Lockheed’s legendary L-1011 TriStar first flew on 16 November 1970 and you’d be forgiven if you thought none were still flying today. In fact, there is just one, operated by Northrop Grumman, which is called Stargazer.
This aircraft was originally delivered to Air Canada in 1974 and was modified in 1994 to launch Pegasus rockets for Orbital Sciences. Today it is still used in that role.
The Last TriStar Still Flying
Stargazer is named as a homage to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Captain Jean-Luc Picard was the commander of the Stargazer, prior to going on the Enterprise. In a related link, First Officer William Riker from the TV show once served on a ship called Pegasus. An interesting piece of information for your next trivia night.
Capable of carrying 23,000 kilograms to an altitude of 12,800 metres, it is used to air-launch Pegasus rockets. These can put up to 443 kilograms into low earth orbit. To date, there have been 44 launches, of which 39 have been completely successful.
Northrop Grumman apparently has two more Pegasus rockets remaining in the inventory. Presumably this should mean at least two more flights for the venerable L-1011 before it is retired and another aircraft type enters the history books.
Overall Thoughts
I am happy to see a Lockheed TriStar still flying. It is one of those aircraft that everyone seems to have fond memories of, from pilots to crew to frequent flyers. I’ve yet to come across anyone with any hate for the Palmdale manufactured jet.
It would be a lot of fun to be able to take a flight on board this one sometime. That would be an interesting experience, plus I’d get to add the L-1011 to the list of aircraft I have flown on board. One can dream!
Did you know the last TriStar was launching rockets? What do you think of that? Did you ever fly on an L-1011 and what was it like? Thanks for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image via DefPost.
10 October 2019 image via NASA.
I had the pleasure to be type rated on the L-1011 with TWA. One of my first flights was from JFK-SEA. As usual, there was fog and drizzle at SeaTac and I used the wonderful autoland feature on the L-10. It greased the landing on the wet runway and I had many comments on what a great approach and landing it was. I didn’t have the heart to tell them I didn’t touch anything till I disconnected the autopilot and exited the active. One of my favorite airplanes. So stable on approach.
Great aircraft and from what I hear, a great airline. It must have been great flying the L-1011. Nice to hear your memories there – you might have looked a bit sheepish at those comments 🙂 Thanks for sharing that!
A few years ago I realized I flew on an L-1011 in the mid 90s. It was a Delta airlines flight from Atlanta, GA to West Palm Beach, FL. It stuck out in my mind for two reasons: I was a kid and my seat was in the middle section of seating, an aisle seat and I always loved (and still do) sitting next to a window, especially over or just behind the wing, so I was upset I couldn’t look out the window, and secondly, it was by far the widest jet I have ever flown on. I did some research a couple years ago trying to figure out what type of plane it was. At first I thought maybe an MD-11, or possibly a 767 or 777 but looking at the interiors via google searches, none of them matched. I knew of the L-1011 but figured it couldn’t possibly be what I flew on because of how old the plane would have been and the fact that they were all but gone from the skies in the U.S. and only used by foreign airlines. I continued searching, and decided to look at the interior of an L-1011 and to my astonishment it matched my memory. I then looked up the history of Delta’s fleet and lo and behold, the airline had indeed flown some L-1011s (acquired I believe from the defunct Eastern airlines) for a few years in the 90s, during the time frame when I would have been on that flight! I thought I would never get to fly on an L-1011 and to my astonishment it turned out I already had! Aside from my seat location, the plane was very impressive (especially to a young kid at an age where everything seems even bigger) I remember feeling like I was flying on something way too big to possibly be a plane, the cabin size really was incredible and the flight itself was very very smooth. It’s actually the only double aisle plane I’ve ever flown on to date. Flying out of a smaller airport (almost always to Florida to see family) most of my experience is on a variety of MD-80s and 90s, the occasional CRJ, a few times on a 737, and usually it was a 757 for the Atlanta to Florida legs when my family flew Delta, which was the airline we used most with Northwest (now sadly gone but ironically bought by Delta) being the second most. I’ve also flown on the A320 and once on a brand new E-175. I also flew on a turboprop when I was 4 but I doubt I’d be able to figure out which one. I just know it wasn’t an ATR because the wings weren’t above the plane. Maybe a Beechcraft 1900? It definitely wasn’t that big. Ended up switching to an even smaller turboprop when one of the engines failed while taxiing, which is better than it happening in the air! Anyway I’ve gone on for awhile now so I’ll stop. I love planes and knowing I got to fly on an L-1011 brings a smile to my face.
