Lockheed L-1011
Encyclopedia
The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as the L-1011 or TriStar, is a medium-to-long range, widebody passenger trijet
airliner
. It was the third widebody airliner to enter commercial operations, following the Boeing 747
and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
. Between 1968 and 1984, Lockheed
manufactured a total of 250 TriStars. After production ended, Lockheed withdrew from the commercial aircraft business due to its below-target sales.
approached Lockheed and competitor Douglas (later McDonnell Douglas) with the need for an airliner smaller than the 747 capable of carrying a large passenger load to distant locales such as London and Latin America
from company hubs at Dallas/Ft Worth
and New York. Lockheed had been largely absent from the civil airliner market since the late 1950s following problems with the L-188 Electra
, which suffered a number of crashes early in its career. Having experienced difficulties with some of their military programs, Lockheed was eager to re-enter the civil market, and their response was the L-1011 TriStar. The aircraft was originally conceived as a "jumbo twin", but a three-engine design was ultimately chosen to give the aircraft enough thrust to take off from existing runways.
The design featured a twin-aisle interior with a maximum of 400 passengers, a three-engine layout, low noise emissions (in the early 1970s, Eastern Air Lines
nicknamed the L-1011 "WhisperLiner"), improved reliability and efficient operation. The main visible difference between the TriStar and the Douglas DC-10 is the middle/tail engine; the DC-10's engine is mounted above the fuselage for more power and easier maintenance, while the TriStar's engine is integrated into the tail through an S-duct
(similar to the Boeing 727
) for improved quietness and stability. A major difference between the L-1011 and the DC-10 was Lockheed's selection of the Rolls-Royce RB211
engine for the L-1011. As originally designed, the RB211 turbofan
was an advanced three-spool design with a carbon fibre fan, which would have better efficiency and power-to-weight ratio
than any competing design. This would make the L-1011 more efficient, a major selling point.
American Airlines opted for the Douglas DC-10, although they showed considerable interest in the L-1011. American's intent was to convince Douglas to lower its price for the DC-10, which they did. Without the support of American, the TriStar was launched on orders from TWA
and Eastern Air Lines
. Although the TriStar's design schedule closely followed that of its competitor, Douglas beat Lockheed to market by a year due to delays in power plant development. In February 1971, after massive development costs associated with the RB211, Rolls-Royce
went into receivership. This halted L-1011 final assembly and Lockheed investigated the possibility of a US engine supplier; by then it was considered too late to change engine suppliers to either General Electric
or Pratt & Whitney
. One option presented was potential outsource of the RB-211 production to Canadian manufacturer Orenda Engines.
The British government agreed to approve a large state subsidy to restart Rolls-Royce operations on condition the U.S. government guarantee the bank loans Lockheed needed to complete the L-1011 project. Despite some opposition, not least from the then Governor of California Ronald Reagan
, the U.S. government provided these guarantees. For the rest of the RB211 project, Rolls-Royce remained a government-owned company.
The TriStar's internal Lockheed model number is L-093. The prototype first flew on November 17, 1970. The crew for that flight was H. B. Dees (pilot), Ralph C. Cokely (copilot), and G.E. Fisher (development engineer). The L-1011 was certified on April 14, 1972 with the first airliner delivered to Eastern Air Lines on April 26, 1972. In an effort to further publicize the new aircraft, an L-1011 was taken on a world tour during 1972 by famed Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier
.
Manufactured in Lockheed facilities in Burbank and Palmdale, California
, the TriStar faced brisk competition with the Boeing 747
and more directly, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
, which it closely resembled. Trans World Airlines
heralded the TriStar as one of the safest aircraft in the world in some of its promotional literature in the 1980s when concern over the safety record of the DC-10, flown by most of their competitors, was at its peak.
A total of 446 DC-10s were sold compared to 250 TriStars, partly because of the TriStar's delayed introduction but particularly because a larger version with a longer range was not initially offered. Under state control, costs at Rolls-Royce were tightly controlled. The company's efforts largely went into the original TriStar engines, which needed considerable modifications between the L-1011's first flight and service entry. The competition, notably General Electric, were very quick to develop their CF6 engine for more thrust, which meant that a heavier "intercontinental" DC-10-30 could be more quickly brought to the market. The flexibility afforded to potential customers by a long-range DC-10 put the L-1011 at a serious disadvantage. Rolls-Royce went on to develop the high-thrust RB211-524 for the L-1011-200 and -500, but this took many years.
system and was the first widebody to receive FAA certification for Cat-IIIc autoland
ing, which approved the TriStar for completely blind
landings in zero-visibility
weather performed by the aircraft's autopilot. The L-1011 used an Inertial Navigation System (INS) to navigate; this included aligning the navigation system by entering current coordinates of longitude and latitude.
It also had a unique Direct Lift Control (DLC) system, which allowed for smooth approaches when landing, without having to use significant pitch changes while on the approach path. DLC helps maintain the descending glideslope on final approach by automatically deploying spoiler panels on the wings. Thus, rather than maintaining the descent by adjusting pitch, DLC helps control the descent while maintaining a more consistent pitch angle, using four redundant hydraulic systems. Production also utilized a unique "autoclave" system for bonding fuselage panels together; this made the L-1011 extremely resistant to corrosion.
The earlier versions of the L-1011, such as the -1, -100, and -150 can be distinguished from the later models by the design of the middle engine nacelles. The earlier version nacelle has a round intake, whereas the later models have a small vertical fin between the bottom of the middle engine intake and the top of the fuselage.
The two L-1011 aircraft delivered to Pacific Southwest Airlines
were configured with internal airstair
doors that led into an entry hall in what was normally the forward lower baggage hold. This was to allow operations from airfields that did not have terminal buildings with jet bridges. These two aircraft were later in service with Aeroperú
and Worldways Canada
.
was the type's largest customer. Cathay Pacific
eventually became the largest non-U.S. operator of the type by acquiring many of the Eastern Air Lines examples when Eastern Air Lines went bankrupt, operating as many as 21 aircraft.
