TriStar VR-HOF
 

Thanks to everyone who responded to my earlier posting about the CX TriStar which was flown to Australia for parting-out and scrapping. I now have several photos of the aeroplane after it arrived at Avalon and these can be viewed on my website.

"The Lockheed File"

Considering the sad fact that the aeroplane was on a one-way trip to the breaker's yard, I was surprised to learn that it arrived at Avalon in full CX livery and titles although these were removed before dismantling began. So far nobody has been able to come up with a satisfactory explanation as to why anyone would fly the aeroplane to Australia for parting out when there were no L-1011 operators in the region. Can any reader explain this?

[ 24 July 2001: Message edited by: Fris B. Fairing ]

Cathay Pacific does not always do things that make any sense. Is that a good enough answer? :D

I expect that was the cheapest place to go and do it, makes sense to me! ;)

No problem, It is always very nice to have people sharing similar interests.
Do you want the number of cycles, flying hours ?
I can provide you with that from Crew news back in Oct 1996.
Best Wishes
Ken :)

Spannersatcx

Australia cheapest? I suppose ASTAAS might have put in a low tender to get some work during downtime. This raises a possibility which I did not consider previously. Did the parts from VR-HOF go back to CX and was ASTAAS therefore performing the work for CX? I seem to recall that ASTAAS were doing maintenance on CX B747s at the time so with all those empty positioning flights I suppose it does make sense. I had always imagined that ASTAAS bought the aeroplane and sold the parts on the open market which prompted my original question - which market?

Sigma

Hours and cycles would be most welcome thanks.Information overload holds no fears for me.

Cheers

Only HIB, came down to ASTAAS but HAECO still owned 30% of ASTAAS so some work was passed on that HAECO was too busy to handle.

HOF was stripped internally when it arrived and slowly parts were removed for AOG items in Hong Kong. Most of the Flight deck went first, and then brakes, fuel pumps, Hydraulic pumps, Aircon bits and various other things followed.
I had to get the left antiskid module out one morning and then drive to Tullamarine and drop it off for that days CX flight.
The engines went back to Rolls Royce, I assume to study how they had deteriorated, one of the L/G went to a university as a training tool. Wheels went back to HAECO/CX. After it was cut up, the scrap was bought by Alcoa I believe.

VR-HOF
Total Hours: 47,949
CX Hours : 12,937
CX Cycles : 6,573

Delivered 14/3/88
original delivery date 12/4/73
Selcal code: EGFJ
Previous reg: C-FTNE, 4R-ULK
Previous Owner: AC/GPA/UL
Last Flight: 05/11/94

My thanks and greatest gratitude to Greg Gibbins, Steve Perret, Bill Moore, Pat Dunne. John Stone, Terry Neale and Alan Matterface.
Without them, such data would have not been obtainable. I would like to add my best wishes to them and happy retirement if so.
Regarding through Crewnews, I realise what a great airline Cathay is in the lettuce sandwich
colour scheme. :)

SMOC and Sigma

Thanks for all that extra information. I will incorporate it in my web page soon.

Sigma, you show the final departure ex HKG as 5th November and I have this same date from another source. However, I have received an email from the F/O on the delivery flight and according to his logbook the date of the flight to Avalon was 8th November. Makes me wonder if it went somewhere else before Avalon?
Cheers

Fris, cool site. Took a look at it last week. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Smallwing. It helps if you love Lockheeds!

Cheers

Fris,
I am afarid I know nothing about that.
But there were some tristars parked at Kai Tak for several days withdrawn from use between 1994-96.
I don't have the regisration as well. Sorry !
Ken :confused: