Tri Star bowing out.
 

The RAF TriStar has made its last flight from Afghanistan.
It will retire on the 31st March.
TriStar makes final flight in support of Afghanistan operations
mmitch.

Yet another type for the increasingly sad knackers yard at Bruntingthorpe.

I feel old again, I pre-date them, remember them coming in to service... :ooh:

There's sad - came back from FI in the third seat for both legs.


Was a member of the Tristar crew quiz team early 86 at MPA (pre RAF Mount Pleasant). Team was always called "If we don't Win, We won't Fly You Home"! On one occasion we did win, which meant beating a hasty retreat from amongst the (very bulky) contractors' personnel, who reckoned we had "stolen" their beer money.

Used to fly them a lot as SLF on Gulf air and BA. Wonderful machines though one I flew with Saudi Air aborted 3 take offs from Khamis Mushayt. Slightly concerned on the 4th when we finally got airborne!

Wonder how many hours the last one had on it?

The last passenger DC10 is also bowing out of service this month.

Real aeroplanes and such a shame!

Wander00

Third seat? Were you standing in for the Flt Engineer :)

Much of my flying life was spent in three-holers, both the Tristar and the DC10 of various hues.

Great aircraft, I loved the Tristar more as an office, but the DC10 was probably the better aircraft in a commercial sense.

Sad not to see them flying again, but there are other things in life. I'm just glad I had the time I did.

Enjoying a drink with a Tristar Flight Engineer in the Death Star at MPA (1987). Bemoaning the fact that he still wasn't used to other aircraft getting close and plugging in to refuel he went on to say: "When I first joined Transport Command, formation flying was 2 Britannias travelling to Cyprus on the same day."

Bruntingthorpe? One is already at Kemble!

A few points:
Last "trooper" flight does not mean last task into/out/over Afghan.
Flight was reportedly from "middle east hub" not Afghan, this is probably a political fudge, because the FSTA cannot go into Bastion, despite the fact that the TriStar is the best platform for the hostile task.
DD. TriStar is a better flying machine than DC10. Don't worry about seeing them around, the Scottish air force will buy them and show the RAF how make money with them! :eek:

OAP

OAP

I'm not a great fan of the PFI but this:

Bastion

from Dec 13 according to the Govt website suggests otherwise.

Not yet perhaps!
 

Saw a piece in USA that Omni the US civil AAR contractor may be interested in them. Ready made AAR assets to add to their portfolio. Mentions less than a £mil for the lot. Cheaper an Omni TriStar on Falklands stby than mega bucks Voyager?

Voyager definitely operates into and out of Bastion.

Quote:
Voyager definitely operates into and out of Bastion.

Yes, even a picture of it. Why the political blurb about "direct" when they operate a non-hostile hub then?

OAP

Are we absolutely sure about that :=

IF - depends how you count - probably 4th seat then - but made very welcome by 216. Mind you I recall the flak the RAF, collectively and individually got if Tristar round trip was missed, as was the case after one continued rather further down the glide path than had been intended. Also recall the aircraft carrying the relatives of those killed in the FI conflict, which suffered a centre engine surge on take off from MPA and aborted take off. That was a shaken bunch of passengers.


PS - Apologies to the Flight Engineer

Shades of the Belfast there. Sell fleet as SNLR. Re-hire capability back.

Terrific.

In BAED we didn't carry an FE; two FOs took turns operating the systems panel.

Top Bunk Tester wrote: Of course, it would be a brave person who decided to scrap one type when its replacement hasn't yet entered fully into service.

And, of course, if some unforeseen serious issue affecting any single type's role capability should result in it being grounded, the MoD would be rather up that creek without a paddle.....and embarking upon another 'capability holiday'......:rolleyes:

Even in your advanced years Beags I note that your crystal ball has passed it's functionals 'satis':ok: