Spectators Balcony (Spotters Corner)If you're not a professional pilot but want to discuss issues about the job, this is the best place to loiter. You won't be moved on by 'security' and there'll be plenty of experts to answer any questions.
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 .
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..
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 !!!
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?
@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
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.
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. Wish I still worked at Heathrow if only to look at the Tristar again in the flesh so to speak.
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