Simply Planes uses cookies, click here to learn how to change your cookie settings and/or read more about cookies

 

Lockheed TriStar

 

TriStar KC.1 ZE704  216 Sqn. 15th July 2003 at RAF Brize Norton

TriStar KC.1 ZE704 216 Sqn. 15th July 2003. Photo by Adrian M. Balch

 

The Lockheed TriStar was in service with 216 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton for almost thirty years. Nine examples were converted for the RAF and operated in a number of roles including air-to-air refueling, freight transport, passenger transport and aero medical evacuation. The final TriStar operation was completed on the 24th March 2014 and on the 25th March 2014 the last four aircraft left RAF Brize Norton for the final time and were delivered to Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicestershire.

 

 

 

 

The TriStar was Lockheed’s last commercial transport design. A total of 250 examples were built of which 50 were of the 500 series that was optimised for use on long thin routes; shortened fuselage and stretched wing delivering a significant increase in range.

In the aftermath of the Falklands War the RAF had an urgent need to increase its transport and tanking capacity. Changes in passenger demand and the advent of the long range ETOPS twin-engined airliners had resulted in a number of low hours tri-jets being available. Marshall’s proposal to meet the requirement with a fleet of TriStars was accepted.

Throughout their RAF service the TriStars have been operated by 216 Sqn. The final fleet consisted of 9 TriStar 500s, 6 came from British Airways and the other 3 from Pan American. Within this small fleet there were 4 separate configurations:

K1 Single point tanker, 196 seats.
KC1 Single point tanker with freight door, reinforced floor and cargo handling equipment
C2 267 passenger configuration
C2A As C2 but with some changes to avionics fit.

Original plans to add wing mounted refuelling pods were not implemented. ZD949 was fitted with a glass cockpit but the modification was not adopted for the fleet and the sole example was retired without re-entering service.

To meet the urgent requirement for transport to the Falklands, 2 aircraft were used initially in airline configuration and manned by British Airways crews. In 1984 RAF crews took over. In 1985 these aircraft were replaced by the first 2 ex-Pan Am examples to allow the ex BA aircraft to enter tanker conversion.

During its service life the TriStar supported operations in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, the Falklands and the air defence of the UK.

 

ZD948

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD948 (ex G-BFCA) in interim scheme before conversion

TriStar KC.1 ZD948 (ex G-BFCA) in interim scheme before conversion. Photo by David Johnson

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD948 at Goose Bay. 4th July 2009

TriStar KC.1 ZD948 at Goose Bay. 4th July 2009. Photo by Denis J. Calvert Inter-Air Press.

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD948

TriStar KC.1 ZD948. Photo by Stephen Anisman

 

ZD949

 

Lead aircraft for upgrade including conversion to glass cockpit. Delivered to Marshall late 2007. Retired on cancellation of project under SDR2010. It was the only aircraft never repainted grey.

 

TriStar ZD949 in temporary desert pink finish for Operation Granby

TriStar ZD949 in temporary desert pink finish for Operation Granby. Photo by Bob Archer

 

TriStar ZD949 on a tanking mission. 15th May 1996

TriStar ZD949 on a tanking mission. 15th May 1996. Photo by Bob Archer

 

TriStar ZD949 with pale blue cheatline

TriStar ZD949 with pale blue cheatline. Photo by Michael Palmer

 

ZD950

 

TriStar ZD950 with 13 Sqn Tornado GR1A in 75th anniversary scheme

TriStar ZD950 with 13 Sqn Tornado GR1A in 75th anniversary scheme. Photo by Peter R Foster

 

TriStar ZD950

TriStar ZD950. Photo by Jamie Ewan

 

ZD951

 

TriStar ZD951 in temporary desert pink finish for Operation Granby

TriStar ZD951 in temporary desert pink finish for Operation Granby. Photo by Bob Archer

 

TriStar ZD951

TriStar ZD951. Photo by Alec Moulton

 

TriStar ZD951 at RAF Brize Norton 24th March 2014

TriStar ZD951 at RAF Brize Norton. 24th March 2014. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

ZD952

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE)

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE). Photo by Alec Moulton

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE)

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE). Photo by Bob Franklin

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE)

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE). Photo by Bob Archer

 

ZD953

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 (ex G-BFCF)

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 (ex G-BFCF). Photo by Stephen Anisman

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 (ex G-BFCF)

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 (ex G-BFCF). Photo by Derek Bower

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 (ex G-BFCF) prepares to leave Cambridge Airport after the last TriStar major overhaul, 3rd May 2013

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 (ex G-BFCF) prepares to leave Cambridge Airport after the last TriStar major overhaul, 3rd May 2013. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

ZE704

 

ZE704 C2 (ex N508PA), white with natural metal underside at Brize Norton 17th October 1987

ZE704 C2 (ex N508PA), white with natural metal underside at Brize Norton 17th October 1987. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

TriStar C2 ZE704 (ex N508PA)

TriStar C2 ZE704 (ex N508PA). Photo by Bob Franklin

 

ZE705

 

TriStar C2 ZE705 (ex N509PA) at Cambridge Airport

TriStar C2 ZE705 (ex N509PA) at Cambridge Airport. Photo by Gerry Weatherhead

 

ZE706

 

TriStar C2A ZE706 (ex N503PA)

TriStar C2A ZE706 (ex N503PA). Photo by John Bradshaw

 

TriStar ZE706 Cambridge 7th August 2013

TriStar ZE706 Cambridge. 7th August 2013. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

 

TriStars at work

 

 

ZD948

 

ZD948, night stop after trailing four Tornados to Nellis Air Base at Las Vegas for Red Flag in 2004

