NEWS
See Yahoo Groups BAC 1-11 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BAC1-11 for more 1-11 news. This group will remain as a contact point to share information regarding the 1-11. Failing that just drop me an email and I will place the item on my news page. Just let me know about anything to do with the 1-11. Any movements, colour scheme changes, registration changes, scrappings etc etc. KEEP THE INFORMATION COMING!
12 Jan 2011
Northrop Grumman 1-11 N161NG cn 067 carried out its last flight today. It was ferried from Baltimore Washington to Mojave where it will be stored and used for spares.
24 Dec 2011
1-11 Review of the Year 2011
It's been another very quiet year for the remaining 1-11 fleet. With no "airliners" remaining in service it's down to the very last half dozen executive / test aircraft to keep the flame alight for this almost extinct type. The biggest problem with these aircraft is they don't fly very often so capturing them is extremely difficult indeed! An example of this is QinetiQ's ZH763. It has flown just a handful of times this year but trying to photograph it is virtually impossible. Thankfully it was caught in action at RAF Cranwell during the summer though and again at Boscombe Down on the 30th November! Unfortunately sources suggest that the aircraft might be replaced by a BAe146/Avro RJ during 2012. As for the others, the Northrop Grumman 1-11s are photographed fairly regularly fortunately as these are very interesting aircraft indeed with all the extra bits and pieces hanging off the front and sides of the airframe. Sadly by next summer they will be down to one operational aircraft as N161NG and N162W are due for retirement. The Tombouctou Aviation fleet has been decimated this year sadly! It is believed that certification issues have grounded the two 475s with just 400 series TZ-BSB still reportedly in service from its base in Bamako, although I have been advised that even this airframe may now be stored rather than active! This leaves just N999BW in the USA. This airframe thankfully gave us one of the best moments in the BAC 1-11's long history in August as it carried out a very special enthusiast flight from its Dallas Love Field base. Please see my special feature for a complete in depth look at this magical day! Over 20 enthusiasts flew on board this immaculate aircraft for a two hour flight in the most incredible luxury! The event has been well covered, not only on this website, but by Global Aviation Resource and Airliner World (with an article in their December 2011 magazine). If this turns out to be the 1-11's final "public outing" then it certainly did it in some style. My only gripe was that nobody captured her graceful lines on an HD movie camera! Oh and of course I didn't make it over there, so they are going to have to do it all over again for the 50th PLEASE!!! I'm still hopeful that an airframe will survive up until the 20th August 2013 to celebrate the 50th but it's going to be touch and go! As for the stored fleet it is very sad that I have to report that the "most historic" stored aircraft of them all, series 201AC XX105, was broken up at Boscombe Down during December! I cannot hide my disappointment that this unique airframe wasn't saved. The 1-11 situation at Boscombe Down is very grim indeed with ZE433 recently having been moved to the scrapping area and no doubt ex ETPS 1-11 ZE432 will soon follow! With the retirement of ZH763 coming very soon it looks like all five 1-11s operated by the MOD over the past 37 years are all going to be scrapped. It cannot be understated how great their contribution has been over the years. All I can add is how really sad it is that not one of these amazing machines has even been considered for preservation by a major museum. Compared to the two standard series 510s preserved at Duxford and East Fortune, these airframes are truly historic! None of the stored fleet are ever expected to return to service.
Have a great Christmas - Thanks for continuing to support my 1-11 wesbite and forum at Yahoo Groups
Peter
A stunning approach shot of 1-11 ZH763 coming into land at Boscombe Down on the 30th November by Liam Daniels
11 Oct 2011
An article about the special enthusiast flight on BAC 1-11 N999BW which took place at Dallas Love Field on the 27th August will be appearing in the December 2011 issue of Airliner World Magazine. It is due for publication on November 9th. If you've seen the Special Feature on my website then it should be a very good write up indeed. I would certainly recommend buying the December issue therefore.
6 Oct 2011
QinetiQ 1-11 ZH763 has unexpectedly flown again. It carried out several circuits at RAF Cranwell yesterday to presumeably keep the 1-11 crews current due to its next mission refit which should keep it in the hangar at Boscombe Down until next February.
10 Sep 2011
An interesting article has just appeared in the October 2011 copy of "JETS MONTHLY" magazine about BAC 1-11 operations at Air Malawi. The airline used the aircraft for 21 years. Author, Arthur Stevens has spent many years out in Africa gathering much information about the history of Air Malawi and he now shares it with us in this intruiging article. It can be bought at WH Smith, other newsagents or online at http://www.kelsey.co.uk/magazines.php?mag=jt
2 Sep 2011
I have just received news from Tombouctou Aviation that their 1-11 operations have been dramatically reduced this year. As feared, one aircraft TZ-BSA, has been trapped in Tripoli Mitiga where its condition is in doubt due to the on-going situation. To make matters worse I've been informed that this particular aircraft hasn't actually flown since the beginning of 2010. Therefore it has been suggested that its flying days are almost certainly over! The other 475 series aircraft TZ-BSC was flying at the beginning of 2011 but was ferried to Bucharest Baneasa by March where it has been parked ever since. The situation with TZ-BSB is a little clearer. This aircraft returned from maintenance in Baneasa via Mitiga to its base in Bamako, Mali in March but has not flown since. I have been informed that it is due to take to the skies again shortly. The reason for all the problems haven't actually been related to the War in Libya but with Type Certificate issues that have become apparent in Romania and more particularly with Romaero where the aircraft have been maintained. It is my understanding that the stage three hushkit on the series 475 is the main issue. Therefore, it appears that TZ-BSB, a series 400 aircraft, is the only one that can continue flying unless there is a change to the regulations in Romania. Watch this space for any further developments regarding this sad situation.
