Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth – Trident Picture
This week our Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday. We’ve been sent this picture of her following a flight back to Heathrow on board Trident 3B G-AWZV following a five day royal tour of Yugoslavia along with Prince Philip and Princess Anne on 21st October 1972. In uniform from right to left:- Capt Charles Owens (Chief Pilot), Capt Jeff Ingleton, SFO Carl Schofield, FO Steve White, who kindly sent the picture...
Read MoreAnother photo of G-ARPO in service
We’ve recently found this photo of G-ARPO in service with BEA at Heathrow. Thanks to the photographer, Steve Burland, for letting us use it. We love seeing our Trident when it was active, so if you have any pictures of her please send them in for our archive, and to share with you all...
Read MoreWork begins on horizontal stabiliser
Work has begun on preparing and securing some of the parts of G-ARPO which have been stored since she arrived in Sunderland 6 years ago. Last weekend members of the team were at the museum to begin work on the horizontal stabiliser, beginning the process of combating corrosion which has appeared in the structure. Around three quarters of the damaged fairing on top of the stabiliser was removed so that access to the corrosion underneath could be gained. We also removed a lot of accumulated dirt, birds nests, vegetation and other unwanted material in preparation for re-plating the corroded...
Read MoreWhen G-ARPO’s engine exploded!
We recently spoke to another former pilot of our Trident 1C, John Preston, who recounted the story of the only emergency in his flying career which actually took place on G-ARPO. As part of the crew preparing to fly the aircraft back to London from Rome on 1st October, 1970, upon commencing their take-off run the number 1 engine suddenly exploded causing them to abandon take-off immediately. Upon inspection, they found that all but the outer casing of the engine had disintegrated, spreading fragments of metal all over the runway and even penetrating one of the rear toilets on board the...
Read MoreG-ARPO’s last commercial flight
Some photos have recently surfaced of the day of our Trident, G-ARPO’s, last commercial flight on 16th March 1983. Andy Butcher, a former Trident pilot who flew all three variants of the aircraft at different points in his career, was Captain on the final passenger flight which saw the aircraft fly from Glasgow to London Heathrow. Following this it was put in storage for a number of months before flying up to Teesside Airport for use by the CAA Fire Training School. Andy took a few photos of the aircraft before and after the flight, and you can see them below (click for larger...
Read MoreTrident Move Complete!
Over the past two days we have managed to reach a major milestone in the project to save Trident 1C G-ARPO. We have now moved the entire aircraft to the North East Aircraft Museum. Yesterday, we managed to move the starboard wing and the horizontal stabiliser. Today, the port wing and tail fin were moved, along with the remaining bits and pieces that had been removed (flaps, engine casings) and a set of aircraft steps. A minor setback on the first day saw the tail unable to fit onto the trailer as it was too long. In a last minute stroke of luck, we were able to hire the assistance of an...
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