Page 4 of 6

Posted: 07 Aug 2006, 17:17
by Garry Russell
The Trident was probably the most hated aircraft ever to the residents near Heathrow..such was it's high noise level on landing. It was a type that everyone knew the name even if that was the only name they knew.

But as to the enthusiasts it was very popuplar due to it's comparitive rarerity away from the UK and achieved almost cult status.

So apart from the above who moaned about the Tridents, many of which were probably other types as well it was very popular.

I can honestly say overall it was a popular aeroplane and people who I spoke to that flew in Tridents loved them.

Garry

Posted: 07 Aug 2006, 17:23
by TobyV
Also a very safe and reliable aircraft. If you look at the list of accidents an incidents on my website, you'll see all are attributed to human error, or terrorist/criminal action, none to mechanical failure.

Posted: 07 Aug 2006, 17:31
by Garry Russell
Indeed Toby and contrary to poular myth it wasn't difficult to take off, it like anything else had is figures and procedures and that was that.

Those same seem to forget DC 8-61 and their 11,000 ft take off runs

Garry

Posted: 07 Aug 2006, 18:05
by DaveB
I was lucky enough to fly in a Trident from LHR to Lisbon back in '76. Smashing flight, smashing aircraft.. felt like I was a movie star :wink: As for the sound.. well, 3 RR Speys in close formation.. plenty of noise, plenty of smoke.. Classic :wink: :lol:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Posted: 08 Aug 2006, 12:48
by Town of_Hgate
Methinks you chaps protest too much :tuttut: Trident just did not cut it in the harsh world of commercial airliners. Though it really pains me to say it, the Americans did a better job.

Anyway trying to pull this thread back on topic, have any of you ever tried any of the Mega Airports series?

Posted: 08 Aug 2006, 13:13
by Garry Russell
Actually DH did a better job and Boeing were considering building it under licence.

Its systems were very advanced for the time as was the engineering.

Then DH was forced to change it into a BEA version that BEA as it turned out didn't want either :sad:

Garry

Posted: 08 Aug 2006, 13:25
by TobyV
If, the Trident had been a bit longer and been powered by Medways rather than Speys, and if we had been in a position to build it in larger numbers then the Trident would probably have outsold the 727 IMHO. Its been said that even if more orders for it had been received, they wouldnt have been able to build them fast enough, to which I think the answer would have been to create a second production line at Chester. Most of the constituent companies of BAC, HSA and their BAe successor have often (if not always?) been scratching around for enough to keep the workers occupied before the inevitable closure of a factory and slimming down of the operation when not enough work was available.

Considering the rate of production we achieved during WWII, the ability to do it here certainly existed, if only there was a product worthy of such mass production in all respects.

Posted: 08 Aug 2006, 16:53
by jonesey2k
I wish I could go back in time and tell BEA to STFU and then tell HS to build "their" aeroplane. :smile:

Anyway Back on topic. I reckon the Aerowrx KingAir B200 is a cracking bit of software.

Posted: 08 Aug 2006, 17:36
by Garry Russell
jonesey2k wrote:I wish I could go back in time and tell BEA to STFU and then tell HS to build "their" aeroplane. :smile:

Anyway Back on topic. I reckon the Aerowrx KingAir B200 is a cracking bit of software.
Trouble is Jonesey BEA were who it was being built for and at that time the only customer.

So the choice DH had was BEA or nothing.

Garry

Posted: 08 Aug 2006, 21:06
by DispatchDragon
The thread seems to have drifted a little - but anyone ever thought about the
outcome to civil aviation if DH had designed the comet with oval windows from the getgo????



Leif