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http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/tris ... s-07022014
yes, it is empty now!
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http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=nl
07 February 2014
News articles by date
Voyager takes over as 216 Squadron flies home from the Middle East for the last time
More than twelve years after it first flew in support of Operation HERRICK, the Royal Air Force’s venerable TriStar flew its last ‘trooper’ mission in support of operations in Afghanistan on 30 January. The 216 Squadron aircraft flew a routine sortie to 906 Expeditionary Air Wing’s (906 EAW) air mobility hub in the Middle East, before bringing home the last of over half a million passengers who’ve flown to and from Afghanistan on the type since 2001. The RAF’s new Voyager, the largest aircraft ever flown by the Service, now takes over from the TriStar in supporting the draw-down of combat operations in Afghanistan through 2014.
The final TriStar journey in support of operations in Afghanistan saw the aircraft fly to 906 EAW’s base via Hanover on 29 January. It carried passengers who then moved to other locations in the Middle East and Afghanistan on RAF BAE 146 aircraft from XXXII (The Royal) Squadron and C-17 Globemaster aircraft from 99 Squadron. The TriStar departed for RAF Brize Norton from 906 EAW’s base on 30 January, having received base support from the EAW’s Joint Movements Unit.
Since October 2001 TriStar has flown half a million passengers on more than 1,600 sorties in support of Operation HERRICK, racking up 16 million air miles – enough to fly to the moon and back 33 times. The aircraft, which exits service with the RAF on 31 March, continues to support operations in the UK and the Falkland Islands. Since last year it has been supported by 906 EAW, which operates the UK’s strategic air mobility hub in the Middle East.
...probably someone had a change of heart after http://web202.ssvc.com/news/articles/raf/2166
The MOD’s Voyager transport plane fleet has been grounded after an incident on a flight to Afghanistan.
British Forces News has exclusively learnt a plane plummeted 2000 feet while in the air over Turkey.
The virtually-new fleet of planes has been grounded, after an as yet unexplained fault that affected a flight on Sunday night, which was carrying 181 military personnel to Afghanistan.
In a statement the MOD said: "The MOD can confirm that a Voyager aircraft suffered an in-flight issue on 9 February and as a precaution diverted to an airfield in Turkey.
A few passengers received minor injuries in the incident.
The safety of all our aircrews and passengers is our paramount concern, therefore, following this incident it has been decided to temporarily suspend military registered Voyager flying while this is fully investigated."
The excerpt below will probably not become reality in the end I fear...
Perhaps you mean Omega Air, though they are already using converted DC-10-40s (ex-JAL) and have more in storage for future conversion, as far as I know. Omni Air are pax-only with B767 and B777 equipment.Saw a piece in USA that Omni the US civil AAR contractor may be interested in them. Ready made AAR assets to add to their portfolio. Mentions less than a £mil for the lot. Cheaper an Omni TriStar on Falklands stby than mega bucks Voyager?
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