MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' air bridge TriStars upgraded and painted grey

The Royal Air Force fleet of TriStars has undergone in the last twelve months a series of modifications which significantly enhance the aircrafts operational capability and last September 14 TriStar ZD 951 returned to RAF Brize Norton sporting the fleet's new gloss grey paint scheme.

Actually all nine TriStars, some of which for years covered the South Atlantic air bridge to the Falkland Islands will be re-painted over the next few years as part of the fleet's planned paint programme.

?The TriStar has been painted white for the last 21 years and has been on occasion perceived by the wider Defence community as a civilian airliner operated by the RAF. However the TriStar fleet's operational capability has been significantly enhanced over the last 12 months through a series of modification programmes", said OC 216 Squadron.

"Our three TriStar C2 aircraft have now been fitted with a defensive aids system and flight deck armor, and the modifications allow us to operate the aircraft into high threat environments with passengers on board, that a civilian charter aircraft is not able to do without being exposed to significant risk".

OC 216 Squadron, explained ?The Squadron's three TriStar C2 aircraft alone support the passenger schedule to Basra, which is the Squadron's main effort. We prepare two TriStar C2 aircraft for each planned Basra schedule, a primary and a spare, serviceability permitting, to ensure that the mission is achieved".

Everyone on the Squadron is acutely aware of the importance of the Basra schedule to the British Armed Forces effort in Iraq.

"The schedule provides a regular link to the United Kingdom for roulements, the expeditious recovery of aero-medical patients and personnel for compassionate reasons and R & R", added OC 216 Squadron

The RAF TriStar has been transformed by its defensive aids system, flight deck armor and grey paint scheme from a civilian airliner into a very effective strategic airlift asset, which is essential to expeditionary operations.(BN)