Editing Vickers VC10 (section)

====2000s====
[[File:US Navy 050111-N-1444C-004 Royal Air Force Flight Lt. Ronnie Trasler (captain), Flying Off Paul Summers (co pilot), Flight Lt. Mick Hardwick (engineer) and Squadron Leader Kev Brookes (navigator) of 101 Squadron RAF.jpg|thumb|Flight Deck of a 101 Sqn VC10, 2005]]

In 2001, Oman-based VC10s were used in some of the first missions of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|war in Afghanistan]], refuelling US carrier-based aircraft carrying out strikes on Afghan targets. The VC10s provided air transport missions in support of British and allied forces stationed in Afghanistan fighting against the [[Taliban]], codenamed [[Operation Veritas]]. VC10s remained on long term deployment to the Middle East for twelve years, ending just before the type's retirement.<ref name = "no 101"/>

During the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] by an American-led coalition, a total of nine VC10s were deployed to the theatre under [[Operation Telic]].<ref name="airinternational"/> In the aftermath of the invasion, multiple VC10s were commonly stationed in Iraq; in addition to logistics operations, more than a thousand casualties of the conflict were evacuated to [[Cyprus]] by VC10s.<ref name = "no 101"/> In June 2009, the remaining VC10s were withdrawn from Iraq, along with most other British military assets.<ref>[http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4418574.Flypast_marks_RAF_tankers__farewell_to_Iraq "Flypast marks RAF tankers' farewell to Iraq."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318031548/http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4418574.Flypast_marks_RAF_tankers__farewell_to_Iraq/ |date=18 March 2014 }} ''Oxford Mail'', 3 June 2009.</ref>

Between 2000 and 2003, the remaining K.2s were retired and scrapped. The surviving K.3s served as tanker/transports with [[No. 101 Squadron RAF|No. 101]] Squadron at Brize Norton, [[Oxfordshire]] and the single remaining K.4 supported [[No. 1312 Flight RAF|No. 1312 Flight]] at [[RAF Mount Pleasant]] in the [[Falkland Islands]].<ref name=Kingsley-Jones>{{cite web | url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/farnborough-raf-squadron-commander-details-vc10-retirement-plans-373990/ | title=FARNBOROUGH: RAF squadron commander details VC10 retirement plans | first=Max | last=Kingsley-Jones | publisher=Flight Daily News | date=10 July 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713043901/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/farnborough-raf-squadron-commander-details-vc10-retirement-plans-373990/ | archive-date=13 July 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In January 2010, VC10 passenger operations were temporarily suspended while an airworthiness review was carried out.<ref>Hoyle, Craig. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/royal-air-force-suspends-passenger-operations-with-vc10-337318/ "Royal Air Force suspends passenger operations with VC10 fleet."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610174750/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/royal-air-force-suspends-passenger-operations-with-vc10-337318/ |date=10 June 2012 }} ''Flight International'', 19 January 2010.</ref>
[[File:Vickers VC-10 in aerial refuelling exercise 30.jpg|thumb|View from a Vickers VC10 during an aerial refuelling exercise]]
Following the [[2006 North Korean nuclear test]], a pair of VC10s were dispatched to [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]], Japan to undertake nuclear debris tests; this unusual task was performed using specialised sampling pods which replace the refuelling pods equipped as standard.<ref name="airinternational">'Aircraft of the RAF Part 2: Vickers VC10' ''Air International'' May 2008 pp. 56–60.</ref> During [[Operation Ellamy]], Britain's contribution to the [[2011 military intervention in Libya]], a small number of VC10s were dispatched to bases in the Mediterranean and were used to refuel NATO strike aircraft being used in the theatre.<ref name=odyssey_dawn>{{cite web |title= RAF tanker aircraft keep missions flying over Libya |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/raf-tanker-aircraft-keep-missions-flying-over-libya |publisher= [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] |date= 18 July 2011 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317224312/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/raf-tanker-aircraft-keep-missions-flying-over-libya |archive-date= 17 March 2014 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

The VC10 and [[Lockheed TriStar (RAF)|Lockheed TriStar]] tanker/transports were replaced in RAF service by the [[Airbus A330 MRTT]] Voyager under the [[Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft]] Project.<ref name = "barrie 27">Barrie 1993, p. 27.</ref><ref name=Osborne20130729>{{cite web | url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:c8154877-26a7-481d-9e59-c69aff0cb745 | title=And Then There Were Three... | first=Tony | last=Osborne | date=29 July 2013 | publisher=Aviation Week | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054414/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:c8154877-26a7-481d-9e59-c69aff0cb745 | archive-date=21 September 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The type's final flights in RAF service took place on 20 September 2013, the final refuelling sortie was followed by a tour of the UK.<ref name=BBC24165590>{{cite web|title=Vickers VC10 jetliners fly last mission from RAF Brize Norton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24165590|work=BBC News|date=20 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921081504/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24165590|archive-date=21 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=RAF20130919>{{cite web | url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=220D244C-5056-A318-A886E23E7E6AF909 | title=VC10 – The Final Chapter | publisher=Royal Air Force | date=19 September 2013 | access-date=19 September 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054302/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=220D244C-5056-A318-A886E23E7E6AF909 | archive-date=21 September 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 24 September, ZA150 made its last flight to [[Dunsfold Aerodrome]] for preservation at the Brooklands Museum, while ZA147 arrived at Bruntingthorpe on 25 September.