RAF Tristar @ LHR today.

[FlyingEagle21]

Hi Anyone have any idea why this flew in today?

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/558897_10150634931086964_545816963_9303944_277046947_a.jpg

[Talkdownman]

Operational reasons.

[Planemike]

Talkdownman..............

That is not a very detailed answer, is it? That could mean anything. Think FlyingEagle was after something a little more precise.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Hahahaha. Best not to come on here M!

[wiggy]

That is not a very detailed answer, is it?

Well seeing as it's a military aircraft just possibly the reason it was at LHR is covered by "need to know" - and believe it or not there are some things even Ppruners don't need to know :E.

[Truck2005]

Timmy got lost:confused:

[udachi moya]

Puzzling times... :)

Strange visitors, odd types, new airlines, yes I can understand the curiosity, but an ageing L1011, whose visits to LHR are not uncommon, still finds space for questions (no one mentioned the Hello Airlines A320 the other day..:} )

Operational reasons, yes it was. Passenger flight, yes it was, VIP flight, probably it was, scheduled, no, just an adhoc visit. Need to know, no.. :E

[avionic type]

Please UDACHI MOYA a little more respect "An aging L1011 " a little long in the tooth maybe but she is still a lovely girl and still flogging her way round the world if the RAF can keep her serviceable,and when we at BA had her I know she was a bit of a prima donna and threw hissy fits now and again and the words Brick Built and Toilet sprung to mind we ground engineers still liked her so there !!!

[Skipness One Echo]

Puzzling times...

Strange visitors, odd types, new airlines, yes I can understand the curiosity, but an ageing L1011, whose visits to LHR are not uncommon, still finds space for questions (no one mentioned the Hello Airlines A320 the other day.. )

Operational reasons, yes it was. Passenger flight, yes it was, VIP flight, probably it was, scheduled, no, just an adhoc visit. Need to know, no..

You MUST be a troll if you don't think a TriStar at a commercial airport is worth a mention. In seven years down here I have not seen a single L1011 at Heathrow. Do 216SQ even do VIP stuff these days?

[wiggy]

You MUST be a troll if you don't think a TriStar at a commercial airport is worth a mention

Yes, it's worth a mention.

However IMHO one should take the hint when told a visit by a military type is for "Operational Reasons" and reply by saying "Ah, I see, thanks" :oh:, not

That is not a very detailed answer, is it? That could mean anything

Time to log it and move on?

[Heathrow Harry]

hope it wasn't flying HM's rep to the Tongan funeral.....................

[KBPsen]

The real answer to why it flew in is of course that driving was out of the question.

[udachi moya]

@avionic type - yes a graceful sight, and liked by all, ageing comment said with tongue in cheek, I broke my first ground on the L1011 so I have massive respect for the old girl :rolleyes:

[Skipness One Echo]

Frankly I am appalled when they used some modern garbage like ye olde TriStar when a VC10 would be way more fun.

[Heathrow Harry]

I can remember sitting at LHR T1 waiting to go when a BA Trisatr suffered some sort of cough from the #2 engine producing a vast cloud of dirty smoke

"Ah", said my Captain "the diesel version..."

[Heathrow Harry]

View topic - RAF Tristar en route to LHR? (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=41208)

one in on the 12th March from BZN apparently as well

maybe BA have unearthed a load of spares (going cheap!) for collection??

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Such excitement about jets.... now if it was an RAF Hastings......:D

[avionic type]

Dear Skipness Once Echo, and Heathrow Harry,Have you seen the pictures of the the great break up of the Mighty VC10s at that airfield a little further north from Heathrow,?at least our big darling still rumbles on, as for spares I would think the only spares are in the tool boxes of old retainers like me in the shape of those Tri Wing screwdriver bits that were useless for any other aircraft of B.As. fleet ,the RAF can have those.As for the Hastings,Heathrow Director,having suffered an 8 hr flight to Gibraltar in one I prefered an 10 hr flight in a Mk1 Shacklton any time.:):):)

[Talkdownman]

10 hr flight in a Mk1 Shacklton
25,000 rivets in loose formation?

[avionic type]

At least it had 2 bunk beds or some wheel covers to sleep on and a small galley to brew a cup of tea and one didn't have to eat those cardboard sarnies, they were the prototype of the ones one buys at these days in the small shops. The down side was one was as deaf as a post for about 2 hours after engine shut down though the Hastings didn't have much sound proofing as I recall.:zzz::zzz::zzz:
Wish I still worked at Heathrow if only to look at the Tristar again in the flesh so to speak.:{:{

[rowly6339]

I have flown on a tristar 100s of times and i must say they don't half pull there weight these things.