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6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

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twinstar
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by twinstar » Wed Aug 21, 2019 10:25 am

[Several later RAF VC10s sat at Abingdon for twice as long, without the care and maintenance these have had.

One way ferry shouldn’t be an issue.]

The VC10s had engines removed and we're cacooned in protective spray, each one then required a substantial amount of work in a hangar for the one way flight.

ColintheCaterpillar
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by ColintheCaterpillar » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:50 pm

twinstar wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 10:25 am
[Several later RAF VC10s sat at Abingdon for twice as long, without the care and maintenance these have had.

One way ferry shouldn’t be an issue.]

The VC10s had engines removed and we're cacooned in protective spray, each one then required a substantial amount of work in a hangar for the one way flight.
They were, till it all peeled of by 1985.

As stated though, the TriStars despite being outside, have not just been left and have had a significant amount of anti-det work and running.

GVLCN
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by GVLCN » Sat Aug 24, 2019 10:50 am

Hope they do come to Cardiff or St Athan, would love to see them fly again! Be great if they were converted to water bombers over here but I’m pretty sure that work will be done stateside.

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andrewn
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by andrewn » Sat Aug 24, 2019 7:27 pm

ColintheCaterpillar wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:50 pm
twinstar wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 10:25 am
[Several later RAF VC10s sat at Abingdon for twice as long, without the care and maintenance these have had.

One way ferry shouldn’t be an issue.]

The VC10s had engines removed and we're cacooned in protective spray, each one then required a substantial amount of work in a hangar for the one way flight.
They were, till it all peeled of by 1985.

As stated though, the TriStars despite being outside, have not just been left and have had a significant amount of anti-det work and running.
Those '10s at Abingdon were in a shocking state, no coincidence the K4s were the first ones to be retired, despite being rebuilt relatively recently.

Vulcanone
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Vulcanone » Sat Aug 24, 2019 8:36 pm

GVLCN

They were bought for the sole purpose of being used as tankers, of the 6 that are not tankers I suspect spares use only.

There are far new airframes available for conversion to firebombers.

ColintheCaterpillar
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by ColintheCaterpillar » Sun Aug 25, 2019 2:22 pm

andrewn wrote:
Sat Aug 24, 2019 7:27 pm
ColintheCaterpillar wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:50 pm
twinstar wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 10:25 am
[Several later RAF VC10s sat at Abingdon for twice as long, without the care and maintenance these have had.

One way ferry shouldn’t be an issue.]

The VC10s had engines removed and we're cacooned in protective spray, each one then required a substantial amount of work in a hangar for the one way flight.
They were, till it all peeled of by 1985.

As stated though, the TriStars despite being outside, have not just been left and have had a significant amount of anti-det work and running.
Those '10s at Abingdon were in a shocking state, no coincidence the K4s were the first ones to be retired, despite being rebuilt relatively recently.
Relatively high hours one suspects. That said, the Bruntingthorpe K4 was one of the last to retire.

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Ghost from above
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Contracted Air Refuelling USA

Post by Ghost from above » Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:36 am

Update to the provision of inflight refuelling for the USAF.
The USAF released a brief on 3 March looking for bids sometime in June 2020.
In short
USAF plans to use the contract capacity as follows.
Training exercises 80%
Test and evaluation 8%
Foreign military sales delivery 8%
Transit across Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 3%
Before you say it doesn't add up to 100% that's journalism for you.

Year 1
Contract start all aircraft to have an airworthiness certificate and aircraft and crew must be ready to schedule testing within one year of the contract being signed.

Year 2
Aircraft - F-15, F-16, F/A-18, B-1 and B-52.
Hours 3000
Sorties circa 700

Year 3
Aircraft (additional) F-22, F-35, A-10 and C-130
Hours 5000
Sorties 1100

Full article here
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing ... 99.article
Mac

Puff the Magic Dragon the original suppressor

Al dunn
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Al dunn » Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:24 am

But surely that means converting the Tristars. From hose and drogue to a boom fit

Starbuck
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Starbuck » Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:06 am

Al dunn wrote:
Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:24 am
But surely that means converting the Tristars. From hose and drogue to a boom fit
Not necessarily, Omega Air have bought the two RNLAF KC-10s with one delivered and one still in service with the Dutch, which are both equipped with booms.

