Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd / 1967

N148ZA

Vickers VC10 K.3 (Super VC10 Series 1154) (K.3 / Super)

At a glance

Aircraft Overview

1967

Year Manufactured

N148ZA

Registration Number

883

Serial Number

5080 NM

Range

502 MPH

Max Speed

11 Hours

Duration of Flight

43000 ft

Service Ceiling

Over 20,000lbs

Aircraft Class

AEROVISION LLC

Ownership

West Palm Beach, FL, US

Location

A0C2A8

Mode-S Code

US

Registration Country

Jan 28, 2022

Certificate Issued

Jan 31, 2029

Reg. Expiration

History

Safety Record

N148ZA

None found

History

Ownership History

8 Records
  1. A2
    Current Owner2021-11-01

    Aerovision LLC: Re‑registered as N148ZA to Aerovision LLC for spares/parts; FAA N‑Number later issued certificate 2022-01-28.

  2. CO
    2013-08-28

    Classic Air Force / Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre: Purchased/accepted for preservation and ferried to Newquay for museum display (preservation ownership).

  3. RC
    1978-09-30

    Royal Air Force (as ZA148): Sold/converted to RAF service and redesignated ZA148 (K.3 tanker conversion).

  4. EF
    1967-03-31

    East African Airways: Delivered to East African Airways as 5Y-ADA (civil airliner) following first flight.

  5. E1
    Historical

    East African Airways (delivered 1967)

  6. RC
    Historical

    Royal Air Force (as ZA148, tanker conversion)

  7. CO
    Historical

    Classic Air Force / Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre (preservation ownership)

  8. AS
    Historical

    Aerovision LLC (registered 2021/2022 for spares)

Intelligence

AI Summary

Fact-checked by AI

Vickers VC10 K.3 (Super VC10 Series 1154) (K.3 / Super)

Overview

N148ZA assigned to AEROVISION LLC; FAA N‑Number record shows Certificate Issue Date 2022-01-28, status Valid, Mode S hex A0C2A8.

Specifications

  • Engines: 4x Rolls‑Royce Conway (RCo series, RCo.43 variants) (22500 lbf each)
  • Range: 5080 nm
  • Cruise: 480 kts
  • Ceiling: 43000 ft

Operations & Cabin

Converted/tanker and museum/parts status — original civil layouts varied (typical civil ~151 pax)

Model & Market Context

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.

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.

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.