G-AWZK Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident 3B British European Airways
With the current "fever pitch" surrounding the ever popular BA Retro Jets recently revealed by British Airways to celebrate the carriers centenary, here's another look at a recently forgotten lady residing inthe Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport.
Taken on 2nd June 2007, when she was just after being re-assembled following her relocation from London Heathrow.
Wearing the original "BEA High Speed Jack" livery, one can only wish for this splendid livery being applied to a modern day aircraft with British Airways.
"Zulu Kilo" was delivered new to BEA onJanuary 9th 1962 and flew with the airline through the merger with BOAC to form British Airways until Her final flight which was was from Belfast to London Heathrow on Friday 1 November 1985 as BA4653.
Retired from commercial flying, "Zulu Kilo" remained at London Heathrow for use as a towing trainer, de-icing practise, and for a short while for counter terrorism training.
In 1991 her wings were clipped by 15 feet each in order to make more space on the ground for the ever expanding fleet of BA.
Following the terrorist attack on 9/11, and the ensuing heightened security around all international airports, in became impossible for volunteers to gain access to LHR and "Zulu Kilo", and withdrawal from use a s a towing Training airframe by the airline owing to a substantial amount of work needing to be carried out on the undercarriage.
The year 2003 was a bleak and uncertain one for "Zulu Kilo" as it seemed certain the aircraft would succumb to the fate of the axe man. However, Neil Lomax who was one of the original restorers of ZK, publicised its plight on an internet forum. Two others joined him in efforts to set up a fund raising initiative in order to raise the required money to move the aircraft to Manchester Airport Viewing Park who has previously expressed interest in displaying it.
Work on dismantling the aircraft was started in 2004, although it would be 2006 before "Zulu Kilo" made her final jouney from London Heathrow to Manchester, owing to the mountain of paperwork, funding, organisation, planning involved in moving a once proud flying machine over 200 miles by road.
G-AWZK Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident 3B British European Airways
With the current "fever pitch" surrounding the ever popular BA Retro Jets recently revealed by British Airways to celebrate the carriers centenary, here's another look at a recently forgotten lady residing inthe Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport.
Taken on 2nd June 2007, when she was just after being re-assembled following her relocation from London Heathrow.
Wearing the original "BEA High Speed Jack" livery, one can only wish for this splendid livery being applied to a modern day aircraft with British Airways.
"Zulu Kilo" was delivered new to BEA onJanuary 9th 1962 and flew with the airline through the merger with BOAC to form British Airways until Her final flight which was was from Belfast to London Heathrow on Friday 1 November 1985 as BA4653.
Retired from commercial flying, "Zulu Kilo" remained at London Heathrow for use as a towing trainer, de-icing practise, and for a short while for counter terrorism training.
In 1991 her wings were clipped by 15 feet each in order to make more space on the ground for the ever expanding fleet of BA.
Following the terrorist attack on 9/11, and the ensuing heightened security around all international airports, in became impossible for volunteers to gain access to LHR and "Zulu Kilo", and withdrawal from use a s a towing Training airframe by the airline owing to a substantial amount of work needing to be carried out on the undercarriage.
The year 2003 was a bleak and uncertain one for "Zulu Kilo" as it seemed certain the aircraft would succumb to the fate of the axe man. However, Neil Lomax who was one of the original restorers of ZK, publicised its plight on an internet forum. Two others joined him in efforts to set up a fund raising initiative in order to raise the required money to move the aircraft to Manchester Airport Viewing Park who has previously expressed interest in displaying it.
Work on dismantling the aircraft was started in 2004, although it would be 2006 before "Zulu Kilo" made her final jouney from London Heathrow to Manchester, owing to the mountain of paperwork, funding, organisation, planning involved in moving a once proud flying machine over 200 miles by road.