How to train your dragon

I know a lot of others have already posted this trailer, but I'm gonna share it too:

I want to see this when it comes out.  From the trailer, it's obvious that it's only loosely based upon the first book in the series, but it still looks like a lot of fun.

The RAF is in town

I noticed an unusual plane parked across the road this morning.  At first I assumed it was an old Russian airliner because of it's unusual engine configuration.  I wasn't sure, though, since this one is painted grey and had markings that, while I couldn't make them out, didn't look Russian.  There's also a definitely not-Russian 'Q' on the tail.

A tiny bit of poking around on the net indicated that there are only two large aircraft that have the rather unusual set of 4 engines arranged in two pairs on the tail.  One is the IL-86, which is what I'd first assumed this one was.  The other is the British Vickers VC10.  The RAF tail markings on an image of a VC10 I found on the web indicate that this is what the visitor across the street is.

Since they haven't been in production since 1970, I have to wonder if this one isn't destined for the Smithsonian's Udvar Hazey center that's adjacent to the airport.  It's possible the RAF is still using them, since they're pretty fast.  The VC10 still holds the record for the fastest subsonic airliner for the fastest Atlantic crossing.