1/09/1962: Hawker Siddeley Trident Maiden Flight

DALLAS — Today, in 1962, the prototype Hawker Siddeley Trident 1C (G-ARPA) took its maiden flight from Hatfield, UK. Originally known as the DH121 and designed by the De Havilland Aircraft Company, this jet was a groundbreaking advancement in British aviation as it became the world's first trijet.

Among the early airlines that expressed interest in the aircraft was American Airlines (AA). De Havilland made modifications to the design to meet AA's requirements. However, AA ultimately chose the Boeing 727, which they believed was a perfect fit for their needs.

De Havilland then tailored the design to suit British European Airways (BEA), a UK-based carrier. The aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Spey engines, was equipped with advanced avionics for its time, including automatic approach and landing capabilities. The Autoland System by Smiths Aircraft Industries allowed pilots to operate in extremely poor visibility conditions.

Variants

Before its first flight, the British aircraft industry underwent a reorganization that led to the merger of De Havilland into the Hawker Siddeley Group. As a result, the DH121 was rebranded as the HS121 Trident.

Under the new ownership, several variants of the aircraft were designed: Trident 1C (24 built), Trident 1E (15 built), Trident 2E (50 built), Trident 3B (26 built), and the Super Trident 3B (two built).

The initial adaptation of the airliner for BEA focused on meeting their specific requirements, which resulted in the Trident lacking the range and short-field performance capabilities to compete with the Boeing 727.

However, the aircraft found success in the Chinese market. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) received its first Trident-1Es in 1970. Subsequently, the carrier received 33 brand-new 2Es, as well as both Super Trident 3Bs that were manufactured. The airline operated these jets until the 1990s, considering them to be "the best aircraft the West had ever produced."

Featured image: The Trident -3B was the largest variant, capable of carrying up to 180 passengers. It first flew on December 11, 1969, and entered service with BEA in April 1971.

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