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Tridents...
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 18:46
by britishtourer
Hi again!
Just a quick question now that Tridents are dissappearing very quickly now - how many complete airframes are left?
I hope against hope there are at least 5.
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 18:56
by TobyV
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 21:08
by britishtourer
Unfortunately most of them seem to be in pieces. Thtat's why I don't want to see the BA one cut up.
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 21:41
by TobyV
I realise my list isnt that helpful "at a glance". To summarise, in the UK (since I cant imagine that many of us are off to China anytime soon).
'Complete' aircraft:
1C G-ARPH Cosford
1E None - last one - G-AVYE broken up Wroughton 1989
2E G-AVFB Duxford
3B G-AWZM Wroughton, G-AWZK Manchester
Noses/other sections:
1C G-ARPP Dumfries & Galloway - very poor condition
1E None
2E G-AVFH London Colney, G-AVFM Hampshire (privately owned)
3B G-AWZI Farnborough, G-AWZJ Dumfries & Galloway, G-AWZP Manchester, G-AWZU Hampshire (privately owned, stripped & unrestored)
Fire dump:
Teeside:
1C G-ARPO, 2E G-AVFJ (front half), 3B G-AWZS
Belfast:
2E G-AVFE
Manchester:
2E G-AVFG (front half)
Lyneham (possibly!)
2E G-AVFK (fuselage)
'FG has quite an interesting history, in fact I posted a short story involving it here:
http://www.aviationphotoarchive.com/Zul ... .php?t=486
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 21:44
by britishtourer
I find it very sad that China are taking better care of their Tridents than we are - we should be ashamed.
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 21:57
by TobyV
Thats not strictly true. Theres only one or possibly two that are in anything like decent condition. Many of the "museum" ones are very sorry looking with lots of bits missing and in one case, what appear to be a pair of modified dustbins welded in place to look like engines :k:
Many of the stored examples are pretty stripped out and are used as training tools for students learning aircraft maintanance. After the UK (which in total used something like 76 or 77 Tridents, China was the next largest operator with a total of 35, some of which were lost in accidents, thefts and one attempted coup d'etat, most have been broken up but a large number are stored for one purpose or another. The situation may improve in time though and there are some, like the two Super 3Bs I havent been able to get any photographic information on.
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 22:06
by ianhind
Interesting comment about the demise of 'RPT - ground collision. Not quite like that 748 collision with th A340 though.
Well I suppose 'RPT was on the ground, but 'MAD wasn't. And 'RPI was the other Trident involved - put back together for a future tragedy.
Ian
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 22:17
by TobyV
Yeah I had limited space (a few letters really) to describe that accident. G-AMAD was on approach to landing when part of the flap mechanism failed on one wing. During its crash it collided with 'PT and 'PI, the results of which can be seen here:
http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_ ... size=large
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 22:47
by ianhind
Toby,
That image is embedded in my memory having seen the aftermath for real. Along with G-ARPI a few years later. But the real horror was the remains of Vanguard G-APEE on 28R. :crying:
Ian
Posted: 07 Apr 2006, 00:46
by TSR2