ZD948, night stop after trailing four Tornados to Nellis Air Base at Las Vegas for Red Flag in 2004. Photo by Keith Campbell

 

ZD951

 

TriStar ZD951 refuels a Buccaneer during Operation Corporate

TriStar ZD951 refuels a Buccaneer during Operation Corporate. Photo by Denis J. Calvert Inter-Air Press

 

ZD952

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE)

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE). Photo by Bob Franklin

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE)

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE). Photo by Bob Franklin

 

ZD953

 

ZD953

ZD953. Photo by Keith Campbell

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 RAF 216 Sqn, Ottawa uplands. 3rd March 1987

TriStar KC.1 ZD953 RAF 216 Sqn, Ottawa uplands. 3rd March 1987. Photo by Adrian M. Balch

 

TriStar ZD951 with Tornado F3s of 25 Sqn

TriStar ZD951 with Tornado F3s of 25 Sqn. Photo by Rick Brewell

 

ZD953 with refuelling probe, Brize Norton 17th October 1987

ZD953 with refuelling probe, Brize Norton 17th October 1987. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

ZE704

 

TriStar C2 ZE704 (ex N508PA), standard white scheme at Brize Norton. 6th October 1990

TriStar C2 ZE704 (ex N508PA), standard white scheme at Brize Norton. 6th October 1990. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

TriStar C2 ZE704 (ex N508PA)

TriStar C2 ZE704 (ex N508PA). Photo by Bob Franklin

 

TriStar KC.1 ZE704 at Brize Norton

TriStar KC.1 ZE704 at Brize Norton. 15th July 2003. Photo by Stephen Anisman

 

ZE705

 

TriStar ZE705 arriving at Cambridge for the last TriStar scheduled maintenance. 13th May 2013

TriStar ZE705 arriving at Cambridge for the last TriStar scheduled maintenance. 13th May 2013. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

ZE706

 

TriStar ZE706

TriStar ZE706. Photo by Stephen Anisman

 

 

216 Squadron's last operational flight and TriStar retirement flights

 

 

ZE705

 

TriStar ZE705 lands at Bruntingthorpe Airfield

TriStar ZE705 lands at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

ZD952

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE) retires to Cotswold Airport (formally Kemble). 3rd February 2014

TriStar KC.1 ZD952 (ex G-BFCE) retires to Cotswold Airport (formally Kemble). 3rd February 2014. Photo by Paul Brown

 

ZD953

 

TriStar ZD953 lands at Bruntingthorpe Airfield

TriStar ZD953 lands at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

On the 24th of March 2014 216 Squadron from RAF Brize Norton flew the last ever TriStar air to air refuelling exercise, it was carried out by TriStar ZD948 which was also giving a flight to TriStar enthusiasts from around the country. Receiving aircraft were a Tornado GR4 and several Typhoons. Also flying alongside ZD948 was another TriStar ZD950 which had media and photographers on board who were capturing the last sortie for posterity.

 

ZD948

 

TriStar ZD948 follows ZD950 out for takeoff

TriStar ZD948 follows ZD950 out for takeoff. Photo by Chris Cannon

 

Tornado GR4 ZG705 over the North Sea. 24th March 2014

Tornado GR4 ZG705 over the North Sea. 24th March 2014. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

TriStar KC1 ZD948 216 Sqn refuels Typhoon FGR4 ZJ917 OO-G 3 Sqn. 24th March 2014

TriStar KC1 ZD948 216 Sqn refuels Typhoon FGR4 ZJ917 OO-G 3 Sqn. 24th March 2014. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

Typhoon ZJ914

Typhoon ZJ914. Photo by Chris Cannon

 

TriStar ZD948

TriStar ZD948. Photo by Steven Comber

 

RAF Typhoons after refuelling from TriStar ZD948. 24th March 2014

RAF Typhoons after refuelling from TriStar ZD948. 24th March 2014. Photo by Richard Andrews

 

ZD950

 

TriStar KC.1 ZD950 RAF 216 Sqn. 24th March 2014

TriStar KC.1 ZD950 RAF 216 Sqn. 24th March 2014. Photo by Richard Andrews

 

TriStar ZD950 crew

TriStar ZD950 crew. Photo by Steven Comber

 

TriStar ZE704

TriStar ZE704. Photo by Steven Comber

 

TriStar ZD952 with the 30th anniversary tail art

TriStar ZD952 with the 30th anniversary tail art. Photo by Steven Comber

 

On the 25th of March 2014 the last four TriStar aircraft from RAF Brize Norton were retired to Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicestershire, bringing a close to almost thirty years of service with the RAF.

 

ZE704

 

TriStar ZE704 departs RAF Brize Norton

TriStar ZE704 departs RAF Brize Norton. Photo by Steven Comber

 

TriStar C2 ZE704 at Bruntingthorpe Airfield 25th March 2014

TriStar C2 ZE704 at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. 25th March 2014. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

ZD950

 

TriStar ZD950 departs RAF Brize Norton. 25th March 2014

TriStar ZD950 departs RAF Brize Norton. 25th March 2014. Photo by Steven Comber

 

TriStar KC1 ZD950 Bruntingthorpe Airfield. 25 March 2014

TriStar KC1 ZD950 Bruntingthorpe Airfield. 25 March 2014. Photo by John Bradshaw

 

ZD948

 

TriStar ZD948 at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. 25th March 2014

TriStar ZD948 at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. 25th March 2014. Photo by Steven Comber

 

ZD951

 

TriStar ZD951 at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. 25th March 2014

TriStar ZD951 at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. 25th March 2014. Photo by Steven Comber