Lockheed TriStar (RAF)

The Lockheed TriStar was an air-to-air tanker and transport aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) based on the Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar airliner which entered service in 1984.

The aircraft were purchased after the Falklands War, after a requirement for additional air-to-air refueling operations had been identified. Of the nine in service, two were tankers (K1) with passenger space and also limited space for cargo loaded aft of the main deck; three were solely transport aircraft (C2); and the remaining four (KC1) could be used for either of the two roles. The TriStars formed the air-to-air refueling fleet of the RAF until replaced by the Airbus A330 MRTT under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) program.

The TriStar fleet was operated by No. 216 Squadron of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. 216 Squadron was officially re-equipped with the Voyager KC2/3 on March 20th, 2014. All nine aircraft are currently in storage at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, awaiting preservation or sale.

Users

 * United Kingdom
 * Royal Air Force