Lockheed TriStar (RAF)

RAF TriStar
RAF TriStar K1 ZD948 landing at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, 2013
Role	strategic tanker / transport Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation
First flight	16 November 1970 (1970-11-16) (L-1011)
Introduction	24 March 1986 (1986-03-24)
Retired	24 March 2014 (2014-03-24)
Status	retired
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Produced	1979–1984
Number built	9 conversions
Developed from	Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

The Lockheed TriStar is a retired air-to-air refuelling tanker and transport aircraft, formerly in service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). All airframes were retro-converted civilian Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar airliners, previously operated by British Airways and Pan American World Airways, and entered service with the RAF in 1984.

The TriStar aircraft were purchased following the Falklands War, after a requirement for additional air-to-air refuelling (AAR) operations had been identified. Of the nine in service, two were converted to tankers (K1) with passenger space and also limited space for cargo loaded aft of the main deck; three were not converted as a tanker use solely transport aircraft (C2); and the remaining four converted (KC1) could be used for either of the two roles. The TriStars formed the air-to-air refuelling fleet of the RAF until replaced by the Airbus A330 MRTT under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme. The RAF TriStar fleet was retired in 2014.

The RAF TriStars were operated by No. 216 Squadron, and based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England. No. 216 Squadron was officially disbanded on 20 March 2014, and flew its last sorties with the TriStar on 24 March 2014.^[1] Three aircraft were scrapped in 2014 for spare parts shortly after retirement. The remaining six aircraft were flown to and stored at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, having been purchased by AGD Systems Corp in anticipation of a later sale. The aircraft were being maintained by GJD Systems to a fully airworthy condition, however they have since been scrapped.