TriStar Retires After 30 Years Service with the RAF

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2014

The Lockheed TriStar has flown its last operational mission with the Royal Air Force bringing to an end 30 years of service which saw the aircraft at the heart of operations around the world.

On Monday 24th March two TriStar’s of 216 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton flew an air-to-air refuelling mission over the North Sea before one conducted flypasts at airfields associated with its history.

During its service the TriStar, fondly known as ‘Timmy’ by its crews, has formed the backbone of long range air transport and air-to-air refuelling, participating in nearly every British conflict since it was brought into service.

• Full article: RAF's website

TriStar bows out of UK service

Source: IHS/Patrick Allen

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has retired the last of its Lockheed L-1011 TriStar tanker-transport aircraft, with a final sortie having been flown on 24 March.
The final flight out of the type's homebase at RAF Brize Norton in Oxforshire brought to an end 30 years of TriStar service for the RAF, with 216 Squadron having been formally deactivated on 20 March.

• Full article: Here

Aviation News - TriStar Tribute

Latest issue of Aviation News magazine brings us two articles about the TriStar: 

- TriStars of the RAF

- TriStar - Lockheed's Airliner Swansong

Aviation News - March 2014

Although this edition seems to be out of stock, its digital version is still available for those who have smartphones or tablets.

The L-1011 era is coming to an end soon

Royal Air Force

TriStar - an era coming to an end © Royal Air Force

Yesterday, Royal Air Force retired one more L-1011 TriStar - ZE705 - on a ferry flight from Brize Norton to Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome. ZD953 and ZE704 should follow soon and in the end of March the three last TriStars are scheduled to be retired as well.

Las Vegas Sands

Repair works on Las Vegas Sand's N388LS were announced on March of 2013 but scrapping is now the most probable fate for this aircraft.

Sky Capital Airlines

L-1011 S2-AET - which was stored for a long time at Dhaka Airport - was finally scrapped last February.

S2-AET scrapped © Shabbir Bashar

This aircraft and the preparation of its ferry flight to Dhaka was featured on this Air Utopia's DVD.