RAF Tristar -500 Question

[AV O]

Can any Tristar specialist help me ?

On the Tristar, the back underside below the tailplane has what seems to be ventilation grills :

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Orbital-Sciences/Lockheed-L-1011-385-1-15-TriStar/1347916/&sid=f972125bac515fe32bedc365daad5297

On the RAF Tanker Tristar :

They look (at least concerning the aft one) like an observation window for the refuelling operator.

Can anyone confirm ?

Thank you for your help.

AV O

Edited October 9, 2013 by AV O

[pigsty]

I don't know what they are, but they won't be for a refuelling operator. The flying boom system requires a crew member aft to fly the boom, but the probe-and-drogue system doesn't. The most there is is cameras. I think there may be a lens in the upper corner of that square window. This could imply that the original space and openings were re-used as part of the tanker conversion.

[AV O]

I don't know what they are, but they won't be for a refuelling operator. The flying boom system requires a crew member aft to fly the boom, but the probe-and-drogue system doesn't. The most there is is cameras. I think there may be a lens in the upper corner of that square window. This could imply that the original space and openings were re-used as part of the tanker conversion.

Then, could this lens be a control camera related to a screen on the Cockpit dashboard in order to monitor the refuelling operations ?

Edited March 7, 2013 by AV O

[leader3]

the photo from airliners.net is a tri-star 100 and not a 500.

the two variants are slightly different, mainly the length of the fuselage and the tail fillet underneath the centre engine intake.

the vents under the tailplane are located where there is a avionics compartment and it is very close to APU as well.

the conversion of the tri-star from civil to military was very significant and a lot of this work is and around the HDU units for re-fuelling.

hope this helps.

[evinX]

Ive seen a defunct tristar with what seems to be an exhaust coming out of the biggest hole

[Jennings Heilig]

Then, could this lens be a control camera related to a screen on the Cockpit dashboard in order to monitor the refuelling operations ?

See post above. The camera for the refueling drogue operator is on the midline, in the black box ahead of the drogue housing.

[AV O]

Thank you for your answers.

the photo from airliners.net is a tri-star 100 and not a 500.

the two variants are slightly different, mainly the length of the fuselage and the tail fillet underneath the centre engine intake.

the vents under the tailplane are located where there is a avionics compartment and it is very close to APU as well.

the conversion of the tri-star from civil to military was very significant and a lot of this work is and around the HDU units for re-fuelling.

hope this helps.

Yes, it was just to show what the subject was and the differences betwen the civil and the RAF version.

However, does any body have a clue ?

- What about the front "two piece". Is it a window or a vent ?- Is the port side fitted the same way, or did it keep the vents ?

- Are both sides similar with windows or one side (left/port) with mesh and the opposite (right/starboard) with windows ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_TriStar_(RAF)

Thank you.

AV O

Edited March 29, 2014 by AV O

[milli21]

The two panels you have mentioned are access panels. They are the same on both sides. The rearmost panel leads up to the stab area and the forward one goes to just behind the cabin pressure bulkhead. They are just mesh covered panels. The only refuelling camera is on the centreline underneath.

[AV O]

Thanks a lot.

Cheers
AV O

[Alpha Delta 210]

I think the Pegasus launch airframe is still going,and there maybe 1 or 2 still airworthy but If they are I would say their days are shurely numbered.

For any TriStar fan, the March issue of "Aviation News" has two articles on the L-1011. The first is entitled "TriStars of the RAF" and the second is "TriStar - Lockheed's Airliner Swansong". According to the latter article, there are two companies using the TriStar - Askari Aviation Services of Pakistan and Barq Aviation of Jordan. The Royal Saudi Air Force operates two -500s in the livery of Saudia.