Ear‐to‐ground

The VC10 flying test bed aircraft which is being used for flight testing of the Rolls‐Royce RB.211 three‐shaft turbofan made its maiden flight at Hucknall near Nottingham, in early March. It has been converted for the flying test bed role by the installation of a single RB.211 advanced technology engine in place of the two Conway turbofans normally mounted on its left‐hand side.