2013 Defender 90 British Airways
Chassis number: SALLDWBP7DA438448
Registration number: WF13 LLK
Engine type: 2.2 Diesel
Gearbox type: 6 Speed Manual
Vehicle spec:
This Defender was one of a small batch of 90 and 110 vehicles ordered by British Airways in 2013. It was allocated the BA Engineering fleet number LR1108 before being put into service at London Gatwick. It spent almost all of its time airside, carrying the engineers and servicing teams as they attended to the aircraft on the ramp.
It would usually be towing one of the large Engineering Kit trailers for the BA Airbus and Boeing aircraft operating out of Gatwick. These contain jacks, wheel changing equipment, and spare wheels, as well as special stands to allow access to aircraft wheel bays, brakes and engines.
The V5 markings were allocated to this by Gatwick Airport Limited, and they mean that ‘Viking 5’ was permitted under the specific instructions of air traffic control to access restricted areas such as the airport’s taxiways.
It was destined to be the last Land Rover in service with BA at the airport, and when Dunsfold volunteer Paul New, an aircraft tug operator at Gatwick, heard that it was going to be retired in 2024 he suggested to BA managers that it should be donated to us. Happily, they agreed!