In an effort to secure the Japanese market, Lockheed had secretly bribed several members of the Japanese government to subsidize ANA
's purchase of L-1011s; however, this caused a significant scandal when the bribes were uncovered. The discovered scale to what has become known as the Lockheed bribery scandal led to the arrest of Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka
as well as several other officials. Within Lockheed, board chairman Daniel Haughton and vice chairman and president Carl Kotchian
resigned their posts on February 13, 1976. Tanaka was eventually tried and found guilty of violating foreign exchange control laws, but was not charged with bribery, a more serious criminal offense. Crucially for Lockheed, the fallout from the scandal included the loss of a contract worth in excess of $1-billion.
The Soviet Union
at that time lacked a widebody airliner. Development of their own Ilyushin Il-86
was delayed, consequently, in the mid-1970s, the Soviets started negotiations to buy 30 TriStars and licence-produce up to 100 a year. The talks collapsed as US President Jimmy Carter
made human rights a US policy factor. The TriStar was also listed by the Coordinating Committee
as embodying advanced technology banned from potential enemies, thus being a serious obstacle to the export deal.
Lockheed needed to sell 500 airliners to break even, but in 1981 announced production would end with delivery of the 250th and last L-1011 on order in 1984. The TriStar's failure to achieve profitability caused Lockheed to withdraw from the civil aircraft business. Most major airlines have retired the type altogether. Cathay Pacific retired its L-1011 aircraft in October 1996, replacing the fleet with Airbus
A330-300
. TWA withdrew its last TriStar from service in 1997; Delta Air Lines retired its TriStars in 2001 to replace them with the Boeing 767-400ER.
The L-1011 still sees use by smaller start-up carriers, particularly in Africa and Asia. These operators mainly do their business in the ad hoc
charter and wet leasing
businesses. ATA Airlines
(formerly known as American Trans Air) fleet included over 19 Tristars, but operations dwindled to only three L1011-500s prior to the company's shutdown in April 2008.
In the early 1990s, Orbital Sciences began to use a converted L-1011-100 named Stargazer
to launch Pegasus rockets into orbit around Earth. This venture effectively rendered the small Scout
rocket obsolete. This aircraft was also used in support of the X-34 and X-43 programs. NASA
performed aerodynamic research on Orbital Science's L-1011 in 1995.
has nine aircraft of four variants. The aircraft are ex-British Airways
and Pan Am
L-1011-500s. All of the aircraft serve with No. 216 Squadron
, and are based at RAF Brize Norton
. In 2008, the TriStar was to remain in RAF service until approximately 2016, when it is to be replaced by the Airbus A330 MRTT
under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
(FSTA) program.
.
The L-1011-1 was first delivered to Eastern Air Lines on April 5, 1972. A total of 160 L-1011-1 TriStars were built before production ended in 1983, although the majority of these, 119 or 75% of the total, were completed during a four year period between 1972 and 1975. Most sales of the L-1011-1 were to US operators with just three airlines, Delta, Eastern, and TWA taking delivery of 110 combined. A further two aircraft were placed with a fourth US airline, Pacific Southwest.
, for two each, in May 1974. First deliveries took place in June 1975.
The variant was also purchased by several airlines with longer-range routes, such as TWA
, Air Canada
and BEA
.
The first two L-1011-100s (msn 1110 and 1116) were delivered new to Saudia with the same fuel capacity as the L-1011-1 (FAA certification L-1011-385-1-14), these were later upgraded to L-1011-200 specification.
Other than the engines, the basic TriStar 200 is similar to the -100, with center section fuel, having the MTOW of 466000 pounds (211,374 kg), and fuel capcity of 26400 gallons (99,934.9 l) as the -100. An increase of gross weight to 474000 pounds (215,002.8 kg) is possible, with the heavier aircraft offered by Lockheed as -200Is or -200(Improved).
Saudi Arabian Airlines
(Saudia) was a launch customer for the -200 series and operated a sizeable fleet until 1998. A total of 24 L-1011-200 aircraft were built new, with the first delivered to Saudia on May 28, 1977. Like other TriStar improvements, a conversion program has also been offered.
The TriStar 500 has an overall length of 164 in 2 in (50.04 m) and wingspan increased to 164 in 4 in (50.09 m) (early TriStar versions originally had the TriStar 1 wing with a span of 155 in 4 in (47.35 m)).
Lockheed developed some aerodynamic improvements for the TriStar 500 which included a modified wing to body fairing, a fillet below the central intake, extended wingtips and "active ailerons" or active control system (ACS). The new fairing reduced drag while the fillet reduced noise in the rear cabin. The wingtip extensions increased aspect ratio thus reducing induced drag but would have resulted in increased bending. The ACS, developed to solve this, provided gust alleviation, improving ride during flight, reduced fuel burn and increased fatigue life.
Earlier TriStar 500s were delivered with the standard wing, however these were later retrofitted with ailerons and extended wingtips. Pan Am was the first customer to order the -500 with the extended wingtips and active ailerons. Msn 1176, the first for Pan Am, was the first TriStar 500 to be fitted with them as standard.
The TriStar 500 is equipped with the more powerful RB211-524B engines. Initially rated at 50000 lbf (222.4 kN) thrust each, the higher thrust 53000 lbf (235.8 kN) -524B4 Improved (also referred to as the -524B4I) later became available, which also offered improved fuel efficiency.
Originally certified with an MTOW of 496000 pounds (224,981.8 kg), an increased MTOW of 504000 pounds (228,610.6 kg) was later certified in 1979 and all earlier production aircraft were certified at this weight. A further increase, to 510000 pounds (231,332.1 kg) is also available and it is understood that most TriStar 500s have had this increase. Standard fuel capacity is 31600 gallons (119,619 l), giving the TriStar 500 a range of about 5200 nautical miles (9,630.4 km) with 246 passengers and baggage.
The TriStar 500's maximum passenger capacity is 315 although no aircraft were operated at this density. The aircraft is equipped with six (6) exits, two less than the long body TriStars, thus reducing the exit limit maximum. A typical two class layout might include 21 first and 229 economy for a maximum of 250 passengers. More spacious three-class layouts used on longer routes include 233 with 12 first, 32 business, and 189 economy with Delta Air Lines.
