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The Hawker Siddeley 121 Trident took flight in 1962, becoming one of the era's most technologically advanced jetliners in the world. The aircraft was set to be produced and sold in massive quantities but was overshadowed by the production of the American Boeing 727. The Trident was conceptualized as a long-range airliner capable of accommodating a large number of passengers for British European Airways. However, it was concluded that the aircraft would be better as a short-hauler used for domestic and European routes that ultimately resulted in a design that prompted Boeing to develop their own.
The 3-engined Trident was revolutionary for its time and featured a fully automated landing system. This gave the aircraft the ability to land blindly in zero visibility. The first official automated landing occurred in June 1965 on a flight from Paris to Heathrow, marking a notable first for the British Aviation industry. Due to the Boeing 727, only 117 Tridents were produced with four variants before retiring with British Airways in 1985.