Other than the well publicised flight of Business Jet Access 1-11 N999BW last weekend 1-11 news isn't good! The QinetiQ aircraft ZH763 is back in the hangar at Boscombe Down until at least February next year while Northrop Grumman plan to retire two of their three airframes within the next six months. Clearly this will reduce the surviving 1-11 fleet down to as little as four airframes by this time next year at best, and that figure could possibly be even worse. It's therefore very possible that there won't be a single airframe left in the air to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the type in August 2013! I'm still hopeful though that ZH763 or N999BW will be around at that time.
31 Aug 2011
Business Jet Access 1-11 N999BW took to the skies on the 27th August for its historic enthusiast flight. It was organised by Classic Jet Tours who put on a fantastic day. All those present have heaped praise on both organisations stating how well they looked after them and all commenting on how well organised the event was. The flight lasted for two hours and was photographed by several additional photographers on the ground. It is hoped that an article will appear on the Global Aviation Resource website shortly as well as one appearing in one of the mainstream aviation magazines although I've no idea which one just yet. In conjunction with Richard Church, author of "The One-Eleven Story" I will be placing a special feature about this unique event on my website as soon as possible. I must thank Kevin Perry for this lovely image of the aircraft getting airborne at Dallas Love Field.
04 Aug 2011
Last historic passenger flight to go ahead!
It has been confirmed that the "Classic Jet Tours" flight will go ahead on Saturday 27th August. It will be a very historic moment in the long history of the BAC 1-11. It is hoped that the event will be recorded on film for posterity. The flight will be taking place at Dallas Love Field on Business Jet Access 1-11 N999BW c/n 120. I will definitely be doing a special feature about the flight so watch this space for it within the next couple of months.
02 Jul 2011
QinetiQ 1-11 ZH763 finally flew again last week at Boscombe Down. It carried out a test flight eight months after its last flight in October 2010. This was the first flight of a 1-11 in the UK this year and was carried out by what will almost certainly be the last 1-11 to be seen flying in this country! Unfortunately the event went totally un-noticed as is always the case with all of its flights from its home base! Whether or not it will be seen on the ground or flying again publicly is doubtful. What a sad final chapter to such a fine British Airliner. I can only hope that I can persuade QinetiQ to allow the aircraft to carry out one final flypast at Bournemouth during the aircraft's 50th anniversary event in August 2013, if it remains in service that long! Otherwise it will simply be removed quietly from service to rot alongside it's three sister ships at Boscombe Down before a very undignified scrapping.
25 Jun 2011
Fancy one last chance to fly on a BAC 1-11 before the worldwide fleet becomes extinct? Then please click on this link:- http://www.classicjettours.com/bac111.html
Looking at the remaining fleet, I really do believe that this will be the final opportunity to ever fly on a BAC 1-11, and not just any old rust bucket but an absolutely immaculate executive jet! It isn't cheap but Classic Jet Tours / Business Jet Access only need to fill 30 seats so fingers crossed that maybe one or two of you 1-11 enthusiasts out there can get yourselves onto this special flight and share in an historic moment in the 1-11's 50 year history!
24 Jun 2011
Northrop Grumman have finally announced retirement dates for two of their three 1-11s! One will go by September this year, One in the spring of 2012 leaving just one in service for a few more years. At this stage I've no idea what will replace these unique aircraft.
13 Jun 2011
With the fleet getting ever smaller there is very little to report since my last update in March. Business Jet Access 1-11 N999BW emerged from a seven month refit during May and is once again being advertised "for hire". QinetiQ's ZH763 still remains in the hangar awaiting the refitting of its engines and will hopefully fly again later this summer. I've heard nothing from Tombouctou Aviation since the Libyan uprising. Two aircraft were based inTripoli Mitiga but whether they escaped or not before the no fly zone was put in place is unknown. The third aircraft is still based in Bamako to my knowledge. Northrop Grumman have been keeping busy with their three airframes. Storage wise not much has changed although two airframes have now been preserved. The Former Chrome Air 1-11 5N-UJC has been rescued from the Lagos Airport dump and transferred by road to Warri City in the Niger Delta where it is been used by school children as an educational tool. It is also open to the public for viewing. I'll enclose some interesting images of it when I receive them. The forward section of former European Aviation 1-11 G-AVMZ has been transferred to the Atlantic AirVenture Aviation Visitor Centre at Shannon where it has been painted back into it's British European Airways livery. I'm hoping to bring you an article about this with some images within the next few weeks. In Pakistan the thee former Aero Asia 1-11s are due to be scrapped at any time now as the airport authorities in Karachi have informed the owner that these derelict airframes "must go"!
14 Mar 2011
A very newsworthy item has just reached me from South Africa. The first image of a 1-11 taken in 2011! TZ-BSC of Tombouctou Aviation taken during a visit to Lanseria by Sean Mowatt. It is probably the lowest houred aircraft in the remaining fleet having been stored at Hurn for several years before being sold to Jetline as YR-HRS and then on to Tombouctou Aviation. TZ-BSB has also been reported as flying recently. It was returned to its base at Tripoli Mitiga on the 4th March after an overhaul by Romaero at Bucharest Baneasa. Meanwhile, back in the UK QinetiQ 1-11 ZH763 is due to fly again shortly after several months in the hangar at Boscombe Down after a mission refit / maintenance.
4 Feb 2011
It has been confirmed that Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) BAC 1-11 ZE432 has been permanently withdrawn from use due to the on-going corrosion issues. It last flew in November 2009. As a result of this sad news I can confirm that ZH763, a series 539GL, is now officially the last 1-11 left in service in the UK! No one at Boscombe Down is able to say for how much longer this aircraft will remain in service. I am hopeful that it will be flown into Coventry to join the Classic Flight / Airbase collection when the time comes.
13 Dec 2010
1-11 Review of the Year 2010
2010 has been a very uneventful year for the BAC 1-11 as it quietly continues its slide towards oblivion. I can honestly say that I don't think there have been any "highlights" this year.
With the "current" UK fleet down to the very last airframe I really believed that there would have been a greater response amongst the aviation enthusiast world acknowledging the fact that another of our great British success storieswas reaching the end of its final chapter, but sadly its last days are going virtually un-noticed! It's very nearly gone forever"!!! It isn't helped of course by the fact that this aircraft is operated by QinetiQ and is based at Boscombe Down, as only the hardiest enthusiasts would venture up to the fence in the inhospitable climate that currently exists around the Salisbury Plain airfield! And then of course it's virtually impossible to ever find out when the aircraft is due to fly! How different it was when the last BA Trident's made their final parallel landings at Heathrow all those years ago! If the recent Nimrod retirement is anything to go by then the last flights of the VC10 will be a huge occasion! Aviation enthusiasts and photographers will no doubt be flocking to Brize Norton! Somehow I don't think the same will happen at Boscombe Down for the 1-11.
The active fleet at the end of 2010 currently stands at just eight aircraft worldwide, down from eleven this time last year. The remaining aircraft continue to fly with the following companies:-
3 with Northrop Grumman, 3 with Tombouctou Aviation, 1 with QinetiQ, 1 with Business Jet Access. (See the current fleet page on my 1-11 website for further details.)
Northrop Grumman has been keeping their fleet busy on various radar testing missions from their Baltimore Wasington base and have no current plans to retire the aircraft.
Tombouctou Aviation's fleet have been flying from Tripoli Mitiga and Bamako although how much flying has actually taken place is unknown. Two of the aircraft have been sighted at Paris Le Bourget over the past 12 months. Clearly the type isn't therefore banned from EU countries despite the type certificate having been withdrawn in February 2010.
QinetiQ have been flying the series 500 ZH763 throughout 2010 but sadly the ETPS aircraft ZE432 has been hangared for over a year with serious corrosion issues. A recent update suggests that it might not return to service.
Business Jet Access still have N999BW on their books, but I've received no firm news to suggest that it has been doing much, over the past 12 months. According to my sources, the company have been trying to sell the aircraft for some considerable time but without success.
As for the three aircraft that have since been retired, the Royal Air Force of Oman finally withdrew their last 1-11 553 in July, ending 35 years of continuous operations with the aircraft. Unfortunately the Air Force decided against flying the aircraft back to the UK for preservation. Apparently they intend to preserve it themselves!
Trast Aero withdrew their last 1-11 EX-086. It was bought by the Alsalam Aircraft Corporation and flown from Ras Al Khaimah to Riyadh earlier in the year where it has become a ground trainer with the Saudi Development and Training (SDT) Academy.
The third aircraft is of course ZE432, so watch this space to see if it ever returns to service!
Other aircraft that are currently in storage but potentially airworthy are:-
The two former Select Aviation aircraft, N200EE and N200JX. They have been parked at Orlando International (MCO) for nearly 18 months now, having never flown with their new operator, Elite Aviation. I personally don't think they will fly again.
Two airframes are still stored at Toluca in Mexico. XB-KCE and XA-CMG which for some unknown reason has recently been re-registered as XB-KQL.
GST Aero / East Wing 1-11 UP-BA111 was last reported as stored at Chimkent / Shymkent. It was noted parked in a scrapping compound early in December.