Lockheed discovered fairly early on that the TriStar was suffering from higher than estimated structural weight, engine weight, and specific fuel consumption. To rectify this problem and to meet performance guarantees, Lockheed developed a structural kit that allowed MTOW to be increased on production aircraft from 409000 pounds (185,519.3 kg) to 430000 pounds (195,044.7 kg). The weight problems were however to affect the weight and desirability of early production L-1011-1 aircraft. These early aircraft (msn 1002 through to 1012) are known by Lockheed as Group 1 aircraft and are in some degree non-standard, having higher empty weights. They have also been called "pre-loadability" aircraft, and are referred to in some sectors of the industry by the derogatory name of "lead sled".
Group 1 aircraft have on OEW
of 252700 pounds (114,622.8 kg), about 12700 pounds (5,760.6 kg) higher than later aircraft, while Group 2 aircraft (msn 1013 through 1051) have an OEW
of 247000 pounds (112,037.3 kg), some 4700 pounds (2,131.9 kg) higher. These aircraft, in general, also have different center of gravity envelope with the forward center of gravity limit on the early aircraft being more restrictive at higher gross weights. Group 1 and Group 2 aircraft (msn 1002 to 1051) are upgradeable only to -50 or -150 specifications, although the Group 1 aircraft (up to msn 1012) still maintain their operating disadvantages. L-1011-1 from msn 1052 onwards are Group 3 aircraft and are fully upgradeable to all variants up to -250 specification.
Summary of L-1011-1 upgradeability:
The first aircraft was converted by MBB at Lemwarder in Germany during the winter of 1988/89 and was subsequently handed over to Air Transat
of Canada on May 11, 1989.
engine, which could be easily upgraded on the existing RB211-524B
powerplants of the L-1011-200 but required a re-engining on the L-1011-1 and L-1011-100, which used the original RB211-22B
. The upgrade allowed the L-1011 to match the performance of the long-range McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
. Although it was applicable to all L-1011 models, it was only used by Delta Air Lines on six late-model L-1011-1 aircraft.
(one). The Royal Air Force
operates nine L-1011 aircraft.
, with 534 fatalities.
in Kansas City has obtained one of the last three operational ex-TWA L-1011-50 MSN 193C-1066 (N700TS) in the U.S. for the museum's permanent collection. The Delta Heritage Museum
houses a portion of the prototype Lockheed L-1011 aircraft.
A Saudia L-1011-200 is on display at the Royal Saudi Air Force Museum
in Riyadh
.
An L-1011 is to go on display at Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale, California
.
An L-1011 is on display in the Chaguaramas
Military History & Aerospace Museum in Trinidad
.
Sources:
is a dismantled L-1011 formerly belonging to Eastern Airlines and later Delta Air Lines
.
The aircraft featured in The Langoliers
TV series is an L-1011.
The Wesley Snipes
action movie Passenger 57
features extensive depictions of a former Eastern Airlines L-1011 in the livery
of the fictional 'Atlantic International Airlines'. In the movie Die Hard 2
, the passenger airliner that John McClane
's wife Holly is flying from Los Angeles to Dulles Airport is a Lockheed L-1011 and is featured prominently throughout the entire movie. A second L-1011 also makes a brief appearance in an additional scene in this film.
The L-1011 was the inspiration for the name of the Los Angeles based post-rock duo, El Ten Eleven
.
Trijet
A Trijet is an aircraft powered by three jet engines. Early twin-jet designs were limited by the FAA's "60-minute rule", whereby the flight path of twin-engined jetliners was restricted to within 60 minutes' flying time from a suitable airport, in case of engine failure. In 1964 this rule was...
airliner
Jet airliner
A jet airliner is an airliner that is powered by jet engines. This term is sometimes contracted to jetliner or jet.In contrast to today's relatively fuel-efficient, turbofan-powered air travel, first generation jet airliner travel was noisy and fuel inefficient...
. It was the third widebody airliner to enter commercial operations, following the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
. Between 1968 and 1984, Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
manufactured a total of 250 TriStars. After production ended, Lockheed withdrew from the commercial aircraft business due to its below-target sales.
Development
In the 1960s, American AirlinesAmerican Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
approached Lockheed and competitor Douglas (later McDonnell Douglas) with the need for an airliner smaller than the 747 capable of carrying a large passenger load to distant locales such as London and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
from company hubs at Dallas/Ft Worth
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
and New York. Lockheed had been largely absent from the civil airliner market since the late 1950s following problems with the L-188 Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
, which suffered a number of crashes early in its career. Having experienced difficulties with some of their military programs, Lockheed was eager to re-enter the civil market, and their response was the L-1011 TriStar. The aircraft was originally conceived as a "jumbo twin", but a three-engine design was ultimately chosen to give the aircraft enough thrust to take off from existing runways.
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
nicknamed the L-1011 "WhisperLiner"), improved reliability and efficient operation. The main visible difference between the TriStar and the Douglas DC-10 is the middle/tail engine; the DC-10's engine is mounted above the fuselage for more power and easier maintenance, while the TriStar's engine is integrated into the tail through an S-duct
S-duct
An S-duct is a unique type of jet engine intake duct, used in several types of trijet aircraft. In this configuration, the intake is in the upper rear center of the aircraft, just below the stabilizer, while the exhaust is at the rear of the aircraft. The S-duct is located in the tail, or...
(similar to the Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
) for improved quietness and stability. A major difference between the L-1011 and the DC-10 was Lockheed's selection of the Rolls-Royce RB211
Rolls-Royce RB211
The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce plc and capable of generating 37,400 to 60,600 pounds-force thrust. Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 , it entered service in 1972 and was the only engine to power this aircraft type...
engine for the L-1011. As originally designed, the RB211 turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
was an advanced three-spool design with a carbon fibre fan, which would have better efficiency and power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
than any competing design. This would make the L-1011 more efficient, a major selling point.
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
and Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
. Although the TriStar's design schedule closely followed that of its competitor, Douglas beat Lockheed to market by a year due to delays in power plant development. In February 1971, after massive development costs associated with the RB211, Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
went into receivership. This halted L-1011 final assembly and Lockheed investigated the possibility of a US engine supplier; by then it was considered too late to change engine suppliers to either General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
or Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
. One option presented was potential outsource of the RB-211 production to Canadian manufacturer Orenda Engines.
