Tristar aborted takeoff - Akrotiri 2 May 2010

[Statty86]

On Sunday, 2 May 2010, after a quick stop, the Tristar taking us to Khandahar had to abort its takeoff. All I remember is us speeding down the runway only for us to be brought to an emergency stop. Apparently we had a fuel leak from the port engine (not sure how true that is).

We ended up having a 24 hr stay over and eventually flew to KAF on a Tristar transporter.

Before I go to the Air Historical Branch, would anyone know the aircraft serial number of the Tristar that had to abort its take off?

I managed to get a picture of it, but apparently I can't upload it until I've made 8 posts

Many thanks in advance.

[Biggus]

Just find an old dormant thread, make 7 short simple posts on it.

Upload your photo

Go back to the thread you posted your comments on and delete them.

Simples...

[Statty86]

I think I've just completed my 8th post.........

[Jhieminga]

Other than 'yes, that's a Tristar', there is not much I can say about that photo. I guess it is more likely to be a C2 than a C1 version, but that is just a guess. You would need to check the OPS records for 216 Sqn to find out which airframe was assigned to this flight, or you would need to find one of the pilots who has the registration listed in their logbook for that particular flight. An aborted take off is not 'special' enough to warrant any kind of investigation (other than internal to figure out what caused the fuel leak), so you will not find this in any old newspaper.

[Statty86]

Yeah, just a long shot really, posting on here. You never know, someone knows someone, who knows someone, who flew with 216 Sqn..........I'll try the AHB.

Cheers.

[wiggy]

Originally Posted by Statty86

Yeah, just a long shot really, posting on here. You never know, someone knows someone, who knows someone, who flew with 216 Sqn..........I'll try the AHB.

Cheers.

It’s a long shot but always worth a try… I was by chance able to answer a similar question posed on another forum by looking at my logbook.

Good luck with your quest.

[Statty86]

Cheers wiggy appreciate it is a long shot and I must add, Ken Scott has already been very helpful in answering a C130 question regarding the different squadrons who flew the Hercs in Afghanistan and, also, a Finningley question. I also, recently, managed to get my E-3D flights from a captain's logbook

Best regards.

[Sideshow Bob]

Originally Posted by Statty86

Yeah, just a long shot really, posting on here. You never know, someone knows someone, who knows someone, who flew with 216 Sqn..........I'll try the AHB.

Cheers.

It's ZE704 (Tristar C2) aborted when no1 engine failed to accelerate sufficiently.

[vascodegama]

Originally Posted by Jhieminga

Other than 'yes, that's a Tristar', there is not much I can say about that photo. I guess it is more likely to be a C2 than a C1 version, but that is just a guess. You would need to check the OPS records for 216 Sqn to find out which airframe was assigned to this flight, or you would need to find one of the pilots who has the registration listed in their logbook for that particular flight. An aborted take off is not 'special' enough to warrant any kind of investigation (other than internal to figure out what caused the fuel leak), so you will not find this in any old newspaper.

There was no C1 version .

[BEagle]

Originally Posted by vascodegama

There was no C1 version .

Quite so. K1, KC1, C2 and C2A. However, in the very early days of RAF service, the ex-ba TriStar 500s were known as Tristar C1 before they were converted to K1 tankers.

Then there was the expensive 'upgrade' to ZD949, which never came back into RAF service despite all the time and effort at Marshall Aerospace.....

[Sideshow Bob]

Originally Posted by BEagle

Quite so. K1, KC1, C2 and C2A. However, in the very early days of RAF service, the ex-ba TriStar 500s were known as Tristar C1 before they were converted to K1 tankers.

Then there was the expensive 'upgrade' to ZD949, which never came back into RAF service despite all the time and effort at Marshall Aerospace.....

If we want to be pedantic, the BA jets were converted to 2 x K1 & 4 x KC1

[212man]

Originally Posted by Sideshow Bob

If we want to be pedantic, the BA jets were converted to 2 x K1 & 4 x KC1

I was at Marshals doing my flying scholarship when the first post-conversion flight took place (with our instructors doing their day job). .

[Statty86]

Originally Posted by Sideshow Bob

It's ZE704 (Tristar C2) aborted when no1 engine failed to accelerate sufficiently.

Genius Sideshow Bob , sincere thanks.....another airframe off my list of aircraft flown on, whilst in the RAF.

Now, would you have any idea of the airframe serial number of the Tristar which replaced ZE704 and flew us to KAF?

[Jhieminga]

Originally Posted by vascodegama

There was no C1 version .

Apologies, I should have typed K(C)1 but got my subtypes mixed up.

[Statty86]

Just to put this thread to bed......I heard back from the AHB and 216 Sqn's F540 (they didn't actually submit a F541) simply stated, "We've been very busy with flights to Afghanistan"

Anyway, thanks to Sideshow Bob I at least have one of the aircraft serial numbers.

[Biggus]

In my experience, writing a squadron 540 was usually a secondary duty given to a junior officer who had normally recently arrived on said squadron.

The quality of 540 entries could thus vary considerably, depending on the literary skills and enthusiasm of the authors. I do remember reading several missives from the AIr Historical Branch (usually from a retired Gp Capt?) during my career lamenting the poor quality of input, and asking for far more detail, including mission maps, photos, etc.

[BiISTAR]

Originally Posted by Biggus

In my experience, writing a squadron 540 was usually a secondary duty given to a junior officer who had normally recently arrived on said squadron.

The quality of 540 entries could thus vary considerably, depending on the literary skills and enthusiasm of the authors. I do remember reading several missives from the AIr Historical Branch (usually from a retired Gp Capt?) during my career lamenting the poor quality of input, and asking for far more detail, including mission maps, photos, etc.

can imagine how much effort would have gone in knowing it’s only real use would be to satisfy an oddballs query on the tail number for a non event decades later

[Statty86]

Yeah, in hindsight, many F540s/F541s could be significantly better........personally I would say mission maps/photos are a bit much. Flight / sortie data is already available on the Auth sheets, so not a great deal of effort required to take it from there.

When I read the ORBs for 240 OCU and 72 Sqn (86-90), again, there were no flight details recorded. As for an oddball query, not really, I think the permanent loss of RAF historical flight information is quite sad. If the F540s/F541s were better, I wouldn't have to pester PPRUNE would I?

[Asturias56]

Obscure question about unknown aircraft incident from 15 years ago - answered in 2 days - there IS a use for PPRUNE after all - not just keeping the demented off the streets

[Statty86]

Asturias56 I was particularly impressed to get an answer in 2 days. Additionally, Ken Scott has been really helpful for my Afghan in theatre Herc flights.

I appreciate it's rather an obscure/oddball question, but I need something to do in my retirement.....according to my wife, pretending to be a wine connoisseur, is not an excuse to start drinking at 9 in the morning

If the SFSG guys come back with the Bushmaster details, for my trips to Camp Juno....I'll be properly sorted