2029
- Mode S code (hex)
- A0C2A8
- 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 N148ZA 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
- Converted/tanker and museum/parts status, original civil layouts varied (typical civil ~151 pax)
Listings and registries are not the logbooks. A pre-buy confirms equipment, program status and damage history from the records themselves.
RESEARCH NOTES
About N148ZA
Compiled with AI assistance from the public sources listed below, November 2025. Not checked against the aircraft's logbooks.
Overview
This airframe, registration N148ZA, is a Vickers-built transport recorded as Vickers VC10 K.3 (Super VC10 Series 1154), constructed in 1967 with manufacturer serial 883. The aircraft is owned by Aerovision LLC, a corporation based in West Palm Beach, FL, US, and carries a United States registration. The airframe has a documented history of role conversion and disposition, noted as converted/tanker and museum/parts status, reflecting an operational lifecycle that moved from civil transport layouts toward specialized tanker configuration and eventual use for parts or preservation. Registry and ownership entries emphasize its transition from an original civil passenger configuration to specialized roles under corporate ownership.
Operations & Cabin
The cabin for this specific airframe was originally adaptable across varied civil layouts (typical civil ~151 pax) but was subsequently converted/tanker and museum/parts status, indicating that the passenger interior was modified or removed for tanker duties and later cannibalized or preserved. Based at the owner’s location in West Palm Beach, FL, US, the aircraft’s mission profile in its converted state centered on tanker and support roles rather than routine passenger schedules; typical cruise performance of 480 kts and a range of 5,080 nm informed feasible routing and endurance considerations during operational service. Maintenance considerations for this airframe reflect its multi-role history and eventual parts/museum disposition, with airframe condition and component provenance central to any continued operation or restoration.
Model & Market Context
As a Vickers VC10 K.3 (Super VC10 Series 1154) airframe powered by four Rolls-Royce Conway engines producing 22,500 lbf each, its documented performance figures (range 5,080 nm, cruise 480 kts, ceiling 43,000 ft) define its technical envelope within the supplied data. The aircraft’s conversion from civil seating of approximately 151 to tanker configuration and later museum/parts status highlights resale and maintenance pathways that prioritize role-specific systems and legacy component availability. Ownership by Aerovision LLC and the aircraft’s registrational history underscore market considerations tied to specialized operation, preservation, and parts recovery rather than conventional passenger resale.
MOVEMENTS
Last reported flights
| Date | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| EGTF Filton | Not reported | |
| Not reported | EGTF Filton |
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
Own or manage N148ZA? Put its logbooks in Radar.
Radar reads every logbook page, typed or handwritten, and builds one searchable record for the aircraft: times, inspections, ADs and components, each tied to the page it came from.
N148ZA 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.