The British government agreed to approve a large state subsidy to restart Rolls-Royce operations on condition the U.S. government guarantee the bank loans Lockheed needed to complete the L-1011 project. Despite some opposition, not least from the then Governor of California Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, the U.S. government provided these guarantees. For the rest of the RB211 project, Rolls-Royce remained a government-owned company.
The TriStar's internal Lockheed model number is L-093. The prototype first flew on November 17, 1970. The crew for that flight was H. B. Dees (pilot), Ralph C. Cokely (copilot), and G.E. Fisher (development engineer). The L-1011 was certified on April 14, 1972 with the first airliner delivered to Eastern Air Lines on April 26, 1972. In an effort to further publicize the new aircraft, an L-1011 was taken on a world tour during 1972 by famed Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier
Tony LeVier
Anthony W. "Tony" LeVier was an air racer and test pilot for the Lockheed Corporation from the 1940s to the 1970s.- Early life :...
.
Manufactured in Lockheed facilities in Burbank and Palmdale, California
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
, the TriStar faced brisk competition with the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
and more directly, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
, which it closely resembled. Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
heralded the TriStar as one of the safest aircraft in the world in some of its promotional literature in the 1980s when concern over the safety record of the DC-10, flown by most of their competitors, was at its peak.
A total of 446 DC-10s were sold compared to 250 TriStars, partly because of the TriStar's delayed introduction but particularly because a larger version with a longer range was not initially offered. Under state control, costs at Rolls-Royce were tightly controlled. The company's efforts largely went into the original TriStar engines, which needed considerable modifications between the L-1011's first flight and service entry. The competition, notably General Electric, were very quick to develop their CF6 engine for more thrust, which meant that a heavier "intercontinental" DC-10-30 could be more quickly brought to the market. The flexibility afforded to potential customers by a long-range DC-10 put the L-1011 at a serious disadvantage. Rolls-Royce went on to develop the high-thrust RB211-524 for the L-1011-200 and -500, but this took many years.
Design
The L-1011 featured a highly advanced autopilotAutopilot
An autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
system and was the first widebody to receive FAA certification for Cat-IIIc autoland
Autoland
In aviation, autoland describes a system that fully automates the landing phase of an aircraft's flight, with the human crew merely supervising the process.-Description:...
ing, which approved the TriStar for completely blind
Instrument meteorological conditions
Instrument meteorological conditions is an aviation flight category that describes weather conditions that require pilots to fly primarily by reference to instruments, and therefore under Instrument Flight Rules , rather than by outside visual references under Visual Flight Rules . Typically, this...
landings in zero-visibility
Visibility
In meteorology, visibility is a measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, sailing...
weather performed by the aircraft's autopilot. The L-1011 used an Inertial Navigation System (INS) to navigate; this included aligning the navigation system by entering current coordinates of longitude and latitude.
The earlier versions of the L-1011, such as the -1, -100, and -150 can be distinguished from the later models by the design of the middle engine nacelles. The earlier version nacelle has a round intake, whereas the later models have a small vertical fin between the bottom of the middle engine intake and the top of the fuselage.
The two L-1011 aircraft delivered to Pacific Southwest Airlines
Pacific Southwest Airlines
Pacific Southwest Airlines was a United States airline headquartered in San Diego, California, that operated from 1949 to 1988. It was one of the first large discount airlines in the United States and is considered a precursor to Southwest Airlines...
were configured with internal airstair
Airstair
An airstair is a passenger staircase that is built in to an airliner — often, though not always, on the inside of a clamshell-style door. The stairs can be raised or lowered while the aircraft is on the ground, allowing passengers and ground personnel to board or depart the aircraft without the...
doors that led into an entry hall in what was normally the forward lower baggage hold. This was to allow operations from airfields that did not have terminal buildings with jet bridges. These two aircraft were later in service with Aeroperú
Aeroperu
Aeroperú was the former national flag carrier of Peru, and from 1993 to 2000 was a subsidiary of AeroMéxico. Its headquarters were in Miraflores, Lima. It went bankrupt in 1999...
and Worldways Canada
Worldways Canada
Worldways Canada was a Canadian charter airline that started in 1973 and ceased its operations on October 11, 1990 which went out of business in 1991. Their fleet consisted of McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63, Boeing 707, Boeing 727, Convair 640 and Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar.It was created and run by...
.
Commercial
Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
was the type's largest customer. Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
eventually became the largest non-U.S. operator of the type by acquiring many of the Eastern Air Lines examples when Eastern Air Lines went bankrupt, operating as many as 21 aircraft.
In an effort to secure the Japanese market, Lockheed had secretly bribed several members of the Japanese government to subsidize ANA
All Nippon Airways
, also known as or ANA, is one of the largest airlines in Japan. It is headquartered at the Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It operates services to 49 destinations in Japan and 35 international routes and employed over 14,000 employees as of May 2009...
's purchase of L-1011s; however, this caused a significant scandal when the bribes were uncovered. The discovered scale to what has become known as the Lockheed bribery scandal led to the arrest of Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka
Kakuei Tanaka
was a Japanese politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from 7 July 1972 to 22 December 1972 and from 22 December 1972 to 9 December 1974 respectively...
as well as several other officials. Within Lockheed, board chairman Daniel Haughton and vice chairman and president Carl Kotchian
Carl Kotchian
Archibald Carl Kotchian , known as Carl or A.C., was an American business executive who served as the president of Lockheed Corporation...
resigned their posts on February 13, 1976. Tanaka was eventually tried and found guilty of violating foreign exchange control laws, but was not charged with bribery, a more serious criminal offense. Crucially for Lockheed, the fallout from the scandal included the loss of a contract worth in excess of $1-billion.
The Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
at that time lacked a widebody airliner. Development of their own Ilyushin Il-86
Ilyushin Il-86
The Ilyushin Il-86 is a medium-range wide-body jet airliner. It was the USSR's first wide-body and the world's second four-engined wide-body...
was delayed, consequently, in the mid-1970s, the Soviets started negotiations to buy 30 TriStars and licence-produce up to 100 a year. The talks collapsed as US President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
made human rights a US policy factor. The TriStar was also listed by the Coordinating Committee
CoCom
CoCom is an acronym for Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls. CoCom was established by Western bloc powers in the first five years after the end of World War II, during the Cold War, to put an arms embargo on COMECON countries.CoCom ceased to function on March 31, 1994, and the...
as embodying advanced technology banned from potential enemies, thus being a serious obstacle to the export deal.
