Lockheed Tristar L-1011385 -3 serving with the RAF as ZD953 in 216 Squadron

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The Royal Air Force operated nine L-1011-500s TriStars, six ex-British Airways and three ex-Pan Am. The TriStars were bought in the immediate aftermath of the Falklands War to bolster the long range capability of the RAF in the transport and tanker roles, as the demands of refuelling Hercules supporting forces stationed in the Falklands was rapidly using up the fatigue life of the RAF's Handley Page Victor tankers. A requirement for at least four wide-bodied tanker/transports was drawn up. At the same time, British Airways wished to dispose of its Lockheed L-1011-500 aircraft, and so put in a joint bid with Marshall Aerospace to supply six TriStars. The initial order for the ex-British Airways TriStars was placed on 14 December 1982; the three ex-Pan Am aircraft were purchased in 1984. All of the aircraft served with No. 216 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton.

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Size: 4174px × 2774px
Location: RAF Kinloss Moray Scotland.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 193v-1174, 9, 1966, 2014, aircraft, built, k1, lockheed, tristar