One, two, three or four engines? What is your preference? Today, most commercial aircraft are powered by two engines. In the past, you could find many more aircraft with three or four engines. So what happened to the trijet?
Trijets were once very popular, including legendary aircraft such as the Boeing 727, Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, Douglas DC-10 and the Tupolev Tu-154. Time has moved on and they’re pretty much all gone these days.
A Trijet Documentary
After the last video on the Boeing 747-400, this time we have a look at Trijets. Produced by Airliner Designs on YouTube (a sister channel to the extremely well produced Oceanliner Designs – if you’re into ocean liners, I recommend you check it out!) this documentary runs for just under 50 minutes.
Happily the production covers history all the way back to the 1920s. It outlines how and why aircraft with three engines came about in the first place. It then moves on to the story of why jets ended up with three engines.
Apart from the types mentioned above, the iconic Hawker Siddeley Trident is included, as well as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Everything is clearly narrated and the history is accurate based on what I know.
My only quibble with the documentary are a couple of the video clip choices. Certain pieces of footage are not the trijets at all, but it’s rare and only pure aviation geeks will notice that.
Overall Thoughts
Environmental considerations, efficiency and the fact engine tech has moved on means we probably won’t see a new trijet ever again. However, they certainly were important to the history of commercial aviation.
In my case, I’ve flown on board the Boeing 727, Douglas DC-10 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Sadly, I never had the opportunity to fly on board a Lockheed TriStar. That would have been fun!
Did you ever fly on a trijet? Which ones? Do you have a favourite and why? Let me know what you think of the documentary and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Jim Newton on Airliners.net via Wikimedia Commons.
I started flying Eastern Airlines JFK to HOU in 1970. Then Continental DC-10s SEA – DEN – IAH in 1974/75. In 1976 I flew SEA – JFK on a United Airlines DC-10, then returned EWR – ORD – SEA. 1978 I flew a United 727 OAK – PDX – SEA in May (I missed my nonstop OAK – SEA flight). January 1980 I flew SAS DC-10 CPH – SEA. July 1980 I flew Hughes Airwest 727s SEA – OAK (they had some really cheap airfares that summer!). 1982 I flew United Airlines SEA – SFO. 1988 July I flew United Airlines 727 SEA – OAK and returned on a United Airlines DC-10 SFO – SEA (the flight originated in HNL and was packed). And finally December 1991 I flew Alaska Airlines 727 SEA – GEG.
You’ve had plenty of experience with the trijets, and also some amazing airlines as well. Eastern, Continental, Hughes Airwest – must be some great memories there! Thanks for sharing those!
Wow. This is right in my wheelhouse. I actually grew up just a few blocks from Douglas’ DC-10/MD-11 production line in Long Beach.
I’ve flown on the following tri-jets:
DC-10 (AA, BR, CO, CP, DE, TE/NZ, UT, WA, WO)
L-1011 (DL, EA, LT, TP, TW)
727 (DL, UA)
MD-11 (KL)
Trident (BA)
Tu-154 (MA)
That’s an awesome list – and really cool variety of airlines as well. Interesting that you flew on more widebodies than narrowbodies – I imagine for most people it’s the other way around. Thanks a lot for that!
727, DC-10, MD-11 and L-1011. Of all those, the 727 was the quietest. The larger ones were more spacious, in general.
All of the American ones, I see! That’s really great. I do remember the 727 being quiet, no engine noise at all, just the sound of the wind rushing over the fuselage. Good times!
Loved PSA’s 727 “ Grinning birds”, and their L1011 “Mother Grinningbirds”
That was a really lovely paint job on those aircraft, that’s for sure!
Whoops! posted twice, it took a while to go thru!
Hahaha – that’s okay 🙂
Trident, 727 & L-1011 here. Trident LHR-NCL back in the 70’s. My last 727 flight was on TWA from TPA to STL, in first class. Tasty cheese tortellini dish with garlic bread and a cheesecake dessert. Had one of the best FA’s ever…really friendly guy in his late 50’s (guessing) who STILL loved his job after a few decades in the business.
I think everyone would be lucky to love their job that much after that long. He was a lucky man, that’s for sure!
I managed to fly the Trident, 727 and L-1011. Also got to go on the inside of a Ford Tri-motor (not a jet nor operational) but was a forerunner of the big boys. My last flight in first class flight on a 727 was TWA, TPA-STL. Lunch was a cheesy tortellini dish with a tasty cheesecake and some decent garlic bread. And the flight attendant was an older gentleman who as top notch, and totally hilarious in a very professional manner!
A good list, especially first class on TWA, of course! Sounds delicious 🙂
I’ve flown the Trident, 727 100/200, DC-10 -10/30/40, MD-11, L-1011, with the 727’s and DC-10’s being my favorites. I’ve also flown a few 4 engined aircraft that became 3 while in flight (shutdowns), a 707 and 2 A380’s. Love your “Does Anyone Remember” series BTW!
You’ve definitely been lucky enough to get basically the entire list under your belt, very nice! Sounds like some interesting flights with the shutdowns too. Thanks for the kind words – nice to hear when people enjoy what I write – appreciate that!