Lockheed needed to sell 500 airliners to break even, but in 1981 announced production would end with delivery of the 250th and last L-1011 on order in 1984. The TriStar's failure to achieve profitability caused Lockheed to withdraw from the civil aircraft business. Most major airlines have retired the type altogether. Cathay Pacific retired its L-1011 aircraft in October 1996, replacing the fleet with Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
A330-300
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
. TWA withdrew its last TriStar from service in 1997; Delta Air Lines retired its TriStars in 2001 to replace them with the Boeing 767-400ER.
The L-1011 still sees use by smaller start-up carriers, particularly in Africa and Asia. These operators mainly do their business in the ad hoc
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
charter and wet leasing
Wet lease
Aircraft leases are a number of types of leases used by airlines and other aircraft operators. Airlines lease aircraft from other airlines or leasing companies for two main reasons; to operate aircraft without the financial burden of buying them, and to provide temporary increase in capacity...
businesses. ATA Airlines
ATA Airlines
ATA Airlines, Inc., formerly known as American Trans Air, was an American low-cost scheduled service and charter airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana. ATA operated scheduled passenger flights throughout the US mainland and Hawaii, as well as military and commercial charter flights around the world...
(formerly known as American Trans Air) fleet included over 19 Tristars, but operations dwindled to only three L1011-500s prior to the company's shutdown in April 2008.
Stargazer (aircraft)
Stargazer, registration number N140SC, is a modified Lockheed L-1011 TriStar aircraft used by Orbital Sciences Corporation as a mother ship launch pad for Pegasus rockets...
to launch Pegasus rockets into orbit around Earth. This venture effectively rendered the small Scout
Scout (rocket)
The Scout family of rockets were launch vehicles designed to place small satellites into orbit around the Earth. The Scout multistage rocket was the first orbital launch vehicle to be entirely composed of solid fuel stages....
rocket obsolete. This aircraft was also used in support of the X-34 and X-43 programs. NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
performed aerodynamic research on Orbital Science's L-1011 in 1995.
Military
The TriStar has also been used as a military tanker and passenger/cargo aircraft. The Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
has nine aircraft of four variants. The aircraft are ex-British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
and Pan Am
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
L-1011-500s. All of the aircraft serve with No. 216 Squadron
No. 216 Squadron RAF
No. 216 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Lockheed Tristar K1, KC1 and C2 from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.- History :216 Squadron was formed at RAF Manston by re-numbering No. 16 Squadron RNAS when the RAF was established in 1918, hence it is always spoken of as 'two-sixteen Squadron'...
, and are based at RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. It is close to the settlements of Brize Norton, Carterton and Witney....
. In 2008, the TriStar was to remain in RAF service until approximately 2016, when it is to be replaced by the Airbus A330 MRTT
Airbus A330 MRTT
The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330-200. The A330 MRTT has been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Air Force , United Arab Emirates Air Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force...
under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft is a British project to procure aerial refuelling and air transport for the Royal Air Force to replace VC10 and Lockheed TriStars then in service. After evaluation of bids the RAF selected the AirTanker consortium who had offered the Airbus A330 MRTT. AirTanker...
(FSTA) program.
Variants
L-1011-1
The L-1011-1 (FAA certification L-1011-385-1) was the first production model of the L-1011, designed for short and medium-range flights. This variant served as the basis for subsequent variants. This type was purchased by Air Canada, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Eastern and other operators with regional trunk routes requiring a widebody aircraft. Pacific Southwest Airlines purchased two L-1011-1 models with lower deck seating. This variant was also one of the few widebodies to have the option for a full-height built-in airstairAirstair
An airstair is a passenger staircase that is built in to an airliner — often, though not always, on the inside of a clamshell-style door. The stairs can be raised or lowered while the aircraft is on the ground, allowing passengers and ground personnel to board or depart the aircraft without the...
.
The L-1011-1 was first delivered to Eastern Air Lines on April 5, 1972. A total of 160 L-1011-1 TriStars were built before production ended in 1983, although the majority of these, 119 or 75% of the total, were completed during a four year period between 1972 and 1975. Most sales of the L-1011-1 were to US operators with just three airlines, Delta, Eastern, and TWA taking delivery of 110 combined. A further two aircraft were placed with a fourth US airline, Pacific Southwest.
L-1011-100
The L-1011-100 (FAA certification L-1011-385-1-15) was the second production model of the L-1011 and first flew in 1975 and featured a new center fuel tank and higher gross weights that increased the aircraft's range by nearly 930 miles (1,496.7 km). Launch orders for the L-1011-100 were placed by Saudia and Cathay PacificCathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
, for two each, in May 1974. First deliveries took place in June 1975.
The variant was also purchased by several airlines with longer-range routes, such as TWA
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
, Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
and BEA
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
.
The first two L-1011-100s (msn 1110 and 1116) were delivered new to Saudia with the same fuel capacity as the L-1011-1 (FAA certification L-1011-385-1-14), these were later upgraded to L-1011-200 specification.
L-1011-200
The L-1011-200 (FAA certification L-1011-385-1-15) was the third production model of the L-1011 and was introduced in 1976. Although otherwise similar to the -100, the -200 uses Rolls-Royce RB.211-524B engines to improve its performance in hot and high-altitude conditions. Gulf Air used -200 models to replace its earlier generation Vickers VC-10 fleet.Other than the engines, the basic TriStar 200 is similar to the -100, with center section fuel, having the MTOW of 466000 pounds (211,374 kg), and fuel capcity of 26400 gallons (99,934.9 l) as the -100. An increase of gross weight to 474000 pounds (215,002.8 kg) is possible, with the heavier aircraft offered by Lockheed as -200Is or -200(Improved).
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah. It operates domestic and international scheduled flights to over 90 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America...
(Saudia) was a launch customer for the -200 series and operated a sizeable fleet until 1998. A total of 24 L-1011-200 aircraft were built new, with the first delivered to Saudia on May 28, 1977. Like other TriStar improvements, a conversion program has also been offered.
