Flight Engineer's Station - Powered Flying Control Units - Just Flight Standard VC10 Operation Manual

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Flight Engineer's station – powered flying control units
Each of the aircraft's aileron, elevator, rudder and spoiler sections is operated by powered flying control units
(PFCUs) – electrically driven hydraulic pumps which control the surfaces. A complete loss of electrical power
(i.e. no electrical generators online) will result in the failure of the PFCUs, as indicated by the red failure warning
lights, and a subsequent loss of control over the aileron, elevator, rudder and spoilers.
In this simulation of the VC10 the PFCUs can also be isolated using the corresponding switches found on this
panel. If all the PFCUs for a particular control surface are isolated, for example all four of the aileron sections (left
outer, left inner, right outer and right inner), then control over those surfaces will be lost until the PFCU switches
are moved to the NORMAL position.
1. Left outer elevator PFCU switch and failure warning light
2. Left outer aileron PFCU switch and failure warning light
3. Left inner aileron PFCU switch and failure warning light
4. Rudder (upper, middle and lower) PFCU switches and failure warning lights
5. Right inner aileron PFCU switch and failure warning light
6. Right outer aileron PFCU switch and failure warning light
7. Spoiler normal/isolate switches
8. Tailplane trim overrun warning light and re-arm button – System A
9. Air conditioning compressor LP warning lights (non-functional in this simulation)
10. Tailplane trim overrun warning light and re-arm button – System B
11. Feel Simulator No.2 pump overheat warning light
12. Feel Simulator No.2 pump motor switch
13. Feel Simulator No.1 pump motor switch
14. Feel Simulator No.1 pump overheat warning light
15. Right outer elevator PFCU switch and failure warning light
16. Right inner elevator PFCU switch and failure warning light
17. Left inner elevator PFCU switch and failure warning light
'The easy fix'
British Airways began retiring their final Super VC10s in early 1980. Some of them were flown to RAF
bases as replacements for the aging Victor tanker aircraft and put into storage using a special plastic-
bag-like substance called 'DriClad'. Unfortunately these bags tore and began to break down and cover
the aircraft in a thick black tar-like grime. In 1990 the first aircraft was reactivated and ferried to Filton near
Bristol. While cleaning the horrible viscous tar off the aircraft was difficult, the main concern was powering
up systems that had sat dormant for nine years. As the VC10 had PFCUs, they were able to fit refurbished
units quickly and left the main hydraulic systems empty for the short ferry flight. The gear and flaps
were fixed in position and the flight was a success. Over the course of a year the remaining aircraft were
cleaned and ferried for conversion into K4 tankers at Filton.
VC10 Professional – Operations Manual