Zulu-Kilo

Heres one for all of you airplane spotters out there. AWZK, (aka “Zulu-Kilo" or "ZK" after the final two letters of her registration) is a Hawker Siddeley Trident 3B-101, construction number 2312. I read afterwards (desperately trying to pimp-up a very dull photograph sorry), that ZK was assembled at Hawker Siddeley Hatfield and first flew in 1971, when being delivered to British European Airways.

Just after retirement ZK was partially decommissioned and used, to begin with, for a variety of duties, including as towing practice for trainee tug-drivers and by the police for counter terrorism training. Exciting stuff, but now it (she?) has most definitely been put out to grass finally at Ringways ‘Runway Visitor Park’ - but with a dedicated website no less.

I saw the road signs advertising the visitor park as I drove the scenic route back to Knutsford from Hale Barns. With nothing else planned, and having never been before, I thought visiting might throw up some interesting shots of take off and landings. No such luck, and I should have known that money-grabbing Manchester Airport doesnt offer up anything for free these days (in that, in even just dropping-off or picking-up air travellers they charge cars £5 a pop minimum).

So sorry, as it was, (and being a cheapskate), I had to make do with just saying hi to sweet old Zulu Kilo over the fence.