I have no intention of biting anyone's head off.
I think what you've offered here as a bit of fun isn't too far off the mark.
I think it's likely that Vickers would have to offer three flavours of VC.7:
- The military V.1000 with cargo floor and door. This could also be sold as a commercial freighter but we're probably a little early for the jet cargoliner market to be a profitable thing. I think the "improbable" RCAF order would be more "possible" - say 4-8 airframes? Would the RAF order a V.1000 tanker to replace the Valiants in 1965? Possibly if the line was still open, although with Polaris coming the temptation to just convert otherwise wasted Victors might still be preferable. I have a crazy notion BAC and HSA go head to head for ASR.381 with VC.7 and Comet variants (though Spey is puny for VC.7).
- standard VC.7. I agree Air France would be interested in this.
- a 'hot & high' VC.7 either with RATO or higher-spec Conways. I'd say Air India, El Al, Varig, East African Airways, Ghana Airways, Gulf Air, Middle East Airlines etc. would want this given the VC.7s likely sluggishness in tropical conditions.
I think the Super VC.10 would be a logical successor, sidestepping the basic Type 1101. Losing Vanguard is no worry either. I think VC.11 would be better than a shorn VC.7, simply because you can't really get a decent turbofan into it (a 'dry' Spey is a tad too puny sadly).
