Originally Posted by
ATNotts
rog747,
Apologies for the thread drift but I always understood the BKS Trident 1Es were originally part of a 5 unit order from Channel Airways, who eventually took just two, one of which, G-AVYE eventually wound up operating from BHX to GLA and CDG as well as some weekend IT work and was the only 1E flown by BEA.
Yes, correct, as you and WHBM comment, Channel ordered 5 Trident One-E's to be designated 1E-140's, G-AVYA/YB/YC/YD/YE.
These were to have the 139 seats
we all know about, so would gain the extra midships exit hatch (Door 2R) over the 1E-110's which did not have the extra exit.
I have just read only recently that G-AVYA was already built, ordered for Kuwait Airways but was NTU.
Hence this odd one out was actually a 1E -110 and so did not ever get the extra door modification.
Subsequently when Channel only wanted 2 Tridents delivered in 1968 (YB/YC) this odd one (YA) eventually went to Air Ceylon, and the other 2 (YC/YD) went to BKS a year later in 1969.
Channel now struggling for its life, sold G-AVYB to BEA in late 1971, and this Trident went to join the former BKS pair now flying as Northeast in yellow livery.
G-AVYE was sold to BEA in Feb 1972 and painted in BEA livery, but eventually joined Northeast Airlines with small Northeast titles added in Nov 1973, and British Airways titles replaced BEA.
YE was operated by Northeast until 1 Apr 1976.
YD, now painted in the new BA Negus livery, was written off at Bilbao (RTO) 09/1975
Both G-AVYC and YD had already been built and painted ready for Channel Airways in 1968.
Here is a photo of YC almost completed, and one of YD modified to 1E-140 standard with the additional midships emergency exit door.
The Channel Airways contract was cancelled, so the pair were completed for BKS Air Transport in 1969.
Photos taken 24/09/1968 acknowledged to Ken Haynes.
TRIDENT 1E-140, G-AVYC Hatfield
TRIDENT 1E-140, G-AVYD Hatfield
The 1E-140 originally ordered by Channel used the same seats as their 1-11s, made by Flight Equipment, at 31-inch pitch. So still roomier in that regard than many airlines today.
They had four exits on each side, instead of the standard 1E's four to port and three to starboard.
The midships galley was omitted.
The seat design was a forerunner of the modern type in that it only had lateral frames, and lacked the reinforcing horizontal lower-rear bar.
So people could put their feet under the seat in front instead of just their bags.
Britannia later adopted the same seats for their 737s and were able to squeeze in an additional two rows as a result from 117 seats to 130.