3 is the magic number !

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   3 engines that is !! British airways have operated 3 three engined jets in the past,( the B727s of Comair were not BAs aircraft though they had BA markings and were only operated in South Africa.) two of them widebodys and one conventional. Here we see all three during a diversion to Stansted when Gatwick was fogged in. the Airline was in the transition from the red and white scheme to Landor......
first up the Hawker Siddeley Trident 3, the T3 was the last of the trident series and actually had a 4th auxilliary engine at the base of the fin, this was used for take off etc. the Trident never flew in the Landor scheme as they were in the process of being retired when the colours changed. One T2 did carry the scheme but never flew as it was used as an instructional airframe at LHR,
Parked on the gate

take off

heading for sunnier climates

Then we have the Lockheed L1011 Tristar, this is the short fuselage, long range -500 model. these aircraft were subsequently passed on to the RAF where they still serve today...
on the ramp

take off

climb out

one of the BA Airtours sisterships on the way in

finally the DC10, these were inherited from British Caledonian when BA took over that airline...
inbound over Essex

over the threshold

braking hard and thrust reversers deployed

parked on the gate, from this angle one can appreciate just how big the DC-10 really is !

out of all of these the Tristar was the loveliest aircraft to fly in, they were just so comfortable, so much room to move around in. The DC10 was the better looking of the trio though, they just look so much more imposing. the T3 was just noisy and in your face ! they were a very common sight at most of britains airports, few survive now though sadly.
thanks for flying with British Airways.