I used to like to listen to the growl of the RB211 when it would start up....
As did thousands of Servicemen at RAF Mount Pleasant on their way home!
But why did the TriStar always turn south from the westerly runway on departure? VC10K crews just checked the army range activity and if they were 'cold', climbed with full power at best angle and then turned north.
We though that the TriStar had better climb performance than we had?