Originally Posted by
ex-EGLL
Back in the '70's working ATC at Belfast we had the occasional visit from an eastern block TU154. One day some intelligence types were playing around with their electronic gizmos. Turned out this aircraft arrived and departed on 2 engines...... the centre engine pod was full of detection devices!!
It would have been interesting if one of the "two" other engines had failed. I must say I find this hard to believe. Balkan were probably the most common operator of the Tu-154 into UK airports (and also Dublin) around that time. Even if some extra electronics had been fitted, I can't see how one of three engines on an aircraft designed to operate with three would or could have been sacrificed.