Squadron
Squadron badge
Information
Role	Air Transport / Air-Refuelling
Aircraft Operated	Vickers VC-10
Home Station	RAF Brize Norton
Motto	"Rem acu tangere (To hit the mark)"
History
Date Founded	1 January 1915
Badge	A Winged Arrow
Notable Battle Honours

No. 10 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Vickers VC10 C1 from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

The squadron motto - Rem acu tangere (To hit the mark) betrays the fact that it was originally a bomber squadron. The squadron reformed at Brize Norton in 1966 to operate the VC10 C1. The C1 differs from all other RAF VC10s in that they were delivered newly built as strategic transports. The VC10 K3 and K4s of 101 Squadron are all converted airliners.

14 VC10 C1s were delivered to No. 10 Squadron between 1966 and 1967. The C1 is not a simple conversion of a civil VC10, it combines the short fuselage of the Standard VC10 with the wing and more powerful engines of the Super VC10. The C1 can carry 139 passengers in rear facing seats, eight standard pallets or up to 78 medical evacuation stretchers. The strengthened floor allowed the C1 to transport 1,000lb bombs for the Tornado GR1 force during the Gulf War, each aircraft carrying 50 per flight. During the war, 10 Sqn flew 1,326 sorties in over 5,000 hours.

In 1993 the VC10 C1 fleet was modified to allow it operate in the AAR role by the installation of wing mounted refueling pods. The aircraft are now known as C1(K)s.

The most visible role No. 10 squadron's VC10s have played is that of VIP transport and aeromedical evacuations. In the VIP role the C1s have flown the British Royal Family, government ministers and Prime Ministers around the world. In recent times it has been announced that the VC10 VIP role has been phased out, VIP transport now carried out by chartered British Airways 767s and the RAF BAe 146 fleet. However Prime Minister Tony Blair has reverted to the VC10 for more sensitive flights, notably during his diplomacy to Pakistan and the Middle East after the September 11, 2001 attacks. This is most likely to take advantage of the protection afforded by a military aircraft, for example the VC10's bulletproof fuselage.

The VC10 will remain in service with 10 and 101 Squadrons until around 2008, when the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft is due to start replacing them (most likely the C1s first.)

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons