The CAAC Trident 1E

[CAAC]

　Glad to talk with you guys!

　　First, let me introduce myself, I am Leo, an aerophile from China and I am also working as a pilot. After seeing your website, I feel quite excited. How great it is when I know there are other guys like myself are making endeavor in discovering civil aviation’s history. Pakistan and China have been sharing a great friendship since 1960s, certainly including the friendship in the field of civil aviation.



Here is the truth in China:



1. Tridents are representative mark of British aircraft industry, and they not only contributed to Pakistan civil aviation, but also contributed a lot to Chinese. But young people barely know this model, and the Tridents in China are in a poor condition now.

2. And our team would like to write a book to introduce this model and their history in PIA and CAAC, and hope these stories could be known by more people.

3. We looked at the Tridents still in China, including 1E and 2E. It is a pity that the two S3Bs have been disassembled. We have some photos and certainly, we can share them with you if have interest.

4. We have collected some old Trident 1E spare parts from pre-owned markets, including flight instruments, etc.

5. We have all the official discrepancy reports from the UK and China, and have known active time of the Tridents in China for sure. But we do not have very good photo, if you have any good photo and manual, and if you do not mind to share, please, we really appreciate it!



We need your precious help from these 3 phases:



1. Documents and pictures about how Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) made the decision of importing the Tridents.

2. Documents and pictures of the Tridents when they were commissioning in PIA.

3. Documents and pictures about the process how China bought the Tridents from Pakistan and how the planes flew to China.



If possible, information of these topics are also appreciated:



1. Documents and pictures about PIA’s Boeing 720 airliner’s maiden flight to China.

2. Related history after PIA started airlines towards China, and the communication between PIA and Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

3. Documents and pictures about PIA’s flights that carrying China’s national leaders.

My E-mail：854228955@qq.com

　　Thank you very much for reading it.

Best regards,



Your sincerely,

Leo

[Dr747]

Welcome to History of PIA, Leo

[CAAC]

Welcome to History of PIA, Leo

glad to meet you

[riz]

Welcome Leo, long live pak china friendship.

[Abbas Ali]

Documents and pictures about how Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) made the decision of importing the Tridents.

The final competition was between British-made Trident and US-made Boeing 727. PIA management selected Boeing 727 but then Managing Director PIA Nur Khan vetoed that decision and selected Trident because it was thought that Americans at some stage might stop PIA from using US-made Boeings on flights to/from China and in that case PIA could use Tridents for China flights.

Someone told me that at the time of aircraft selection, a Boeing 727 with PIA logo/marking stickers was also sent by Boeing to Pakistan for evaluation flights.

Documents and pictures about the process how China bought the Tridents from Pakistan and how the planes flew to China.

PIA Tridents were painted all-white before their ferry flights to China.

Documents and pictures about PIA’s Boeing 720 airliner’s maiden flight to China.

Chinese authorities at fast pace improved runway and other facilities at airports of Shanghai and Canton to enable PIA to operate Boeing 720B at those airports.

Initially PIA had planned to operate flights from Pakistan to Japan via China but the Japanese authorities at that time did not allow flights between Pakistan and Tokyo via China due to nature of relations between China and Japan at that time.

Later PIA was allowed to start flights between Pakistan and Tokyo via China by the Japanese.

Btw, in early 1970s a number of DHC-2 Beaver aircraft were also transferred from Pakistan to China and some of those Beavers are well-preserved in China.

Abbas

[CAAC]

There cannot be a better reply I have ever expected. It is really a better understanding for me, about what does the famous Sino-Pakistan friendship means.
Thank you very much for your detailed and patient reply, and some questions from your reply have been sent by my email. Hope we can get more information for this lovely forum, cheer up!

With very best wishes from China！