Frank’s the Flooring Store, one of the North East’s best known retailers, has expanded its support for the restoration of the last 1960s Trident 1C passenger plane in the world.
Two years ago, the company supplied and fitted carpet for the front end of the Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident, which is being restored at the North East Air Museum, in Sunderland. The carpet supplied was an almost exact replica of the original used throughout the standard models of the planes.
Now, the Frank’s team has returned to the museum to carpet the rear half of the plane, again using carefully matched carpet.
The project, which is being headed by Tony Jarrett, a preservation of historic aircraft enthusiast, was moved to the site in Sunderland in 2011 and plans to fully renovate the 16th Trident built and the last carrier to fly.
Mick Copeland, Frank’s Business Development Manager for the North East, said: “This is a fantastic project for us to be involved with, because this plane represents a piece of North East history and we are incredibly proud of this region, which is our home region. The work being carried out by Tony and his team will preserve this superb aircraft for the enjoyment of visitors to the museum.”
An 11-strong team is reassembling and preserving the Trident. The colour scheme of Northern Airlines, which flew the Tridents out of North East airports in the 1970s, is being used. The finished airplane will be restored externally and internally, with original fixtures and fittings, plus an exhibition of Trident memorabilia will be displayed for the public to view inside the cabin.
Anyone wishing to donate to the restoration project can do so by visiting: http://www.savethetrident.org