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Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

1972 COLD WAR

History of the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, also known as L-1011 (pronounced "El-11-11") and TriStar, was a mid-American Long-range wide-body aircraft built by Lockheed, a three-engine aircraft. This is the third wide-body aircraft to enter commercial service after the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

The aircraft can accommodate up to 400 passengers and has a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles (7,410 km). Its three-engine configuration featured three Rolls-Royce RB211 engines, one under each wing, and a third mid-mounted engine with S-ducted air intakes embedded in the tail and upper fuselage.

The aircraft has an automatic landing function, automatic descent control system and an available galley and lounge on the lower deck.

The L-1011 TriStar is available in two fuselage lengths. The original L-1011-1 first flew in November 1970 and entered service with Eastern Airlines in 1972. The shortened, long-range L-1011-500 first flew in 1978 and entered service with British Airways a year later. Full-length Samsung also produced the high gross weight L-1011-100, the upgraded L-1011-200 engine and the further upgraded L-1011-250.

Post-production conversions of the L-1011-1 with increased take-off weight include the L-1011-50 and L-1011-150.

Sales of the L-1011 TriStar were delayed by two years due to development and financial problems at Rolls-Royce, the sole manufacturer of aircraft engines. Between 1968 and 1984, Lockheed built a total of 250 TriStars, which were assembled at the Lockheed factory at Palmdale Regional Airport in Southern California, north of Los Angeles.

After L-1011 production ended, Lockheed exited the commercial aircraft business due to below-target sales.