Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
- capercaillie
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Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Somewhat of a rare beast relatively in terms of US built modern jetliners, only 250 were built compared to more than 600 of the DC-10/KC-10/MD-11 family. Aside from a couple of pseudo Government flight aircraft, the only military operated ones were the nine short version 500s purchased by the Royal Air Force, three ex Pan-Am aircraft served as transports only as C2 and C2A aircraft with six ex British Airways aircraft becoming tanker transport K1 and KC1 variants.
I think there have been six basic variations on colour scheme worn by the RAF Tristar fleet plus an anniversary scheme, maybe you can surprise with something different. These were the ex airline fleet colours of white/blue (ex BA) and white/silver (ex Pan-Am), then all white with blue cheat line and large red/white/blue roundels. Two were painted desert pink for the Gulf War in 1991, both losing the temporary finish before the end of the year. One aircraft ZD949 appeared in the mid 1990s in white with small pink/blue roundels and a pale blue cheat line. I think was the aircraft scrapped at Cambridge, the first of the fleet to go? What remained of the fleet were painted grey (eeeeugh!) and served out their time until March 2014 when they were retired as the Voyager came into service. One aircraft received some special 30 years of service markings and still resides with five others at Bruntingthorpe. With Bruntingthorpe's time as an active airfield drawing to a close whether they will ever fly out becomes more doubtful as more modern wide bodies are retired that are cheaper to operate with larger spares resources. Its doubtful whether any RAF Tristars will survive unless one finds a home with the Walton fleet at an off field home.
Only one TriStar apparently remains airworthy with Northrop Grumman formerly Orbital Sciences, the Stargazer mother aircraft used for launching rockets for satellites, so its rarity as an extant type is in the balance.
Please post away, it will be interesting to see how many civil operators people may have in their lockers. Three from me to start.
Fairford arrivals 1994, ZD952 KC1
1994 iat o6 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
One of two painted pink for the Gulf War in 1991, ZD951 K1 photographed at home, a week before heading back to Cambridge for repaint and a week before the 1991 Brize photocall! Unbelievable.
1991 brize pink tristar by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1991 Finningley Battle of Britain at Home Day with four Tornado F3s dragged down from the Leuchars show equivalent.
1991 finn tristar f3s by Paul Downes, on Flickr
I think there have been six basic variations on colour scheme worn by the RAF Tristar fleet plus an anniversary scheme, maybe you can surprise with something different. These were the ex airline fleet colours of white/blue (ex BA) and white/silver (ex Pan-Am), then all white with blue cheat line and large red/white/blue roundels. Two were painted desert pink for the Gulf War in 1991, both losing the temporary finish before the end of the year. One aircraft ZD949 appeared in the mid 1990s in white with small pink/blue roundels and a pale blue cheat line. I think was the aircraft scrapped at Cambridge, the first of the fleet to go? What remained of the fleet were painted grey (eeeeugh!) and served out their time until March 2014 when they were retired as the Voyager came into service. One aircraft received some special 30 years of service markings and still resides with five others at Bruntingthorpe. With Bruntingthorpe's time as an active airfield drawing to a close whether they will ever fly out becomes more doubtful as more modern wide bodies are retired that are cheaper to operate with larger spares resources. Its doubtful whether any RAF Tristars will survive unless one finds a home with the Walton fleet at an off field home.
Only one TriStar apparently remains airworthy with Northrop Grumman formerly Orbital Sciences, the Stargazer mother aircraft used for launching rockets for satellites, so its rarity as an extant type is in the balance.
Please post away, it will be interesting to see how many civil operators people may have in their lockers. Three from me to start.
Fairford arrivals 1994, ZD952 KC1
1994 iat o6 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
One of two painted pink for the Gulf War in 1991, ZD951 K1 photographed at home, a week before heading back to Cambridge for repaint and a week before the 1991 Brize photocall! Unbelievable.
1991 brize pink tristar by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1991 Finningley Battle of Britain at Home Day with four Tornado F3s dragged down from the Leuchars show equivalent.
1991 finn tristar f3s by Paul Downes, on Flickr
- LN Strike Eagle
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
The aforementioned pale-marked ZD949 and a grey one too. This concludes my collection of RAF Tristars.
I've probably also got an ATA example at Mildenhall during the second Gulf War from my very earliest digital days using a 2.1MP Olympus compact. I will try and find those later.