There has been no further news regarding the fate of the Romavia ROMBACs although it was suggested that YR-BRI might end up as a museum piece!
Amazingly I have just received news that the former Tarom freighter YR-BCR, which has been stored for many years at Bucharest Otopeni having been retired by its previous operator Chrome Air of Nigeria, might fly again! Seeing will be believing in this case as it must need a huge amount of work doing to it and an absolute fortune spent on it to make it airworthy again.
I was advised in September that the former Chrome Air 1-11 5N-UJC, currently derelict at Lagos, may be saved and relocated to Warri where it would be used as an educational trainer but I've heard nothing further.
Other surviving airframes are either gathering dust or have been reduced to hulks awaiting their fate.
It is very clear that this "classic" 1960s airliner veteran of the skies and masterpiece of British aero engineering is soon to slip away into the history books. I am, more than most, very pleased that I've recorded its final years in service. I really do hope that at least one airframe makes it to the 20th August 2013, the 50th anniversary.
Thank you once again to those of you who have helped me over the past ten years with my 1-11 project, including the website and the forum at Yahoo Groups.
Happy Christmas
Peter
www.bac1-11jet.co.uk
8 Nov 2010
ETPS 1-11 ZE432 has failed to re-enter service due to ongoing corrosion issues! New doubts now exist as to whether or not we will ever see this airframe in the air again. The aircraft remains hangered at Boscombe Down pending a final decision regarding its future. I have just placed another special article on the website in an attempt to raise the profile of the plight of the very unique airframes used by the MOD over the past five decades as they come to the end of their flying lives. One of these aircraft must be saved to tell the special story of the five 1-11s used by the UK military since the early 1970s.
5 Oct 2010
N999BW was photographed this week by Brian Higinbotham at its base, Dallas Love Field. It has been kept in immaculate condition by its owner Business Jet Access. It remains to be seen how much longer this 43 year old "classic" British jetliner will remain in service as the last of a very long line of 1-11 execs registered in the USA.
24 Sep 2010
I've just received a new image of the two Mexican registered 1-11s which are stored at Toluca. Much to my surprise one has been re-registered! XA-CMG c/n 079 is now XB-KQL while c/n 183 is still XB-KCE. The owner is listed as Coapa Air S.A. de C.V. The two airframes have been stored at Toluca for at least two years as far as I know but anything is possible with these old airframes so I daren't say they won't fly again!
19 Sep 2010
I've recently received an email stating that former Chrome Air 1-11 5N-UJC c/n 255 will hopefully be rescued from the dump at Lagos and transferred to Warri, a city in the south west of Nigeria where it will hopefully become an educational tool for the training of youths wishing to go into the aviation profession. I await further details with interest.
22 Jul 2010
A picture is slowly emerging regarding the final operations of the two Trast Aero 1-11s EX-086 and EX-103 (4L-BAS). It appears that EX-086 was parked up in Ras Al Khaimah sometime during the summer of 2009 for storage pending any further work. EX-103 was then parked up towards the end of 2009. Out of the blue came photographic evidence that a 1-11 with the registration 4L-BAS was present at Ras Al Khaimah in March 2010. It was established that this could only be EX-103. The condition of the aircraft suggested that its flying days were over especially as it was being robbed of many parts. At the same time a photo confirmed that EX-086 was being worked on. I can therefore only guess that EX-103 was in the process of being prepared for a new operator during the winter months. It appears that this was Transaviaservice of Georgia. The deal obviously fell through at some stage. I then received news that EX-086 was in Riyadh! After some more "detective work" it looks like the 1-11 was patched up for a one off ferry flight to Riyadh where it will now become a ground trainer for a Saudi maintenance company called Alsalam Aircraft Company Ltd. 4L-BAS has since been scrapped.
20 Jul 2010
Great news has just been received regarding the future of ETPS 1-11 ZE432. A repair job has been approved and it is hoped that the aircraft will return to service sometime before the end of October! It last flew in November 2009.
14 Jul 2010
It has just been announced that the last Royal Air Force of Oman BAC 1-11 553 c/n 251 has been officially retired from service today. It "WILL" remain in Oman!
9 Jul 2010
I have just received this superb night shot taken at the Old Athens airport (Hellinikon) by Ilias Diakoumakos of BAC 1-11 SX-BAR c/n 096. It arrived on delivery to Hellenic Air in September 1992. Unfortunately Hellenic never commenced operations and the 1-11 never flew again! It is therefore amazing to think that it has survived for nearly 18 years since then! See if you can find it on Google Earth! Ilias has asked me to give you a link to a very interesting website that he is involved in at www.airpics.net
25 Jun 2010
Having viewed the excellent facilities at the Air Atlantique Classic Flight "Airbase" Coventry base last week, I am in no doubt whatsoever that this organisation offers the very best chance to preserve the last UK based BAC 1-11 when it finally comes up for retirement. Where possible they keep their aircraft in a fully serviceable condition in order to present them to the public as they should be seen and heard! They intend to retain their "new" Nimrod in a condition that will allow it to carry out taxi runs along the runway during future open days. It has been suggested that a 1-11 would be a worthy addition to the collection that could be maintained in a similar way. Most importantly the company has a very highly skilled and motivated team of engineers who work in the excellent facilities at the Coventry base. I would thoroughly recommend a visit to the "new" Airbase hangar. http://www.airbase-europe.com/
http://www.aeroresource.co.uk/articles/2010/airbase/ http://www.globalaviationresource.com/reports/2010/classicflightnimrod.php
20 Jun 2010
Former Trast Aero 1-11 EX-086 has recently been ferried from Ras Al Khaimah to Riyadh in preparation for a possible return to service. A Saudi maintenance company is to carry out the maintenance but questions remain as to whether or not the required work can be completed by this particular company, especially in view of the fact that the type certificate has now been withdrawn.
