Does the RAF have cabin crew on their TriStar (KC1) transport aircraft ?

Question

Really curious to know if when operating trooping flights are the aircraft operated to normal 'civilian standards' ie, cabin crew, in-flight meals etc. ?

If cabin crew are employed by the RAF is that their only role or do they have other militray duties when not flying ?

Incidentally, do the seats face backwards or forwards on the RAF TriStars ?

Answer 1

The ross kemp thing seems to show a standard aircraft with a cabin crew, who are all service personell..

Answer 2

They have members from the catering flight - stewards and stewardesses - employed on the aircraft. They wear standard aircrew overalls (green), and serve basic meals and drinks.

When not posted onto flying duties, they are employed in Officers and SNCO messes as stewards and stewardesses.

The seats face forwards on the Tristar, unlike the VC10 where they face backwards.

Answer 3

There has to be crew there to comply with flight safety standards so yes flight crew for standard movements. The RAF still have satisfy CAA rules when running  non fighter aircraft. I think the seats face forward because that's the way the TriStar was designed as a passenger ac.

The RAF has a mixed fleet of nine hose-and-drogue extended Lockheed L-1011 TriStar aircraft, which are operated by No 216 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, in the air transport (AT) and air-to-air refuelling (AAR) roles. The three ex-Pan Am aircraft are largely unchanged from their airline days and operate in the passenger role, carrying up to 266 passengers. The air transport aircraft are designated C2 and C2A and are used extensively for transporting troops to world-wide destinations in support of exercises and operations.