Ok, I’ve just been composing this in Mocrosoft Word and it’s come out as a bit of rant, but I’d ask you to please read through it and make your opinions known…
As stated elsewhere on the forum, the British Airways collection at Cosford is to be dispersed in the next few months, with a number of exhibits being transported up to East Fortune.
Sadly, some of the currently complete airframes are to be preserved as cockpits only. One of these airframes is HS Trident1C G-ARPH, currently the LAST complete Trident1C anywhere in the world.
The Trident was built in three major versions over a period of years: the initial Trident 1, the slightly enlarged, longer ranged and more powerful Trident 2 and finally the stretched Trident Three with a fourth ‘booster engine’. There are currently only four Tridents preserved in the UK, Cosford’s Trident1, Duxford’s Trident2 and a pair of Trident Threes at Wroughton and Manchester airport respectively. The other UK survivors are either cockpits only or they’re being reduced to cinders as fire trainers at various places around the UK.
The Chinese bought a number of Trident 1,2 & 3 export models, and some of these are still extant in China. However, the condition of most of these is extremely poor whilst those listed as preserved are by no means guaranteed long term survival. It’s also worth pointing out that the export models differed quite considerably from the examples built for BEA/BA. G-ARPH is therefore unique, and the last chance to preserve a Trident 1 in the UK and probably worldwide. If the current rate of decline continues, it seems quite likely that we’ll be able to count the number of worldwide Trident survivors of all three versions on the fingers of one hand in about ten years.
It’s a great shame that any of the Cosford airliners should have to be broken up, particularly the 707, but it’s in many ways understandable given the airframes’ current condition and the lack of support from BA. What marks out the Trident from the rest is that it has continued to receive TLC from volunteers right up to the present, and has never been left to deteriorate. As a result, the aircraft is in excellent condition and is by no means ripe for scrapping. What we have then is a complete, unique example of one of the last great British airliners, in excellent condition and highly deserving of continued preservation as a whole airframe.
I’ve been mulling things over for the last couple of days, and the more I think about the situation the more I feel that something HAS to be done to try and prevent the airframe from being broken up. Even if she were to be broken up as planned, at least it wouldn’t be for lack of trying.
I’ve been thinking of ways of doing this, from starting an online petition to writing to BA/RAFM management and even local MP’s. I know there are a number of people on this forum who’ve been closely involved in similar situations and I would very much appreciate any ideas and advice on the best way forward. It would also be great to have some idea of just how many people are interested in saving this aircraft.
Ok, rant over and it’s over to you…
By: TobyV - 5th April 2006 at 00:07
Having already witnessed the antipathy BA holds against it’s historic fleet (re: the eviction from Heathrow of the TPS Trident 3) I don’t hold out much hope of being able to visit intact Boeing 757’s Airbus 320’s or anything else of BA’s past when I’m old and grey…
To be fair to BA, it was of no further use to them, and with the security situation post 9/11 it was pretty much impossible to get volunteers – let alone visitors – airside passes at LHR it didnt have a future there. They have been quite helpful to us throughout the project and they did put up the money to have it dismantled.
I dont have a problem with EF getting the Trident, I’d just rather they got all of it.. theres enough Trident noses around already but very few aircraft as you can see from the list I posted above 🙁
By: David Burke - 4th April 2006 at 23:43
At Seattle they are restoring a Comet 4 to show what Great Britain was doing whilst they were building the Boeing 707. Amazing that the U.K cannot manage to preserve one 707 !
By: HP81 - 4th April 2006 at 23:39
This is a disgraceful situation, the Trident 1 should not be reduced in any way, this is a very rare aeroplane.
The VC10 is a crying shame, but at least there are examples still flying & opinion seems to be that an RAF example will be preserved in the future. The 707 was always going to need extra effort to preserve it, because of its inferior build quality, this didn’t happen & it has ended up in rather poor condition, It’s hard enough to find any money in the UK for commercial aircraft preservation so perhaps we should concentrate on our own products. The CL44-O bieng an exception of course 😀
S.B.
By: Ren Frew - 4th April 2006 at 23:21
As much as I’m happy to hear of new commercial exhibits coming to East Fortune, I can’t help but wonder how many a visitor will answer the question posed by their eager offspring when confronted by another nose cone… “Daddy why was it called a Trident ?” 😮
OK, maybe I could weigh up the economic, preservation and other arguments/issues associated with the breakup of disused airliners and museum relics gathering rust when there may be several of them around. But when you have the last intact example of a particular type in the country, the powers that be really need to to better to preserve them in one piece.
Having already witnessed the antipathy BA holds against it’s historic fleet (re: the eviction from Heathrow of the TPS Trident 3) I don’t hold out much hope of being able to visit intact Boeing 757’s Airbus 320’s or anything else of BA’s past when I’m old and grey…
By: J31/32 - 4th April 2006 at 20:24
We’ve witnessed the successful relocation of G-AWZK to Manchester, why not do the same with the Cosford example,corrosion withstanding,?
It’s a pity the De Havilland museum don’t have space for it.
I’m appalled the 707 is allegedly getting the chop (well,mostly). A Comet and a 707 side by side is a great exhibit for the dawn of jet travel.
Sadly, money talks nowadays and heritage is generally not a part an airlines agenda except for some notable examples such as Atlantic, SAA flight.
Let’s hope that this situation is not going to happen in the future, although with the number of larger aircraft ‘preserved’ outdoors at the moment, I fear it will.
J man
By: TobyV - 4th April 2006 at 19:53
I have only just heard about this and I am very disappointed. From what I hear the VC10 wont survive in once piece either.
I have recently compiled a fleet list of all Tridents built and their current status as part of the forthcoming new website of the Trident Preservation Society. The list can be viewed by clicking here .
By: wildcat - 4th April 2006 at 19:33
Was this Trident also responsible for carrying out the first blind landing trials?
If so it surely adds to its historical significance. this aside she has been lavished a lot of TLC over the years.
This all begs the following questions:
1. BA still appear to have some capital available as they are reportedly supporting the preservation of the airframes moving up to East Fortune.
2. The BA website gives the outward impression that they are proud to have the collection under their (pardon the pun) wing.
The more I read the less sense it makes- or am I missing something?
By: jaybeebee - 4th April 2006 at 18:01
I’m all for saving it complete, why the hell not ? What good is a nose section anyway, 99% of ‘modern’ jet liners look identical once reduced to nose only.
Well said!
By: Ren Frew - 4th April 2006 at 17:46
I’m all for saving it complete, why the hell not ? What good is a nose section anyway, 99% of ‘modern’ jet liners look identical once reduced to nose only.
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April 4, 2006 at 5:38 pm