L-1011-500
The L-1011-500 (FAA certification L-1011-385-3) was the last L-1011 variant to enter production. The L-1011-500 was a longer-range variant first flight tested in 1978. Its fuselage length was shortened by 14 feet (4.3 m) to accommodate higher fuel loads. It also utilizes the more powerful engines of the -200 series. The -500 variant was popular among international operators and formed a significant portion of the L-1011 fleet of Delta and British Airways.- Dimensions
The TriStar 500 has an overall length of 164 in 2 in (50.04 m) and wingspan increased to 164 in 4 in (50.09 m) (early TriStar versions originally had the TriStar 1 wing with a span of 155 in 4 in (47.35 m)).
- Flying Surfaces
Lockheed developed some aerodynamic improvements for the TriStar 500 which included a modified wing to body fairing, a fillet below the central intake, extended wingtips and "active ailerons" or active control system (ACS). The new fairing reduced drag while the fillet reduced noise in the rear cabin. The wingtip extensions increased aspect ratio thus reducing induced drag but would have resulted in increased bending. The ACS, developed to solve this, provided gust alleviation, improving ride during flight, reduced fuel burn and increased fatigue life.
Earlier TriStar 500s were delivered with the standard wing, however these were later retrofitted with ailerons and extended wingtips. Pan Am was the first customer to order the -500 with the extended wingtips and active ailerons. Msn 1176, the first for Pan Am, was the first TriStar 500 to be fitted with them as standard.
- Powerplant
The TriStar 500 is equipped with the more powerful RB211-524B engines. Initially rated at 50000 lbf (222.4 kN) thrust each, the higher thrust 53000 lbf (235.8 kN) -524B4 Improved (also referred to as the -524B4I) later became available, which also offered improved fuel efficiency.
- Performance
Originally certified with an MTOW of 496000 pounds (224,981.8 kg), an increased MTOW of 504000 pounds (228,610.6 kg) was later certified in 1979 and all earlier production aircraft were certified at this weight. A further increase, to 510000 pounds (231,332.1 kg) is also available and it is understood that most TriStar 500s have had this increase. Standard fuel capacity is 31600 gallons (119,619 l), giving the TriStar 500 a range of about 5200 nautical miles (9,630.4 km) with 246 passengers and baggage.
- Cabin
The TriStar 500's maximum passenger capacity is 315 although no aircraft were operated at this density. The aircraft is equipped with six (6) exits, two less than the long body TriStars, thus reducing the exit limit maximum. A typical two class layout might include 21 first and 229 economy for a maximum of 250 passengers. More spacious three-class layouts used on longer routes include 233 with 12 first, 32 business, and 189 economy with Delta Air Lines.
- Timeline
- First Flight: October 16, 1978.
- First Delivery: April 27, 1979 British AirwaysBritish AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
. - Entry into service: May 7, 1979 British Airways on Heathrow-Abu Dhabi route.
- Last Delivery: October 1983 (msn 1250).
- Total Delivered: 50
L-1011-1 upgradeability
The L-1011-1 has a Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of 430000 pounds (195,044.7 kg), and an Maximum Landing Weight (MLW) of 368000 pounds (166,922 kg) although these weights vary from aircraft to aircraft depending upon age, serial number, specification and configuration.Lockheed discovered fairly early on that the TriStar was suffering from higher than estimated structural weight, engine weight, and specific fuel consumption. To rectify this problem and to meet performance guarantees, Lockheed developed a structural kit that allowed MTOW to be increased on production aircraft from 409000 pounds (185,519.3 kg) to 430000 pounds (195,044.7 kg). The weight problems were however to affect the weight and desirability of early production L-1011-1 aircraft. These early aircraft (msn 1002 through to 1012) are known by Lockheed as Group 1 aircraft and are in some degree non-standard, having higher empty weights. They have also been called "pre-loadability" aircraft, and are referred to in some sectors of the industry by the derogatory name of "lead sled".
Group 1 aircraft have on OEW
OEW
Operating empty weight is the basic weight of an aircraft including the crew, all fluids necessary for operation such as engine oil, engine coolant, water, unusable fuel and all operator items and equipment required for flight but excluding usable fuel and the payload...
of 252700 pounds (114,622.8 kg), about 12700 pounds (5,760.6 kg) higher than later aircraft, while Group 2 aircraft (msn 1013 through 1051) have an OEW
OEW
Operating empty weight is the basic weight of an aircraft including the crew, all fluids necessary for operation such as engine oil, engine coolant, water, unusable fuel and all operator items and equipment required for flight but excluding usable fuel and the payload...
of 247000 pounds (112,037.3 kg), some 4700 pounds (2,131.9 kg) higher. These aircraft, in general, also have different center of gravity envelope with the forward center of gravity limit on the early aircraft being more restrictive at higher gross weights. Group 1 and Group 2 aircraft (msn 1002 to 1051) are upgradeable only to -50 or -150 specifications, although the Group 1 aircraft (up to msn 1012) still maintain their operating disadvantages. L-1011-1 from msn 1052 onwards are Group 3 aircraft and are fully upgradeable to all variants up to -250 specification.
Summary of L-1011-1 upgradeability:
- Group 1 - MSN 1002 to 1012: Upgradeable to -50 or 150 only.
- Group 2 - MSN 1013 to 1051: Upgradeable to -50 or 150 only.
- Group 3 - MSN 1052 upwards: Fully upgradeable to -250.
L-1011-50
The L-1011-50 was an upgraded version of the L-1011-1 with an increase in maximum takeoff weight from 430,000 pounds (195,000 kg) to either 440,000 pounds (200,000 kg) or 450,000 pounds (204,000 kg). Fuel capacity was not increased. The -50 was available only as a conversion package for the L-1011-1 and was never built new.L-1011-150
The L-1011-150 was a development of the L-1011-1 with maximum takeoff weight increased to 470000 pounds (213,188.4 kg). It was available only as a conversion for the L-1011-1. The -150 involves the conversion of Group 1 and Group 2 L-1011-1 aircraft to an MTOW of 470000 pounds (213,188.4 kg), an increase of 40000 pounds (18,143.7 kg), about 10%, from the L-10110-1, giving the aircraft a slightly better range than the -50 but, without the additional center section fuel tank, less than the L-1011-100 aircraft.The first aircraft was converted by MBB at Lemwarder in Germany during the winter of 1988/89 and was subsequently handed over to Air Transat
Air Transat
Air Transat is an airline based in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, operating scheduled and charter flights, serving 60 destinations in 25 countries. The airline is owned and operated by Transat A.T. Inc. During the summer season its main destinations are Europe and in the winter season the...
of Canada on May 11, 1989.
