L-1011 Stargazer, Swift Boost Mission

As announced last year, Stargazer will soon perform another mission, named "Swift Boost" by NASA.

Stargazer © NASA/Ron Beard

Last 18th, the aircraft with the Pegasus XL rocket already mated to it, departed from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility for Kwajalein Atoll where the launch will take place later this month.

NASA set up a special page for this mission:

NASA Science: Swift Boost Mission

Lyon-Saint Exupéry L-1011 C-FTNA scrapped

Another L-1011 airframe (s/n 193M-1019) was scrapped last May 26. The intention announced last year was now carried out. Air Transat was the last operator of this aircraft that was damaged while flying through a hail storm, in 2001.

Airline History Museum: L-1011 scrapped

Farewell N31019 © Airline History Museum

Rumors are now confirmed. AHM's L-1011 was scrapped by Signature Aviation, a firm that showed total disrespect for aviation and for those who endeavored their time and money preserving the past for future generations. I was for a long time considering visiting Kansas City and this museum. Not anymore...

Parts of this airframe (193B-1066) are said to be used on the N140SC Stargazer.

Airframe information

Serial Number: 193B-1066

Model/Type: -50

Registration: N31019

Owner: Airline History Museum

Status: Scrapped

Airline History Museum fighting for survival (IV)

L-1011 N31019 © Airline History Museum

It seems that the Airline History Museum complaint against the "City" was dismissed by the FAA leaving the museum and its aviation collection in a very delicate position. Although the museum remains silent about the deliberation, when consulting the FAA docket about the case, apparently AHM is trying to file an appeal which has to be submitted until May 11.

Ralph M. Pettersen's Constellation Survivors Website states that "Word is that the museum's L1011 will be scrapped before the FIFA World Cup event happens in mid-June".

The L-1011 in question is the S/N 193B-1066, which was flown to the Kansas City Airport (MKC) under the registration N700TS and later re-registered N31019, its original TWA tail number. There is another L-1011 on display at the internacional airport (MCI) of Kansas City, the N910TE belonging to KC Aviation STEM (previously TriStar Experience). 

• Kansas City Business Journal: FAA dismisses Airline History Museum complaint
• Regulations.gov: Save-A-Connie against Kansas City
• Ralph M. Pettersen's Connie Survivors Website: FAA Issues Determination
• Flickr: N700TS Airline History Museum L-1011