Hawker Siddeley Trident: A Pioneer in Aviation Technology

In 1957, de Havilland Aircraft started design studies to meet a British European Airways’ (BEA) requirement for a jet airliner capable of ?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. The construction of the first twenty-four aircraft began at Hat?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?eld on 9 January 1962.The ?rst revenue earning ?ight followed on 11 March, and full scheduled services on 1 April. A pioneer in aviation technology, Trident was built from the outset for automatic landing in bad weather, a feature way ahead of it