Airways Magazine - TWA's TriStars

Airways' issue nº 225 (November 2014) has an interesting article about TWA's L-1011 written by Jon Proctor.

Jon Proctor was a TWA's DCS (Director of Customer Services) and had a long experience with the L-1011.

Some nice details like the record transatlantic cargo load carried by a L-1011-50 on a flight between Lisbon and New York and the fact that a TWA's RB211 engine completed 20,000 hours from service entry until it was removed from its wing are well explained in this article.

Airways Magazine - November 2014

TWA was one of the main and most enthusiastic operators of the L-1011.

Just Flight L-1011 - new update coming soon

Just Flight announced an extensive upgrade to its L-1011 product called "L-1011 TriStar Professional" which will be available for FSX and Prepar3d platforms.

Royal Air Force © Just Flight

This new product should be released soon and the detailed list of its features can be checked down below:

• Just Flight: L-1011 TriStar Professional

L-1011 - Luxury Among the Clouds

L-1011 © Lockheed Martin

Following its Centennial commemoration, Lockheed Martin published a brief article telling the story of the L-1011:

• Lockheed Martin: Luxury Among the Clouds

euroAtlantic - 20 years flying around the world!

euroAtlantic airways magazine

The latest issue of euroAtlantic airways' inflight magazine is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the airline and it has a special article about its operation and mission since the beginning. euroAtlantic was founded in 1993 as Air Zarco/Air Madeira and started flying with one L-1011 in 1997. The article shows several interesting photos including one with the crew of its first flight and with the L-1011 (still with Air Portugal's stripes) in the background.

L-1011 maintenance & handling mishaps

This one ocurred in Amasterdam when CS-TMR (now N91011) was being readied for its ferry flight back to Lisbon after long term storage at Schiphol Airport.

CS-TMR@AMS - November 2006

Damaged elevator

Photos via Luzair

And another incident with CS-TMX at Havana .

CS-TMX@HAV - August 2005

Engine #3 nacelle

Photos via Linhadafrente.net

Portuguese TriStar fleet status 05/14

N91011 © TriStar History and Preservation, Inc

MSN 1206 euroAtlantic CS-TMX - scrapped at Lisbon (LIS)
MSN 1240 euroAtlantic CS-TEB - stored at Amman (ADJ)
MSN 1241 Luzair CS-TMR - under maintenance at Victorville (VCV); re-registered N91011
MSN 1248 Luzair CS-TMP - stored at Aqaba (AQJ)

The big news in this report is related to msn 1241 which was bought by TriStar History and Preservation, Inc from BES (a Portuguese bank that still owns CS-TMP). This change is already reflected on the FAA Registry website.
CS-TMR was re-registered N91011 in January of this year and maintenance works are under way for a ferry flight to Kansas City/MCI where the aircraft will be preserved and supposedly painted in TWA colors. Let us remember that this aircraft was one of the 5 original L-1011s delivered to TAP Air Portugal with customer code 293B and registration mark CS-TEC.
Progress of maintenance works can be witnessed at TriStar's Facebook page with videos of dry and wet engine runs.

On another note, also a few months ago, it seems that HR-AVN owners (an ex-Portuguese L-1011 / msn 1242) were seeking crew members for a ferry flight back to the Middle East - the aircraft is stored at Honduras/La Ceiba for several years now.

Another mission for L-1011 "Stargazer" is planned

Stargazer © Orbital Sciences Corporation

With the retirement of the RAF's TriStar fleet, Orbital Sciences is the sole operator of the only active L-1011 left in the world - the Stargazer. And it seems its next mission is already planned with the launch of CYGNSS Science Satellites in October of 2016.

Although there are a number of L-1011s that could fly again - specially in the Middle East - this aircraft model is almost a memory from the past. There were some recent rumors about a new start-up airline (American West Jets) that intended to fly a number of L-1011s but nothing has materialized until now.

Meanwhile, we're hoping that TriStar History and Preservation, Inc is successful with its intention to ferry N91011 to Kansas City and preserve this once Portuguese aircraft.

TriStar Retires After 30 Years Service with the RAF

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2014

The Lockheed TriStar has flown its last operational mission with the Royal Air Force bringing to an end 30 years of service which saw the aircraft at the heart of operations around the world.

On Monday 24th March two TriStar’s of 216 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton flew an air-to-air refuelling mission over the North Sea before one conducted flypasts at airfields associated with its history.

During its service the TriStar, fondly known as ‘Timmy’ by its crews, has formed the backbone of long range air transport and air-to-air refuelling, participating in nearly every British conflict since it was brought into service.

• Full article: RAF's website

TriStar bows out of UK service

Source: IHS/Patrick Allen

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has retired the last of its Lockheed L-1011 TriStar tanker-transport aircraft, with a final sortie having been flown on 24 March.
The final flight out of the type's homebase at RAF Brize Norton in Oxforshire brought to an end 30 years of TriStar service for the RAF, with 216 Squadron having been formally deactivated on 20 March.

• Full article: Here

Aviation News - TriStar Tribute

Latest issue of Aviation News magazine brings us two articles about the TriStar: 

- TriStars of the RAF

- TriStar - Lockheed's Airliner Swansong

Aviation News - March 2014

Although this edition seems to be out of stock, its digital version is still available for those who have smartphones or tablets.

The L-1011 era is coming to an end soon

Royal Air Force

TriStar - an era coming to an end © Royal Air Force

Yesterday, Royal Air Force retired one more L-1011 TriStar - ZE705 - on a ferry flight from Brize Norton to Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome. ZD953 and ZE704 should follow soon and in the end of March the three last TriStars are scheduled to be retired as well.

Las Vegas Sands

Repair works on Las Vegas Sand's N388LS were announced on March of 2013 but scrapping is now the most probable fate for this aircraft.

Sky Capital Airlines

L-1011 S2-AET - which was stored for a long time at Dhaka Airport - was finally scrapped last February.

S2-AET scrapped © Shabbir Bashar

This aircraft and the preparation of its ferry flight to Dhaka was featured on this Air Utopia's DVD.

RAF - another TriStar is withdrawn from service

TriStar © Royal Air Force

For 30 years the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar has played a pivotal role within the RAF. Bought after the Falklands War to bolster the RAF’s capability, the TriStar became a familiar sight. Now, the retirement of the TriStar, from RAF Service, has begun with delivery of ZD952 to the Cotswold Airport, Kemble, for disposal.

• News: RAF Brize Norton