They live to fly another day, RAF Tristars appear to have been sold

[NutLoose]

The six delivered to Brunty have been registered to a sales and leasing company in the USA.. There might be some life left in the old girl yet.

See

FAA Registry - Aircraft - Make / Model Inquiry

[Wander00]

But ISTR someone saying the airworthiness certs had been withdrawn

[Rigga]

Being a bit cynical I think that if they flew back to the US on a civvy registration the engines and gears (and everything else, really) would be worth a stack more than if removed from some old ex-mil registration....

How dare someone make a profit out of ex-mil hardware!

[mad_jock]

Doesn't it make the parts paperwork easier if the aircraft that its removed from has a N reg?

[NutLoose]

Well they have been issued with an FAA C of A see the second pages

Manufacturer Name LOCKHEED Certificate Issue Date 05/12/2014
Model L-1011-385-3 Expiration Date 05/31/2017

[Wander00]

it will be interesting to see where they end up

[camelspyyder]

AFAIK using the N registration is a get around for aircraft after withdrawal of UK CoA. In 2011 the Dominie's CoA was removed, but following inspection by an FAA licensed engineer they were all registered N19** to allow them to be flown away from Cranwell.

[Martin the Martian]

All the way to Kemble, where they still remain.

[NutLoose]

Well as they are at Brunty, I cannot see why they would be going anywhere else UK wise, if they were to be broken in the UK there is the facility at Brunty to do that.. the company that now owns them is a leasing company amongst other things.. so I wonder if they are US bound.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...hrough-397390/

Talks with a potential buyer for the last six operational aircraft had reached an advanced stage, but stalled over finance and export permissions. Two of these are already at Bruntingthorpe, and any further discussions over the fleet must be made between the US entrepreneur and the scrap merchant directly, says Morgan. “At the moment, they’re all to be scrapped,” he adds.

so one wonders if its all back on again.

[Sook]

Of course, the money for the sale will now go to the scrap merchants rather than the MoD.