No. 216 Squadron RAF

No. 216 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Lockheed Tristar K1, KC1 and C2 from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

History

Following the Falklands War the RAF found itself lacking in the strategic transport capabilities required to sustain the expanded military presence there. This shortfall was filled initially by chartered British Airways 747 and Britannia 767s. To address this in December 1982 the RAF purchased six ex-BA Tristar 500s. The aircraft had only entered service in 1979 but had been deemed surplus to requirements.

216 Sqn was reformed in November, 1984 and the RAF purchased a further three Tristar 500s from Pan-Am. The aircraft were operated initially in the Air-transport role but the fleet's role was eventually expanded to AAR with the addition of Hose/Drogue units.

The ex-BA aircraft were converted to K1 standard operating as a single point tanker, as opposed to the VC10 which has three refueling points - both wings and centre line. Four of these were converted to KC1 standard with the addition of a freight door, reinforced floor and cargo handling equipment.

Of the three ex-Pan Am aircraft one was stored and the remaining two formed the backbone of the Falklands run as Tristar C2s, carrying 267 passengers in an airline configuration. The stored aircraft was upgraded with military radios and avionics, becoming the C2A.

No. 216 Squadron has deployed the Tristar fleet in support of many high profile missions including the Gulf War (for which it received a desert paint scheme,) Operation Allied Force (Kosovo,) Operation Veritas (Afghanistan) and Operation Telic (Iraq 2003)