25 Years Ago Today / 31st December 1985
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25 Years Ago Today / 31st December 1985
25 years ago tonight the last ever BA commercial operation of the Trident took place. Two BA Trident three's G-AWZU and G-AWZO flew into Heathrow together landing simultaneously, one on what was then runway 28L and the other on 28R. G-AWZU was operating an enthusiasts flight (BA9198C) from Amsterdam landing 28L at 19:08:07 and G-AWZO flew in on a BA Super Shuttle flight from Manchester landing 28R at 19:08:08!
Captain Brian Walsh, SFO Bob Owens and Fred Rothwell crewed G-AWZU and Captain John McIlwham, SFO Ian Tait and Derek Smee flew G-AWZO. Where are they now?
As for the Trident three's; G-AWZU was flown to Stansted (5th March 1986) for the airport fire service to train on; finally being broken up in the 2000's; the forward fuselage now owned by Gary Spors (GJD Services) and in storage. The other, G-AWZO, flew back to her birth place at Hatfield on the 18th April 1986 and was presented to British Aerospace (BAe). There she remained until the airport was closed during the 2000's and the vandals got to her. Later broken up; some bits were attained by the Mosquito Museum at London Colney; near St Albans.
The rest of the BA fleet were either broken up on site or sent to various airport fire services around the UK. Some were preserved either in sections or whole aircraft. The most complete Trident three must be G-AWZM at the Science Museum (Wroughton); a Trident two G-AVFA at Duxford and a Trident 1C G-ARPO currently at Teesside airport with the airport fire service and being dismantled for preservation and display at Sunderland in 2011. The other Trident 1C (G-ARPH) was initially saved at Cosford but was broken up in the 2000's when the BA collection was closed down at the musuem; her flight deck was saved and is on display in Scotland. A fully restored Trident three flight deck (G-AWZI) is on display at the FAST Museum, Farnborough airport. It is 'live' and powered up most weekends for visitors.
The Trident may no longer fly; but the memory of this classic British airliner lives on through various associations, clubs and small museum's.
The Heathrow Trident Collection is a private museum and can be viewed by prior notice. It contains bits of Trident's, a flight deck and cabin mock-up, a reference library, models, uniforms and many other items. Contact [email protected] to arrange a visit.
Please share your memories of this aircraft.
Captain Brian Walsh, SFO Bob Owens and Fred Rothwell crewed G-AWZU and Captain John McIlwham, SFO Ian Tait and Derek Smee flew G-AWZO. Where are they now?
As for the Trident three's; G-AWZU was flown to Stansted (5th March 1986) for the airport fire service to train on; finally being broken up in the 2000's; the forward fuselage now owned by Gary Spors (GJD Services) and in storage. The other, G-AWZO, flew back to her birth place at Hatfield on the 18th April 1986 and was presented to British Aerospace (BAe). There she remained until the airport was closed during the 2000's and the vandals got to her. Later broken up; some bits were attained by the Mosquito Museum at London Colney; near St Albans.
The rest of the BA fleet were either broken up on site or sent to various airport fire services around the UK. Some were preserved either in sections or whole aircraft. The most complete Trident three must be G-AWZM at the Science Museum (Wroughton); a Trident two G-AVFA at Duxford and a Trident 1C G-ARPO currently at Teesside airport with the airport fire service and being dismantled for preservation and display at Sunderland in 2011. The other Trident 1C (G-ARPH) was initially saved at Cosford but was broken up in the 2000's when the BA collection was closed down at the musuem; her flight deck was saved and is on display in Scotland. A fully restored Trident three flight deck (G-AWZI) is on display at the FAST Museum, Farnborough airport. It is 'live' and powered up most weekends for visitors.
The Trident may no longer fly; but the memory of this classic British airliner lives on through various associations, clubs and small museum's.
The Heathrow Trident Collection is a private museum and can be viewed by prior notice. It contains bits of Trident's, a flight deck and cabin mock-up, a reference library, models, uniforms and many other items. Contact [email protected] to arrange a visit.
Please share your memories of this aircraft.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Cor, is it really that long?
Never thought I'd miss Tridents and 1-11s...
Came past Gatwick on the train last night and there was a landing light coming down the runway, probably an Airbus or 737. And I thought: "years ago that would have likely been 'another bloody 1-11'", and a wave of nostalgia swept over me.
Walking over Richmond Bridge on a dark early evening in December 1969 with my dad, watching the stream of lights fly over on approach into Heathrow, half of them identified as Tridents by the old man.
As a neophyte plane spotter in 1974, I was learning to identify Tridents by their BEA red wings; then sneaky BA started painting the fuselage blue, the tailplane red and the wings silver!
Never flew in one. By chance I was at Manchester Airport this day 25 years ago and saw the last Trident arrive there. Regret to say I don't recall if I saw it leave. As it must have been dark, I assume I didn't.
Never thought I'd miss Tridents and 1-11s...
Came past Gatwick on the train last night and there was a landing light coming down the runway, probably an Airbus or 737. And I thought: "years ago that would have likely been 'another bloody 1-11'", and a wave of nostalgia swept over me.
Walking over Richmond Bridge on a dark early evening in December 1969 with my dad, watching the stream of lights fly over on approach into Heathrow, half of them identified as Tridents by the old man.
As a neophyte plane spotter in 1974, I was learning to identify Tridents by their BEA red wings; then sneaky BA started painting the fuselage blue, the tailplane red and the wings silver!
Never flew in one. By chance I was at Manchester Airport this day 25 years ago and saw the last Trident arrive there. Regret to say I don't recall if I saw it leave. As it must have been dark, I assume I didn't.
I also recall several hours spent outside down at the start of the 1985 Boat Race in Putney, just months before the Trident was finally withdrawn, and being surprised at the number of them still in service at that late stage and passing overhead. Must have been eight or more went over, more than 757s it seemed.
There's been a good long Trident thread recently over on the Tech Log page (though it really belonged here in AH&N) which some of you may not have seen.
http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/43449...-autoland.html
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Yes the Trident 3B-101 G-AWZK is of course preserved at Manchester AVP. Technically, however, it is not a complete aircraft as the outer 15 feet of its wing span was clipped some years ago when it resided at Heathrow. Nice BEA colour scheme though.
