MDC model, 1976
CP Air had also been interested in the RB.211 engine and MDC reckoned that BCal would have changed to it but the company dropped the 30R project when they lost BA as a launch customer.
Conversely Lockheed had tried to tempt BCal to wait for TriStar 500 by offering a cheap multi-year lease of the long-body variant but that would have required an interim refuelling stop to reach Rio, which the airline felt to be uncompetitive. So they went for the DC-10, initially for three with the CF6 whilst MDC worked on the 30R ( with the prospect of an engine swap later ) and then a second tranche with the CF6 once the 30R was no longer available.
Interestingly BCal were also tempted by the 747SP which would have made an interesting addition to the BA fleet...
Last edited by El Bunto; 22nd Dec 2017 at 16:20.