The strange routings of Eastern Bloc freighters

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by ex-EGLL

Turned out this aircraft arrived and departed on 2 engines!

Did Belfast have a longer runways in those days ?

[Liffy 1M]

Originally Posted by ex-EGLL

Back in the '70's working ATC at Belfast we had the occasional visit from an eastern block TU154. One day some intelligence types were playing around with their electronic gizmos. Turned out this aircraft arrived and departed on 2 engines...... the centre engine pod was full of detection devices!!

It would have been interesting if one of the "two" other engines had failed. I must say I find this hard to believe. Balkan were probably the most common operator of the Tu-154 into UK airports (and also Dublin) around that time. Even if some extra electronics had been fitted, I can't see how one of three engines on an aircraft designed to operate with three would or could have been sacrificed.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Liffy 1M

It would have been interesting if one of the "two" other engines had failed. I must say I find this hard to believe. Balkan were probably the most common operator of the Tu-154 into UK airports (and also Dublin) around that time. Even if some extra electronics had been fitted, I can't see how one of three engines on an aircraft designed to operate with three would or could have been sacrificed.

And I'd have though it wouldn't require MI5's electronic gizmos to detect that the centre engine had been replaced by a load of equipment.