"Brett" wrote in message
...

The USA did give tasters to many buyers.

True. OTOH at least one of the lost Comets was on some kind of round
the
world publicity stunt. Same difference.

Boeing tasters were financial. The VC10 was a
superior plane to the 707 and it did not sell well either.

Vickers designed an aircraft to the questionable
requirements of a single customer.

It wasn't the requirements, it was the timing. When the VC10 appeared on
the market it's competitors had already been in service for six and four
years and ironically the restricted 'hot and high' runways of Africa and the
Middle East for which the Standard VC10 had specifically been developed
would eventually all be lengthened to accommodate the 707 and DC-8, in the
process eliminating the VC10's main advantage. Had the original V.1000 been
built it would have been in time to compete but the VC10 was just too late.

The VC10 was a superior plane with passengers loving it as the engines were
all aft making the cabin quieter with less vibration. It was less
susceptible to turbulence with a superior wing design. It was more
expensive to operate. The Super VC10 was cheaper to run beating the US
planes. By then it was too late, Boeing and Douglas were entrenched in the
world's airlines. Only much later did the Airbus knock Boeing off its
throne.

The Chinese bought the VC10. In 1980 they ordered more planes after being
fully satisfied with the planes performance and running costs. Vickers were
facing opened up the production line after 11 years.



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