Vulcanone
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Vulcanone » Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:07 pm

I expect they will be responsible for the USN/USMC. If they ever get away from Bruntingthorpe

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Ghost from above
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Ghost from above » Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:00 pm

Omega air have the USN covered on contract already for the drogue refuelling
Mac

Puff the Magic Dragon the original suppressor

Vulcanone
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Vulcanone » Sun Mar 29, 2020 3:06 pm

Indeed. Although I do wonder if they will ever escape Bruntingthorpe

Supra
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Supra » Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:37 pm

Lots of concern as to the aircraft being airworthy, but no mention about whether they can operate from a Grass Runway? :whistle:
Depending on the current number of cars parked on the Runway, the last Google Earth image suggests an absolute minimum of 3000 cars parked on the hard surface need to be relocated, allowing all flyable examples to leave on the same day/s? Easier said than done! ;)

3Greens
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by 3Greens » Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:54 pm

Is Bruntingthorpe's runway currently in a fit and serviceable state to support their departure ?
Some truck brake testing that i was involved with showed it to be pretty 'scabby' in many areas.

raameagle
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by raameagle » Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:17 pm

I cannot think of a single scenario that will involve those Tristars departing Bruntingthorpe via any other means other than the back of a lorry after they are scrapped.

Regards

Mark

red leader
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by red leader » Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:59 am

I hope you're wrong, but it doesn't look good for them. They really needed to re homes before all those cars arrived. They've been sat outside for 6 years. What happened about the US purchase?

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thevulcan
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by thevulcan » Mon Mar 30, 2020 5:48 pm

I believe the reason the aircraft did not leave soon after there purchase was due to legal action taken by another company against them.


NEWPORT NEWS | MAY 2, 2019 – TriStar Air LLC, a subsidiary of Tempus Applied Solutions Holdings, Inc. was awarded a $121,425,707 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task order contract for aerial refueling services, as announced by the company April 24, 2019.


The contract was awarded in a competitive procurement process and in accordance with existing rules and regulations for U.S. Government contracting, an award can be protested by the other offerors.

A protest has been filed with the US Navy, by the incumbent provider of the air to air refueling services. TriStar Air LLC has received a stop-work notification from the US Navy that will remain in effect until the protest has been adjudicated.

At the start of this year members of another company were on base at Brize asking for anyone with experience on tristars to help get the aircraft airworthy again from bruntingthorpe and fly them to Boscombe down for conversion to water bombers?
2023 Airshows

Too many to list :thumb:

CHINOOKER
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by CHINOOKER » Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:07 pm

Unfortunately, "raameagle is probably 100% correct in what he says about the Tristars leaving Brunty in bits on the back of lorries!. Given that they have been left to the elements for the last 6 years,they will need considerable work done,just to get them airworthy!. Having worked on the type at BA for many years,they just love corrosion. Also the RB211s will have to be sourced and if I remember rightly they were different spec as to those fitted to current types such as B747/767.

Also,the current "Covid" pandemic has resulted in many airlines across the globe to review thier fleet needs/size. I would assume that soon there will be many early B767,B777 and A310/330s being retired by the major airlines as they decide to re-equip with B787/A350 types Such airframes will be available at rock bottom prices and converting some of these may become the more viable option.

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Richard B
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by Richard B » Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:57 am

red leader wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:59 am
I hope you're wrong, but it doesn't look good for them. They really needed to re homes before all those cars arrived. They've been sat outside for 6 years. What happened about the US purchase?
Well the car plants are not making cars in the uk, will not be for a few months.
As Coxs is mainly an auction house selling ex fleets cars. The depreciation values are dropping fast, by the time things get back to normal an awful lot of value will be wiped out.
Not good.

the concerned
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Re: 6 Ex RAF Tristars sold to US company

Post by the concerned » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:22 am

One issue for the tristars is the fact the USAF are about to retire 17 KC-10extenders. It would seem logical for a company to buy these instead as they are ready to go.

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