I’m really glad to hear that you managed to track down the aircraft type you flew on. You were pretty tenacious there, and great that you managed to bag yourself a TriStar! I have never had the pleasure myself and never will now, so I’m always happy to hear about others stories. Thanks for all of that, it was a really interesting read – and it certainly brought a smile to my face too! I completely understand the passion!
I still remember, and infrequently think about, the L-1011 that crashed in a microburst at DFW in August of 1985. Beautiful aircraft but apparently NOT as tuff as the DC-10 or MD-11, which are both still flying in surprisingly large numbers, considering…
I remember that accident, it made the front page of the newspapers even in Australia where I was living at the time. A really bad accident, that one. Yes, it’s interesting how the DC-10 and MD-11 were converted to freighters whereas the TriStar really wasn’t. Thanks for the comment!
I love the L-1011 aka The Whisperliner. It’s a goddamn crime there isn’t a single preserved L-1011. It’s a crime that having a third engine doomed this model.
I agree with you on that – it’s become a legendary aircraft among pilots and so on. What could have been had things been different. Either way, we got an amazing piece of tech!
I found the L1011 both more comfortable and quite than the DC-10. It also did not have the annoying vibration of a DC-10. It was almost as comfortable as a Boeing 747. I flew on them several times in mid 1970’s to 1988.
I’ve been on the DC-10 and it is one of the few aircraft I’ve been on where I’ve felt sick. Both my flights with United and this happened. Very strange! Nice to hear the L-1011 was quieter and had less vibration. Wish I had been on one. Thanks for the comment!
Flew DL ATL MCO once. Flew ATA and Rich quarterly CLE LAS. Did a westbound just over 3 HRS and a Eastbound in 2:45 those were the days.
Also diverted to DTW on ATA when the Droops wouldn’t extend and Old 23L was closed for construction. Great memories.
I remember ATA flying the TriStar, I think they had a few of them. Nice that you’ve had a decent amount of experience with the aircraft, including a mechanical! Thanks for sharing those.
Flew on them many times as a kid. Both British Airways and Court Airlines:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Court_Line_Lockheed_L-1011-385-1_TriStar_1_AN2404232.jpg
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/82753711880742750/
Nice that you got to experience both the UK airlines. I’m sure the experience was different on both! 🙂
Had the good fortune of flying on board a L-1011 in 2005 from Monastir, Tunisia to Manchester, UK. Our original flight was grounded due to an electrical fault, so they drafted in CS-TEB (then operated by Portuguese charter airline Euro Atlantic) to fly us home. An absolutely wonderful aircraft to fly on, even though it was already 22 years old at the time. Sadly this L-1011 is longer in service, as it was retired and stored in Amman, Jordan in 2010.
I’ve probably seen that aircraft in Amman, as I’ve noticed a few L-1011s parked at Queen Alia when I passed through around that time. Fantastic that you randomly got to go on a flight on one. That’s really great! Thanks for the comment!
I have flown on the Delta L1011 Trijet Lockheed
A hand full of times
My dad worked a long 37 year career With Delta Air Lines
And I flew Everywhere
On takeoff that jet had a memorable wine times three and seemed to ocalate and sync Up back and forth. As far as sound goes.
The Awesome Power that jet had was a unbelievable feeling .
And the Wide Body OMG
Wider then most jets flying today
It was a great jet
And my all time favorite.
Thank you Dad
And Thank you Delta for the memories.
Excellent that you had flown on the Delta aircraft. Those Rolls-Royce engines do have a particular sound about them, that’s for sure. Glad you have such good memories of the aircraft!
Just saw the L1011 doing approaches at San Bernardino today. 7 June 2020
Awesome! Must be for crew training. Wish I was on it 🙂 Thanks for that!
Hey Robert, are you sure that’s the L 1011, I have been watching those planes for the past two weeks. I am pretty certain that those are DC 10s, used by forestry dept. To combat those wildfires in California.
Haven’t seen them much today or yesterday. A new type appeared on the scene today. Probably relocated to a hotter spot.
Yes it is,not a DC 10
let history be revived
I am sure many people wish just this!