1 Jun 2010
It has been confirmed that the retirement date for the final RAFO BAC 1-11 553 is the 16th July 2010. This is still subject to change. It "will not" be coming back to the UK for one last visit or preservation sadly. It will be handed over to the local training college for further use as a ground trainer.
15 May 2010
So what now for 1-11 preservation?
With chances of another BAC 1-11 being saved for preservation diminishing, what now for the future of 1-11 preservation? There are presently three 1-11s in UK museums although all are outside and have been so for nearly 20 years! They can't be in good shape beneath the surface as corrosion will almost certainly have taken a firm hold by now and will definitely be the winner in the end! Externally the two ex British Airways 1-11s, G-AVMO (East Fortune Museum of Flight) and G-AVMU (Duxford) are both in desperate need of a repaint and look aweful. Inside they are lovingly cared for, but you can't beat the good old English weather, not to mention the odd ash cloud helping with a steady deterioration! G-ASYD (Brooklands) has been cared for by a fantastic team over the years but once again these airframes cannot survive forever out in the open! Out of 244 1-11s built all I want to see is just "ONE EXAMPLE" saved undercover for posterity!!! Is that too much to ask for, for one of our most famous passenger Jetliners? It looks very much like QinetiQ's ZH763 will present the very last opportunity to save an "airworthy" BAC 1-11. Let's not miss that opportunity!
13 May 2010
End in sight to my ambition to save the last airworthy 1-11 in the UK for preservation at Bournemouth?
It has been announced that the Royal Air Force of Oman will be retaining their last BAC 1-11 553 in Oman once it is retired later this year. This will therefore leave just one last opportunity to preserve a BAC 1-11 at its birthplace in Bournemouth. The aircraft in question is QinetiQ 1-11 ZH763 which was originally built for British Airways as G-BGKE. At this stage I have been told that the Bournemouth Aviation Museum will not be able to accept the aircraft on their present site which is off airfield at Bournemouth Airport. Since the Manchester Airport Group have indicated that there is no way that they will allow a BAC 1-11 to be displayed anywhere else on the airfield then I've got no option other than to drop the whole idea! With no support to save another BAC 1-11 in sight at all, I'm off to save yet another Nimrod as it seems that everybody wants one and that there are loads up for grabs!!!
10 May 2010
Another surviving 1-11 has recently been photographed at Moron, Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is LV-OAX which previously flew for Austral many years ago. By the look of it, it has become a "teenagers play / picnic area"! The photo was taken by Robert Domandl on the 1st of May.
1 May 2010
NEWSFLASH!!! - UK BAC 1-11 FLEET DOWN TO ONE AIRCRAFT
ETPS 1-11 ZE432 is currently out of service with a serious corrosion problem! It appears unlikely at this stage that it will return to service, although a final decision regarding its future is expected shortly. If this is the case then it will leave ZH763 as the very last BAC 1-11 in service in the UK. It's ironic that 763 is probably the least seen / photographed of the entire 1-11 fleet within the UK and beyond. Therefore, if you see it, please report it and photograph it if you can! As I've said in the past, if only it was the last Concorde or even the last Nimrod / VC10 then everyone would be "flocking" to see it!!! Somehow and very sadly the BAC 1-11 just hasn't had the same affect!
5 Apr 2010
If anyone thought that US Air 1-11s were a thing of the past, then how about this shot that was taken last year by Howard Challoner at Orlando International Airport. N1117J has been a fire trainer for many years though this is the first time it has been captured on camera in action with the fire crews and makes quite a sight!
21 Mar 2010
Tony Best supplied this shot of BAC 1-11 UP-BA111 which was taken at Chimkent earlier this year. At some point it was ferried from Almaty. It looks like it is still stored but only time will tell if it re-enters service. As for the new registration, it appears that Kazakhstan have introduced "UP" instead of "UN"!
20 Mar 2010
I've just received two images of the Trast Aero 1-11s in storage at Ras Al Khaimah. It is clear that 4L-BAS is now a spares source which will hopefully allow EX-086 to return to service. I must thank Rainer Bexton for allowing me to use the images on my website.
10 Mar 2010
It has just come to light that 1-11 UN-B1110, stored at Almaty for many months, has been re-registered as UP-BA111 and departed to Chimkent/Shymkent. Reports still suggest that its flying days are over as it appears to have continued its long period of storage on arrival. It still has "East Wing" titles on the fuselage.
15 Feb 2010
Three days after the Type Certificate was withdrawn by Airbus I thought that an update on the surviving fleet was due!
Business Jet Access N999BW - Remains active at Dallas Love Field. There are no immediate plans to retire this airframe.
Northrop Grumman N161NG, N162W, N164W - All remain current at Baltimore Washington with no plans to retire the fleet.
QinetiQ ZE432, ZH763 - Both remain current at Boscombe Down. They are due to remain in service for the next couple of years at least.
Royal Air Force of Oman 553 - Remains in service and very busy. It is due to be retired by the end of July 2010.
Tombouctou Aviation TZ-BSA, TZ-BSB, TZ-BSC - Reportedly still active at Tripoli Mitiga although TZ-BSB may have been retired.
Trast Aero EX-086, EX103 - Both seen parked at Ras Al Khaimah in January 2010 but there have been some interesting developments which remain a mystery at present. EX-086 has been receiving some maintenance and may fly again while it appears that EX-103 has been re-registered as 4L-BAS. Some images of 4L-BAS were received on the 17th February which appear to suggest that it is being scrapped and providing spares for EX-086. No further details are currently available.
12 Feb 2010
Airbus withdrew the BAC 1-11 Type Certificate today. What this means for further operations isn't 100% clear yet, but this is the same certificate that was withdrawn from Concorde!!! The difference with the 1-11 is that no aircraft still operate within any EU member state. For operators outside the EU, operators need to contact their own state of registry for a decision on the continuing validity of any certificates that they have issued. My understanding of this is that operations may continue if an exemption can be justified. For example QinetiQ and Northrop Grumman are using their aircraft for research etc whereas those registered in Mali or Kyrgyzstan may find it much more difficult to continue their operations!
Any further comments / thoughts regarding this very significant development would be most welcome. This really does sound like the beginning of the end!
16 Jan 2010
A new and totally unknown registration, 4L-BAS, has appeared and been confirmed on a 1-11 stored at Ras Al Khaimah. I've no idea which aircraft it is other than maybe former EX-103. EX-086 is also stored at the same location. Any leads would be most welcome!
31 Dec 2009
1-11 review of the year 2009
The remaining in service fleet is declining at an ever increasing rate! Highlight of the year has to be, what might turn out to be, the last visit of a RAFO 1-11 to the RIAT at Fairford in July. It was well documented that 553's visit would possibly be the last public display of an Omani 1-11. I must thank all of you who took many photos of this immaculate airframe over that weekend. My "current fleet" page still lists eleven aircraft in service although I believe that the number is more likely to be in single figures by now. Looking more closely at the remaining operators, Business Jet Access's 1-11 N999BW has been on the ground for most of the year due to maintenance and a refit. Northrop Grumman have been keeping busy with their fleet although N161NG hasn't been seen in service this year which suggests that it has been in for a "mission" refit. QinetiQ have been busy with ZE432 while ZH763 spent much of the year in the hangar being prepared for it's next mission. It re-entered service in September. The Royal Air Force of Oman withdrew 552 in March which leaves just 553 in service. It will be retired when the next A320 arrives at Muscat but I've been advised that it could be any time between January and July 2010. It remains to be seen whether or not it will make one last appearance at the RIAT in 2010. As for its preservation, keep an eye on my news page. Tombouctou Aviation now have three 1-11s in service with TZ-BSC (ex YR-HRS) being the latest addition. It appears that the fleet spend much of their time at Tripoli Mitiga, presumeably because it is more central to their operations throughout Europe and the Middle East. It has been suggested that the series 400 aircraft, TZ-BSB, may in fact have been withdrawn from service by now. Trast Aero have been keeping fairly busy during the year with their two 1-11s being leased out at various times. The main operator appears to have been OSOB Airline Ltd. They leased both aircraft at various times throughout the year. I have been advised that EX-086 is now in storage at Ras Al Khaimah. EX-103 is therefore the last passenger 1-11 in service! Other 1-11s that have been in the news this year have been the ex Select Aviation 1-11s. All three aircraft have finally been sold, but despite the absolutely pristine condition of these aircraft, it looks like their fates have been sealed. N200EE and N200JX flew into Orlando Intl at the beginning of July but haven't flown since, while N111JX is going to become a spares ship for Northrop Grumman. It carried out its final flight to Mojave on the 10th December. Finally all has gone very quiet on the Romavia 1-11 front. I was told that their 1-11 operations were due to end during the first half of the year. This has yet to be confirmed, although it has to be said that the Government aircraft YR-BRE has not been seen away from Bucharest this year.
11 Dec 2009
N111JX has finally flown for the last time! The former Select Aviation 1-11 departed from Waukesha Crites Field yesterday bringing to a close a very interesting chapter of 1-11 history. It flew into Mojave via Pueblo Memorial Airport where decommissioning commenced today. All useful spares will be used by Northrop Grumman.
5 Dec 2009
A big thank you to Peter Spence for allowing me to use this fantastic shot of Northrop Grumman 1-11 N162W getting airborne at Los Angeles during a visit in November. It is one of three very unique aircraft based at Baltimore Washington. The latest news from Northop Grumman is that they intend to keep their three airframes in service for the foreseeable future.
25 Nov 2009
Former Select Aviation 1-11 N111JX c/n 163 has been sold to Northrop Grumman as a spares ship for their three active 1-11s. The other two Ex Select Aviation 1-11s that were sold to Elite Express LLC still haven't flown since their arrival at Orlando Intl at the beginning of July. It therefore seems very unlikely that they will fly again.
10 Nov 2009
Google Earth images appear to confirm that former Albarka Air 1-11s 5N-MBM and 5N-BBU have finally been broken up at Abuja, Nigeria where they had been stored for many years.
Oct 21 2009
RAFO 1-11 553 made another "last visit" to Bournemouth today. Unfortunately it arrived as it was getting dark!!! It is due to depart in a couple of days time. As of today, no further news has been received regarding the possible preservation of the aircraft at Bournemouth.
Oct 10 2009
All three Tombouctou Aviation 1-11s were present at the LAVEX 2009 exhibition held at Tripoli Mitiga earlier this month. One of the three, TZ-BSB appeared to be in storage although I await confirmation of this. The resident stored aircraft 5A-DKO was also noted in a reasonable condition with engines still attached. Below is an image of the latest aircraft to join the Tombouctou Aviation fleet, TZ-BSC previously YR-HRS, taken at Mitiga. This is likely to be the last time that a 1-11 is re-registered.
Sep 30 2009
It's time to give you an update regarding the BAC 1-11 fleet in the USA starting with N101PC. This aircraft was photographed by Simon Cod at Atwater Merced, a former US Air Force base on the 19th September 2009. It has been parked there for several years and most definitely won't be flying again, despite its appearance.
The active US 1-11 fleet is down to just four aircraft. These being the three with Northrop Grumman, N161NG, N162W, N164W and one with Business Jet Access, N999BW. Three others are airworthy but don't fly, these being N111JX, N200EE and N200JX. The remaining aircraft are either stored like N101PC or are derelict. These include N789CF which survives with engines attached and N1117J / N1134J which are both derelict. N1117J sits on stilts at Orlando International Airport. For what purpose is unknown. N111RZ is now located at a private site where it is understood that its wings and tail may have been re-attached after their removal last year. I am only aware of one other 1-11 that is stored in the US and this is XA-ADC at San Antonio. This aircraft has been there for years and is derelict.
7 Aug 2009
I have received the email I'd been waiting for from the RAFO but it wasn't the news I'd been hoping for unfortunately. No announcement will be made for the time being. All is not yet lost but all we can do in the meantime is sit tight and hope that a favourable outcome is eventually reached.
29 Jul 2009
More news has been received regarding the two ex Select Leasing pair of 1-11s, N200EE and N200JX, that recently flew into Orlando International Airport. They are now owned by a company called Elite Express LLC. Very little is known about this organisation, but they intend to carry on flying the aircraft in their present executive layout as far as I am aware. To date the aircraft haven't flown since their arrival.
21 Jul 2009
Regarding the RAFO 1-11 553, no official announcement is now expected until the 2nd August at the earliest!
20 Jul 2009
And a further quote from the aircrew at Fairford when asked the question by a visitor:-
Having had a splendid tour of 553, I spoke to the flight crew this weekend at Fairford, they confirmed it *will* be going to the museum at BOH because “it’s not their aeroplane” they “have no right to it” and it “belongs in the UK” (!) – amongst other reasons. Obviously it’s a believe it when it happens but these guys are convinced its going to BOH!
A quote from a RAFO engineer with the 1-11 at Fairford:-
The Oman 1-11 will return to Bournemouth at about 12.15 on Monday 20th July to night stop before heading home on Tuesday 21st July. This was quoted at the RIAT today by a RAFO engineer with the aircraft and he confirmed this. He said that he is also aware of the effort being put in to get the aircraft back to the Bournemouth Aviation museum. Here's hoping!
At last, someone from the RAFO with a "little bit of upfront info"!!!
14 Jul 2009
553 is due into Bournemouth today at 1655 as MJN565. It will be staying for two nights before positioning to Fairford at around midday on Thursday. I'll once again ask anyone who can make it to please record this "significant moment" in the 1-11s history which could be the last time we ever see an active 1-11 on the ground at Hurn. Any digital images or movie footage would be much appreciated. Only time will tell whether or not we can bring this 1-11 home for preservation!
4 Jul 2009
Amazing news received this week is that two of the three stored Select Leasing 1-11s have flown out of Waukesha Field to Orlando International (KMCO). N200EE departed on the 24th June and N200JX, the oldest surviving 1-11, followed on the 1st July. It therefore appears that the aircraft have finally been sold. Whether or not the remaining 1-11 N111JX follows remains to be seen.
30 Jun 2009
I've just received a very interesting report, including some lovely images, of one of Northrop Grumman's 1-11s taking part in Exercise Northern Edge 09 which was held at Elemdorf Air Force Base in Alaska. http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?id=123155225
25 Jun 2009
I have just been advised that the MIA Airlines 1-11, YR-HRS has been re-registered as TZ-BSC. It joins two other former sister ships with Tombouctou Aviation in Mali. They are all believed to be based at the Mali capital Bamako.
12 Jun 2009
It has come to light that the world's "last" passenger operator of the BAC 1-11, Trast Aero has recently launched a new website at:- http://trastaero.com/ This is an interesting development since it shows the company operating three 1-11s including the very last ex British Airways series 510ED aircraft EX-215. Having been rescued from Nigeria last year, it was believed that this was acquired for spares use only! I await confirmation of its status from the company themselves. EX-086 and EX-103 have both been photographed at Dubai over the past month. Photographic evidence appears to be the only way to proove without any doubt that these elusive airframes are still in service so please keep them coming!
01 May 2009
Most of you are probably not aware that today is a rather significant anniversary. 1-11 G-BLHD "Last Hurn Delivery" made its maiden flight from Hurn exactly 25 years ago on the 1st May 1984. This occured just before the final closure of the BAe factory at Hurn with the loss of over 2000 jobs, and more importantly bought to a very sad end a great era of aircraft production at the Bournemouth site. 146 Varsities, 279 Viscounts and 222 BAC 1-11s were built at Hurn from 1951 to 1982. G-BLHD and G-BLDH remained unsold and unflown at the BAe Factory until 1984 when they were bought by McAlpine Aviation.
29 Apr 2009
RAFO 1-11 553 confirmed for the Fairford RIAT 2009!
It has been confirmed on the RIAT website that 553 will make one last appearance at the Air Tattoo this year. It will be in the static display. I have also been advised that it will visit Bournemouth as well.
28 Apr 2009
BIG NEWS!
Dear All,
I have just received a telephone call from Steve Rhymes stating that the trustees of the Bournemouth Aviation Museum have “overwhelmingly” supported my plan to bring one of the last serviceable 1-11s back to Hurn for display at the new museum site across the road from the Airport next to Adventure Wonderland!!! They made the “absolutely crucial decision – for the future of the museum” at their meeting earlier this evening! This is fantastic news, although I will have to try and stay calm until it actually happens just in case there are any major disappointments along the way! It’s not in the bag until it’s sat in that field in all its glory, so this is just the beginning! There is now the small matter of persuading either the Omani’s or QinetiQ to part with their last aircraft when the time comes! Timescale wise we are looking at between 8 months, for the Omani 1-11 and a couple of years or so for the QinetiQ aircraft. The aircraft in question are 553 or ZE432/ZH763.
I would welcome any thoughts and / or ideas. Please keep in touch for further updates.
Peter
BAC 1-11 Forum at Yahoo Groups
22 Apr 2009
ZE432 made a very welcome appearance at Hurn today! Along with 553, which departed last Friday, that's two 1-11s in a week! It makes it all the more appropriate therefore that I'm making my "FINAL" bid to have a 1-11 preserved at Hurn, and ironically it will hopefully be one of the aircraft which visited over the past week! Several enthusiasts have now made the same obvious statement as me and that is:- "how can you have an aviation museum at Bournemouth without a 1-11 in the collection"!!! If you share this view then please start making some very loud noises over at the museum and around the airport. This really is the last chance to save Hurn's finest aircraft!
15 Apr 2009
553 arrived at Bournemouth this afternoon at just after 5.00pm as MJN 530. This could be one of the most significant 1-11 movements ever at Bournemouth if it turns out to be the last ever visit of the type. It is hoped that 553 might visit once again later this year, but with time rapidly running out, you have to assume that every visit of a 1-11 to Hurn is possibly the last!
553 landing on runway 08 courtesy of Bob Finch
13 Apr 2009
RAFO 1-11 553 should be arriving at Bournemouth during the late afternoon on Wednesday 15th April for what will probably be the last ever visit of an Omani 1-11 before the last of three aircraft is retired by the end of the year. The aircraft were delivered new to the Royal Air Force of Oman in 1974. Therefore they've been in service for 35 years with the RAFO making them the longest ever operator of the type.
Sadly I can't make it once again due to work commitments but I would be "very grateful indeed" if this event is recorded by "diggy cam and camcorder if possible"!!! I've yet to get some really good close up footage of any of the Omani 1-11s despite the number of visits to Hurn by the aircraft!
This could, in theory, be the last ever visit of a BAC 1-11 to Hurn unless QinetiQ fly any of their three aircraft in again.
I've received no further word regarding whether or not the aircraft will make one final appearance at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford in July.
8 Mar 2009
RAFO 1-11 552 was flown from Muscat Seeb to Masirah and into retirement today. It will be parted out before being handed over to the RAFO fire school.