L-1011-250
The L-1011-250 was an upgrade developed for late-model L-1011-1 aircraft and all L-1011-100 and L-1011-200 aircraft. It increased maximum takeoff weight to 510000 pounds (231,332.1 kg) and fuel capacity from 23,600 US gal (89,335 l) to 31,632 US gal (119,735 l). This variant also used the upgraded RB211-524B4IRolls-Royce RB211
The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce plc and capable of generating 37,400 to 60,600 pounds-force thrust. Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 , it entered service in 1972 and was the only engine to power this aircraft type...
engine, which could be easily upgraded on the existing RB211-524B
Rolls-Royce RB211
The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce plc and capable of generating 37,400 to 60,600 pounds-force thrust. Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 , it entered service in 1972 and was the only engine to power this aircraft type...
powerplants of the L-1011-200 but required a re-engining on the L-1011-1 and L-1011-100, which used the original RB211-22B
Rolls-Royce RB211
The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce plc and capable of generating 37,400 to 60,600 pounds-force thrust. Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 , it entered service in 1972 and was the only engine to power this aircraft type...
. The upgrade allowed the L-1011 to match the performance of the long-range McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
. Although it was applicable to all L-1011 models, it was only used by Delta Air Lines on six late-model L-1011-1 aircraft.
Operators
A total of eight Lockheed L-1011s were in commercial service in December 2010 with operators Privilege-Rollins Air (2), Air Charter Express (two), Elite Aviation (one), Las Vegas Sands Corp (one), Sky Capital (one), and SAM IntercontinentalSAM Intercontinental
SAM Intercontinental is a charter airline based in Bamako, Mali. Its main base is Senou International Airport.-Fleet:The SAM Intercontinental fleet includes the following aircraft :*1 Boeing 737-200 *1 Lockheed L-1011-100...
(one). The Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
operates nine L-1011 aircraft.
Incidents and accidents
As of August 2008, the L-1011 was involved in 56 incidents, including 11 hull-loss accidentsAviation accidents and incidents
An aviation accident is defined in the Convention on International Civil Aviation Annex 13 as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, in which a...
, with 534 fatalities.
Notable accidents and incidents
- The 1972 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401Eastern Air Lines Flight 401Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 1 jet that crashed into the Florida Everglades on the night of December 29, 1972, causing 101 fatalities...
in the EvergladesEvergladesThe Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
as a result of the flight crew's failure to monitor the flight instruments during a malfunction of the landing gear position indicator system was the subject of two TV movies, CrashCrash (1978 film)Crash is a made-for-TV docudrama released in 1978. The movie recounts the true story of Eastern Airlines Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar which crashed in the Florida Everglades near Miami, Florida on the night of December 29, 1972 in what was the first crash of a wide-body aircraft...
and The Ghost of Flight 401. It was also broadcast on a MaydayMayday (TV series)Mayday, also known as Air Crash Investigation in the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia and Air Emergency and Air Disasters in the United States, is a Canadian documentary television programme produced by Cineflix investigating air crashes, near-crashes and other disasters...
episode. - In August 1980, a fire destroyed the L-1011 used for Saudia Flight 163Saudia Flight 163Saudia Flight 163 was a scheduled passenger flight of Saudia that caught fire after takeoff from Riyadh International Airport on a flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 19 August 1980...
on the ground after the pilots made an emergency landing at RiyadhRiyadhRiyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
's International Airport due to fire in the rear of the aircraft. Delays in initiating the evacuation of the aircraft resulted in the deaths of all 287 passengers and 14 crew. - On December 23, 1980, Saudi Arabian AirlinesSaudi Arabian AirlinesSaudi Arabian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah. It operates domestic and international scheduled flights to over 90 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America...
Flight 162Saudia Flight 162Saudia Flight 162 was a scheduled flight from Dhahran International Airport, Saudi Arabia to Karachi International Airport, Pakistan that suffered an explosive decompression in the middle of the flight, above international waters off Qatar.-Background:...
, a tire on an L-1011 exploded, penetrating the passenger cabin. The L-1011 lost cabin pressure and two passengers fell out of the aircraft. - On September 22, 1981, an Eastern Airlines L-1011, registration N309EA, flying from Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
to San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, suffered an uncontained failure of its number two (tail) engine at 14500 feet (4,419.6 m). The fragments from that engine inflicted damage on all four of its hydraulic systems, which were close together in the tail structure. However, fluid was lost in only three of the four systems, because the fragments impacted but did not puncture the lines for that fourth system. The fluid which remained pressurized in that fourth system enabled the captain to land the aircraft safely at John F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, with some limited use of the outboard spoilers, the inboard ailerons and the horizontal stabilizer, plus differential engine power of the remaining two engines. There were no injuries. That additional fourth hydraulic control system saved the L-1011 and all on board (three such systems are used on the DC-10). - On May 5, 1983, Eastern Air Lines Flight 855, a L-1011 registration N334EA, while flying from Miami to Nassau, shut down the #2 engine due to low oil pressure and began a return to Miami. Both of the remaining engines later failed. Without power, flight 855 descended from 13,000 to 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) before the #2 engine was restarted and the aircraft landed in Miami without injuries. Incorrect engine maintenance had led to the loss of oil on all three engines.
- In August 1985, Delta Air Lines Flight 191Delta Air Lines Flight 191Delta Air Lines Flight 191 was an airline service from Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, bound for Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, by way of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport...
crashed while approaching Dallas-Fort Worth International AirportDallas-Fort Worth International AirportDallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
in micro burstMicroburstA microburst is a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to, but distinguishable from, tornadoes, which generally have convergent damage. There are two types of microbursts: wet microbursts and dry microbursts...
conditions. The crash killed eight of 11 crew members and 128 of the 152 passengers on board as well as one person on the ground. - On 18 October 1985, a Jordanian Airlines Lockheed L-1011 TriStar experienced an inflight fire at 24,000 feet while on approach to Singapore. The fire burnt though the rear pressure bulkhead, causing explosive depressurisation of the cabin. The air rushing out of the cabin extinguished the fire, saving the aircraft.
