Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident

The British trijet built for high-speed short-haul operations.

Overview

Hawker Beechcraft United States ICAO: TRID 1964–1978 $75 million

The Hawker Siddeley Trident was a three-engine narrow-body jet developed for European short-haul routes. Designed with advanced autopilot systems for its time, it entered service in the 1960s. The aircraft became a key part of British European Airways’ fleet.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
3 × Rolls-Royce RB.163-25 Spey 512
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
3 × 11,960 lbf · 53 kN
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
180 economy · 115 business
Crew
—
Cabin width
11 ft 2 in  ·  3.40 m
Cabin height
6 ft 7 in  ·  2.00 m
Cabin length
30 ft 0 in  ·  9.14 m
Exterior length
131 ft 3 in  ·  40.00 m
Tail height
28 ft 3 in  ·  8.60 m
Fuselage diameter
11 ft 10 in  ·  3.60 m
Wing span
98 ft 1 in  ·  29.90 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
150,000 lb  ·  68,000 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
32,400 lb  ·  14,700 kg
Fuel capacity
6,550 gal · 24,700 L · 19,800 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
525 kt  ·  604 mph  ·  972 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
2,084 nm  ·  2,400 mi  ·  3,860 km
Fuel burn
0.43 nm/gal  ·  0.21 km/L
Ceiling
35,000 ft  ·  10,700 m
Rate of climb
3,000 ft/min  ·  15 m/s
Takeoff distance
2,750 ft  ·  840 m
Landing distance
2,200 ft  ·  680 m
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British Airways Trident 3B

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Operational Context

Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident — three-engine short-haul jetliner

The Trident first flew in 1962 and entered service in 1964. It featured a T-tail and three rear-mounted engines, similar in configuration to later trijet designs. The aircraft incorporated an early automatic landing system capable of low-visibility approaches.

Powered by three Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines producing approximately 11,000 to 12,000 pounds of thrust (49 to 53 kN) each, the Trident cruised at around 520 knots (960 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight varied by variant, reaching over 140,000 pounds (63,500 kg). Seating ranged from around 100 to 180 passengers.

The Trident served primarily in Europe and Asia. While technologically advanced, its market reach was limited compared with American competitors. It remains an important example of British jetliner innovation.