I've probably also got an ATA example at Mildenhall during the second Gulf War from my very earliest digital days using a 2.1MP Olympus compact. I will try and find those later.
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"
Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Brize Photocall 1990
Brize_19901006_0033 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Movement during the 1990 Photocall
Brize_19901006_0030 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Arrival IAT 1991
IAT_91__0006 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
And departure
IAT_91__0016 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Brize Farewell Event 22 September 2013
DPP_Brize00053 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Brize_19901006_0033 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Movement during the 1990 Photocall
Brize_19901006_0030 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Arrival IAT 1991
IAT_91__0006 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
And departure
IAT_91__0016 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Brize Farewell Event 22 September 2013
DPP_Brize00053 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
I hear gliders
Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Lockheed Tristar ZE705 by MUSTANG_P51, on Flickr
Lockheed Tristar C2A ZE706 by MUSTANG_P51, on Flickr
Lockheed Tristar C2A ZE706 by MUSTANG_P51, on Flickr
- LN Strike Eagle
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Found some of those old shots on JetPhotos.net:
Amazingly, I think the second one was a newer livery!
Amazingly, I think the second one was a newer livery!
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"
- capercaillie
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Very nice Dan, second one looks like one of those cultural special artworks like appeared on the BA jets for a time.
Do like your shot of 949 in the toned down scheme.
Do like your shot of 949 in the toned down scheme.
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
I was thinking more "Saved by the Bell".capercaillie wrote: ↑Fri 03 Jul 2020, 2:59 pmVery nice Dan, second one looks like one of those cultural special artworks like appeared on the BA jets for a time.
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"
- capercaillie
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Yep, equally hideous, don't remember that programme at all, although I don't think I missed too much?
Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
A quick hunt for 3 civvies (I'm way behind with cataloging my images )
"Sharpness is in the eye of the holder"
More at http://www.planephotos.org.uk
More at http://www.planephotos.org.uk
- capercaillie
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Always thought the old Delta scheme looked very smart.
Some taken after the Bruntingthorpe runs with the help of a nice man, my apologies I'm terrible remembering names these days.
DSC_0839 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
DSC_0841 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
DSC_0847 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Some taken after the Bruntingthorpe runs with the help of a nice man, my apologies I'm terrible remembering names these days.
DSC_0839 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
DSC_0841 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
DSC_0847 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
I've not got anything different in terms of colour schemes but this was at IAT 1993. I do like those civvy TriStars with airlines like BCal and TWA - long lost memories!
Tristar ZD950 with VC-10 C1K XV103 and VC-10 K3 ZA150 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr
Andy
Tristar ZD950 with VC-10 C1K XV103 and VC-10 K3 ZA150 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr
Andy
Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
These were taken by my Dad at either Heathrow or Gatwick Airport during August / September 1981 (I would have been 4 1/2 so probably a little early for me to have been able to see over the side of the old car park!).
This aircraft was later purchased by the RAF and registered as ZE704.
PAN-AM N508PA Clipper "Bald Eagle" (Lockheed L-1011 TriStar) by Dan Elms, on Flickr
PAN-AM N508PA Clipper "Bald Eagle" (Lockheed L-1011 TriStar) by Dan Elms, on Flickr
Dan
This aircraft was later purchased by the RAF and registered as ZE704.
PAN-AM N508PA Clipper "Bald Eagle" (Lockheed L-1011 TriStar) by Dan Elms, on Flickr
PAN-AM N508PA Clipper "Bald Eagle" (Lockheed L-1011 TriStar) by Dan Elms, on Flickr
Dan
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Waddington 2009 and a flypast from ZE706 which was the sole C2A variant I believe?
Lockheed L-1011 Tristar C2A by Ian Garfield, on Flickr
Lockheed L-1011 Tristar C2A by Ian Garfield, on Flickr
Lockheed L-1011 Tristar C2A by Ian Garfield, on Flickr
Lockheed L-1011 Tristar C2A by Ian Garfield, on Flickr
- capercaillie
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Re: Get on your Trike- the TriStar and RAF Tristar
Good stuff guys, especially the Stargazer. One of ZD949 still in high viz before getting the pale markings, landing at Cottesmore for RIAT 2001.
img270 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img270 by Paul Downes, on Flickr