Can’t say that I have flown in one, but I loved that aircraft. Somehow I always think.of the L1011 as the precursor to wide body aircraft. I remember when Bee Wee bought their first ones.
Well the L-1011 is a widebody aircraft. The Boeing 747, L-1011 and DC-10 were the first widebodies ever, so you’re right in your thinking! Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the update. One correction. All L-1011’s were built in Palmdale Ca. I was pleased to have help build some of these. I helped convert the first PanAm from analog to digital flight system. I think it was
N524PA. Also replaced a wing that was destroyed during a test involveing transfer of fuel into the wing at maximum rate. The vents were not opened resulting in the hydraulic pressure ripping the wing apart. Replacement of a wing was never considered previously. We had to figure it out using technical methodology designed specifically for this job. Quite a challenge but very satisfying when finished.
Thank you for spotting that, I have amended the article text to state Palmdale. I hate having errors in my articles, so much appreciated! I wasn’t aware the flight systems were converted from analog to digital but that’s great that you worked on the aircraft. Which aircraft did you replace the wing on? I can imagine having to do that got the minds at Lockheed working overtime. Not surprised a solution was found, Lockheed has always had a good reputation for their engineering. Thanks so much for the comment, I love hearing stories from people who were there!
I have fond memories of flying in the TriStar and playing with the TriStar. My dad worked for Northeast and because of merger Delta too! I’ve had many flights on the L-10. Used to go to work with dad and had lots of fun sitting in the left and right seats and going up and down the lifts. The lifts were scary at 3 in the morning especially after the 401 crash and ghost reports. My dad loved the TriStar; grew to pilot, great to fix, and great to be a passenger on. Due to angle of attack when in level flight the flight attendants got quite a workout pushing the carts up the aisle and holding the back going down the aisle.
I’ve seen those lifts to and from the galley in the belly on other aircraft such as the DC-10 and Boeing 747. They are small enough, with one for the crew member and one for the trolley. I have read about the ghost reports after flight 401, and I can imagine being there in a hangar at 3am would be fairly spooky, ghosts or no ghosts. Ahh, so the TriStar also cruised at a slightly nose up angle. I knew it had to be more than just the 747 that did that for that story about the carts to be going around. Thanks for the comment, sounds like you really know the aircraft well and have had plenty of time with it. Very lucky!!
I do remember that , I was young ,
My dad started working for Northeast Air Lines back in 58 I believe.
Yes there was a slight design flaw at altitude and at speed they could not trim the plane up enough to get it level in flight always had a pitch up condition.
Gave the beautiful flight attendants great legs , they can thank there employer for that LOL
Was an incredible Jet
I am very surprised no one high society airline like MGM GRAND out of JFK bought that plane and reto-fit it for its Hugh size
It did use a lot of Jet fuel and was not cheep to Fly.
Thanks for the comment, great to hear your thoughts on the Lockheed L1011 🙂
Except for insufficient overhead luggage spave, it was a joy to ride. One could also trick newbie fliers by the smoke generated when the engine started by telling them “look at the engine, terrible! “
That’s right, no overhead bins in the centre. I remember seeing the photos of the cabin, which looked very spacious as a result. I’d heard about those smokey starts from the Rolls-Royce RB211 engines. I can imagine it would worry some people. Thanks for the comment!
I will tell you something. When I was going back home for good on a BWIA L1011-500, that insufficient overhead took a good bit of my luggage. It was a great plane and it gave a wonderful ride. Miss it terribly.
You flew bee-wee? That’s pretty cool. Glad to hear the overheads fitted a lot of your stuff. Wish I had a chance to fly on the L1011!
last flew an Eastern L1011 repeatedly DTW-ATL-MIA at late as 1990, big pleasant jet with what i would call a wide body cathedral ceiling since overhead bins only lined above the windows, none over the center seating.
Yes! The lack of overhead bins in the center created an unmatched sense of space. I recall frequent trips on TWA and Delta examples in the 80s and 90s.
I wonder why no airline ever retrofitted the cabin with centre bins. I guess it didn’t last long enough to really be affected by the mountains people carry on board today. Nice that you flew both TWA and Delta L-1011s. Sounds like that would have been fun!
You really did fly them with Eastern almost up to the end! Definitely a frequent TriStar passenger then. I love how you use the word “pleasant” – that’s a good word that really sums up how I’ve found most to feel about the aircraft. Thanks for the comment!