LHR Trident BEA paint scheme
 

I was most impressed to see that the Trident of "Trident Corner" fame has been repainted in a beautiful BEA scheme. No, I don't mean British European (Part of Walker Aviation) formerly JEA, but rather the original 1960s British European Airways. It really is immaculately finished, and a credit to whoever is responsible.

It is a real piece of aviation heritage, and is parked just north of Hatton Cross station on the Eastern Perimeter track.

Afraid to say the B@st*rds Against Aviation scrapped the Trident 2 at what was Comet Corner (they scrapped that as well) Obviously it is not a shop so the only possible option was to get whatever money they could!! I think the one you saw was a 3B which you sometimes see towed about, I think to test jetties. Unfortunately it's wings are slightly clipped, but, as you say a real credit to the guys who look after it. Thank God somebody is interested in heritage rather than shops at LHR. Before the Comet there used to be an Argonaut. Shame would have made an interesting line up. Ho Hum.

Good grief, I sound like a real anorak - I'm off for a scotch!! ;)

The work was done by the Trident Preservation Society (www.dh121.org.uk).

Thanks Guvnor, I'll check out their website. Since I work for Birdseed Airways I am constantly haunted by the phrase "It was never like this on Tridents" by the old codgers who flew them, so it's nice to see one in the 'flesh'.

[ 24 August 2001: Message edited by: hooperfly ]

Regrettably it's http://www.hs121.org.uk !!

"Ahhhhh - De Havilland!!" - as Uncle Roger used to say when the 'Weekly Learmouth' was worth reading!!

Gave a conditional line up clearance to a BA A319 after an EAC BAC 1-11 on 27R yesterday. (Obviously young) BA lady driver could not figure out what I was talking about!! Maybe I should have said DC9!!

Congratulations to all those involved.A job well done. It looks great and brought back quite a few memories

Currently "building" an old airfix model of a Trident (I'm no good at nintendo, and such like, and it's too hot to wear an anorak during a Texas summer).

I need to take some pix of the fresh paint job at LHR for reference, next time I'm "home".

Anyone remember those 'orrible yellow Tridents acquired from some carrier by BA who simply had the then "new" flag style tail paint job superimposed? Maybe Ayling was on to something. You know, stick out like a sore thumb etc.

I still laugh when I read the old salts suggesting the Trident only became airborne thanks to the fact that the earth is round.

dd

sorry guys but as a licenced engineer,these old aeroplanes are a nightmare! i have heard eac r getting rid of their 1-11's [which i maintain @stn] in march 2002 hoooraaaay!!! good riddance!!!!! :) :) :) :)

DD, Don't be rude about Northeast Airlines "The Fast and Friendly Way". Whats more those were T1E's just about the best of the Tridents.

Remember Cyprus Airways Tridents at LHR? And did Cambrian ever have Tridents too? I think Channel Airways at one stage...
Was the Argonaut the fuse over at the fire practice? so many questions!
(I often wondered what happened to the "In-Flight Training" Comet)

Apparently, there's still one or two Tridents still at that airport in Cyprus that's on the 'green line' between the Greeks and Turks and now disused - lots of bullet holes in them, though!

Any one know when the next open day is? I'd love to have a look around!

Come on someone - it really isn't that difficult to take a digital photo or two of the 'BEA Trident' and to post them on some website, then import them here!

Isn't 'that airport in Cyprus' in fact Nicosia? I once saw a TV programme which showed that the aircraft were full of dust and sand and had been damaged as a result of the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus.

Hopefully when the 2 protaganists graduate from their mediaeval levels of diplomacy, Nicosia might re-open? One or other of the Cyprus Airways Tridents would make a good 'gate guardian'!!

But whilst the arrant and dangerous stupidity of 'Ercan' v. 'Nicosia' goes on, there's fat chance of that!!

[ 27 August 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

Yep - Nicosia Airport, closed since the 22nd July 1974. I read a report on it fairly recently, complete with pix ... everything there is still as it was left over 27 years ago! Five Tridents are there: 5B-DAB and 5B-DAE were damaged beyond repair by Turkish troops. The airport remains under UN control.

Very interesting article on the Nicosia situation here: Nicosia

As well as the Tridents at Nicosia, there are (or were when I was last there, while wearing an earlier 'hat') some 70s model new cars still in the showrooms on the way to the airport.

Dallas Dude

Don't know if this is the paint scheme you're looking for, but here is as link to some Trident pics in BEA livery.
http://www.photovault.com/Link/Techn...Trident2E.html

BusyB,

No offence intended, old chap. Just reminiscing the oddity of a BA tail scheme on a banana coloured aeroplane.

Covenant, thanks for the link.

Anyone from (then) City Poly remember Basil
explain to anyone that cared that "his" wing wasn't responsible for the Staines accident?

Cheers,dd.

[ 29 August 2001: Message edited by: dallas dude ]

The wing wasn't responsible for PI's deep stall. Pulling the droops in well below the approved speed of 225kts and then not allowing the stall protection system to do its job was.

The fact Papa India entered a superstall is well known.

The question and mystery was and remains why the wee ginger headed Scot allowed it to happen in the first place, and what went on in the cockpit prior to the accident- (aerosol's etc) -thus resulting in the introduction of CVR'S.