We wanted to take this opportunity to thank JDPL and MSD Cranes for their help so far, particularly with the move of our aircraft up to Sunderland. MSD have provided all of the equipment we need in terms of cranes, and have also provided us with workmen to help with the project to date. Their [...]

Rik Taylor took this video of G-ARPO arriving at the North East Aircraft Museum in Sunderland on 31st July. You can see how delicate the operation was, and how we had to get the landing gear lowered and wheels reattached before it could sit safely on its own. Click the link below to view the [...]

The move of Trident G-ARPO up to the North East Aircraft Museum at Sunderland went like a dream. Over two days, we were helped by lots of great people and companies, including (in no particular order): MSD Cranes, JDPL, Serco for their co-operation, Give Svaergods and JParr (Mboro). Also a big thanks to Northumbria Police [...]

Early this morning, the fuselage of Trident 1C G-ARPO left Durham Tees Valley Airport for the North East Aircraft Museum at Sunderland. Following its transport across two fences and a live runway yesterday, it sat on its low loader transport overnight ready for its early departure at dawn. Then, at 5.45am the transport began, heading [...]

As we approach move date at the speed of a Trident in cruise (fastest subsonic airliner in its day, don’t you know!), we’ve been landed with a big insurance bill to top us up to the required amount for the move. This amounts to an extra £2000 in costs, which we just don’t have lying [...]

We can now announce the date we will move Trident 1C G-ARPO up to the North East Aircraft Museum at Sunderland. The date set by our transport permit is Sunday 31st July. We will begin on Saturday 30th by moving the aircraft from Serco’s fire training ground at Teesside and lifting it over the various [...]

Before we move G-ARPO, we wanted to patch up two cracks in the wing stubs that appeared when we removed the wings. So members of the team met at the site today to carry out this work, which will strengthen the aircraft for the move to Sunderland. Flavell Welding came across to help us do [...]

We met at G-ARPO today to spend some time preparing the aircraft for its move. In order to fit on the trailer for the move up to Sunderland, we needed to retract the landing and nose gear legs. Tridents have unusual wheel configurations, with the main landing gear rotating as they retract, and the nose [...]

Two more days of work on G-ARPO at Durham Tees Valley and the last stage of dismantling the aircraft is now complete! Over Thursday and Friday we worked on removing the wings from the aircraft so that she can be transported by road to the North East Aircraft Museum at Sunderland. We had worked out [...]

The final stage of dismantling the Trident was started today when the team met. First of all, the remaining #3 engine side pod was removed, leaving the rear of the aircraft clear for the move. Then, after marking up the lines to cut along the wings, Stan (from MSD) and Neil began pre-cutting. They also [...]