Hawker Siddeley Trident: A Pioneer in Aviation Technology, (Hardcover)

<b>Trident pioneers autonomous landing capabilities, showcasing unprecedented speed, reliability, and technological prowess in jet aviation history.</b><br><br>In 1957, de Havilland Aircraft started design studies to meet a British European Airways' (BEA) requirement for a jet airliner capable of &amp;#64258;ying 1,000-mile stage lengths and achieving 600 mph. Then, in 1958, BEA demanded a smaller aircraft, resulting in a major re-design from which the aircraft emerged around three 10,100-pound thrust Rolls-Royce RB.163 Spey engines and seating up to 101 passengers.<br><br>The construction of the first twenty-four aircraft began at Hat&amp;#64257;eld in July 1959. In 1960 de Havilland joined the Hawker Siddeley Group, and in September that year the future airliner's name, Trident, was announced, this having been chosen as a reflection of its then-unique three-jet, triple-hydraulic configuration. Trident took its first flight at Hat&amp;#64257;eld on 9 January 1962. The &amp;#64257;rst revenue earning &amp;#64258;ight followed on 11 March, and full scheduled services on 1 April.<br><br>A pioneer in aviation technology, Trident was built from the outset for automatic landing in bad weather, a feature way ahead of its time. Trident 1C G-ARPB, retained by Hawker Siddeley for 'Auto&amp;#64258;are' and 'Autoland' development, made the world's first fully automatic landing at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, on 5 March 1964, a significant milestone in aviation history. The world's first automatic touchdown on a commercial service was made by Trident 1C G-ARPR when it arrived at Heathrow from Paris on 10 June 1965, further demonstrating the Trident's technological prowess and leaving the aviation world in awe.<br><br>The DH.121 was an engineering marvel, boasting several unique features that set it apart from its contemporaries. These included an all-&amp;#64258;ying tailplane, a sideways retracting nose leg offset twenty-four inches to port, and a Bristol Siddeley Artouste auxiliary power unit &amp;#64257;tted under the &amp;#64258;oor of the rear cabin. These innovative design elements made the Trident a standout in the aviation industry, sparking the curiosity of aviation enthusiasts and historians alike.

• Hawker Siddeley Trident: A Pioneer in Aviation Technology, (Hardcover)
• Author: Air World
• ISBN: 9781036193324
• Format: Hardcover
• Publication Date: 2026-11-30
• Page Count: 256