- On May 3, 1986, Air Lanka Flight 512, a L-1011 TriStar was destroyed on the ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after a bomb exploded in the rear cargo hold severing the tail and killing 21 people.
- On July 30, 1992, the captain of TWA Flight 843TWA Flight 843TWA Flight 843 was a Trans World Airlines passenger flight that crashed after an aborted takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport to San Francisco International Airport in July 1992. Despite an intense fire after the crash, the crew was able to evacuate all 280 passengers from the...
aborted the takeoff shortly after liftoff from JFK, in response to a false stall warning. The aircraft landed too hard, breaking a wing spar and starting a fire. All 292 passengers and crew evacuated safely, with only 10 minor injuries. The L1011 was destroyed by fire.
Aircraft on display
The Airline History MuseumAirline History Museum
The National Airline History Museum is located at the Kansas City Downtown Airport in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.- History :Founded in 1986 by aviation enthusiasts Larry A. Brown and Dick McMahon, the Airline History Museum was originally known as Save-A-Connie...
in Kansas City has obtained one of the last three operational ex-TWA L-1011-50 MSN 193C-1066 (N700TS) in the U.S. for the museum's permanent collection. The Delta Heritage Museum
Delta Heritage Museum
The Delta Heritage Museum is an aviation and corporate museum located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The museum is housed in two 1940s-era Delta Air Lines maintenance hangars, which were used until the 1960s when the Delta Technical Operations Center, formerly known as the Jet Base, was...
houses a portion of the prototype Lockheed L-1011 aircraft.
A Saudia L-1011-200 is on display at the Royal Saudi Air Force Museum
Royal Saudi Air Force Museum
The Royal Saudi Air Force Museum or Saqr Al-Jazira is located on the East Ring Road of Riyadh between exits 10 and 11. A Saudia Lockheed L-1011 Tristar serves as a gateguard visible from the ring road. Admission is Sr.10 for adults & Sr.5 for children...
in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
.
An L-1011 is to go on display at Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale, California
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
.
An L-1011 is on display in the Chaguaramas
Chaguaramas
Chaguaramas lies in the North West Peninsula of Trinidad west of Port of Spain; the name is often applied to the entire peninsula, but is sometimes used to refer to the most developed area...
Military History & Aerospace Museum in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
.
Specifications
| L-1011-1 | L-1011-200 | L-1011-500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cockpit crew | Three | ||
| Seating capacity | 253 (3-class) | 263 | 234 (3-class) |
| Cabin width (interior) | 18 in 10 in (5.74 m) | ||
| Overall length | 177 in 8 in (54.15 m) | 164 in 2 in (50.04 m) | |
| Wingspan | 155 in 4 in (47.35 m) | 164 in 4 in (50.09 m) | |
| Tailspan | 71 in 7 in (21.82 m) | ||
| Overall height | 55 in 4 in (16.87 m) | ||
| Wing area | 3456 ft2 | 3541 ft2 | |
| Maximum take-off weight Maximum Take-Off Weight The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous term for rockets is Gross Lift-Off Mass, or GLOW... |
430000 lb (195,044.7 kg) | 510000 lb (231,332.1 kg) | 510000 lb (231,332.1 kg) |
| Maximum landing weight | 368000 pounds (166,922 kg) | ||
| Operating empty weight | 224579 lb (101,867.3 kg) | 231600 lb (105,052 kg) | 232749 lb (105,573.2 kg) |
| Max speed | Mach Mach number Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure... 0.95 (Max continuous speed = Mach 0.90) |
||
| Cruising speed | Mach 0.86 normal cruise / Mach 0.84 long range cruise | ||
| Range fully loaded | 4610 mi (7,419.1 km) | 5750 mi (9,253.7 km) | 6340 mi (10,203.2 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 42000 ft (12,801.6 m) | 43000 ft (13,106.4 m) | |
| Engines (3x) | Rolls-Royce RB.211-22 Rolls-Royce RB211 The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce plc and capable of generating 37,400 to 60,600 pounds-force thrust. Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 , it entered service in 1972 and was the only engine to power this aircraft type... |
Rolls-Royce RB.211-524B Rolls-Royce RB211 The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce plc and capable of generating 37,400 to 60,600 pounds-force thrust. Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 , it entered service in 1972 and was the only engine to power this aircraft type... |
|
| Thrust (×3) | 42000 lbf (186.8 kN) | 53110 lbf (236.2 kN) | |
Sources:
Deliveries
| 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | Total> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 39 | 41 | 24 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 24 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 249 |
Popular culture
The airliner used on the ABC television series LostLost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
is a dismantled L-1011 formerly belonging to Eastern Airlines and later Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
.
The aircraft featured in The Langoliers
The Langoliers (TV miniseries)
The Langoliers is a miniseries consisting of 2 episodes of 2 hours each . It was directed and written by Tom Holland and based on the novella by Stephen King. The series was produced by Mitchell Galin and David R. Kappes...
TV series is an L-1011.
The Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...
action movie Passenger 57
Passenger 57
Passenger 57 is a 1992 American action film starring Wesley Snipes and Bruce Payne. The film's success made Snipes a popular action hero icon.-Plot:...
features extensive depictions of a former Eastern Airlines L-1011 in the livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
of the fictional 'Atlantic International Airlines'. In the movie Die Hard 2
Die Hard 2
Die Hard 2 is a 1990 action film and the second in the Die Hard film series. The film was directed by Renny Harlin, and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane...
, the passenger airliner that John McClane
John McClane
John McClane is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Die Hard film series, portrayed by Bruce Willis.-Development and description:...
's wife Holly is flying from Los Angeles to Dulles Airport is a Lockheed L-1011 and is featured prominently throughout the entire movie. A second L-1011 also makes a brief appearance in an additional scene in this film.
The L-1011 was the inspiration for the name of the Los Angeles based post-rock duo, El Ten Eleven
El Ten Eleven
El Ten Eleven is a Los Angeles, CA post-rock duo known for combining guitar/bass doubleneck or fretless bass, with heavy looping, or vamping, and the utility of an effects pedal, over acoustic or electric drumming...
.