Portuguese L-1011 fleet status 2024

This is the current status of the last bearers of a "CS-" registration mark:

• MSN 1206 euroAtlantic CS-TMX - scrapped at Lisbon (LIS/LPPT)
• MSN 1240 euroAtlantic CS-TEB - stored at Amman (ADJ/OJAM)
• MSN 1248 Luzair CS-TMP - scuttled in the Gulf of Aqaba

As this website is soon to reach its 25th anniversary, I would to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2025.

Footage showing Stargazer at Long Beach Airport

by Roy Rausch

L-1011 Stargazer at the Festival of Flight 2024

Northrop Grumman's L-1011 "Stargazer" took off today towards Long Beach Airport to be part of the static aircraft display of this year's "Festival of Flight".

Festival of Flight 2024

The festival will be held tomorrow at the LGB Airfield:

Generously sponsored by the Port of Long Beach, the lineup of aircraft is expected to include a KC-46 Pegasus, an air-to-air military refueling aircraft; the Flabob Express DC-3, built in 1943 and full of a storied history that includes flying Winston Churchill and the Royal Family; and a Northrup Grumman modified Lockheed L-1011 TriStar that is the only L-1011 still operational. The Condor Squadron will also conduct two flyovers. All aircraft displays are subject to change.

The ferry flight from Mojave to Long Beach took only 27 minutes to complete.

• Long Beach Airport: Festival of Flight 2024

An abandoned L-1011 on a beach

L-1011 in Cotonou © Matthew Klint/Live and Let's Fly

An L-1011 originally delivered to All Nippon Airways and last operated by Air Rum (msn 193P-1156) is sitting on a beach for some years now in Cotonou, Benin - West Africa.

One can find two interesting reports of this aircraft on the internet:

• Live and Let's Fly: Onboard A Lockheed L-1011 TriStar In Cotonou, Benin
• AirlineReporter: Exploring an Abandoned L1011 TriStar on a Beach in West Africa

Portuguese L-1011 fleet status 2023

Still no news of CS-TEB being scrapped:

• MSN 1206 euroAtlantic CS-TMX - scrapped at Lisbon (LIS/LPPT)
• MSN 1240 euroAtlantic CS-TEB - stored at Amman (ADJ/OJAM)
• MSN 1248 Luzair CS-TMP - scuttled in the Gulf of Aqaba

L-1011 Stargazer at the AVAirShow 2022

The L-1011 registered N140SC was temporarily flown to the Edwards Air Force Base (EDW/KEDW) to be part of the static display at the Aerospace Valley Air Show that took place last October.

N140SC © Aerospace Valley Air Show

After the Air Show, Stargazer returned to Mojave Airport (MHV/KMHV) where it is stored.

Portuguese L-1011 fleet status 2022

CS-TEB was recently seen in one piece in Amman Civil Airport (ADJ/OJAM).

• MSN 1206 euroAtlantic CS-TMX - scrapped at Lisbon (LIS/LPPT)
• MSN 1240 euroAtlantic CS-TEB - stored at Amman (ADJ/OJAM)
• MSN 1241 Northrop Grumman N91011 - stored at Victorville (VCV/KVCV)
• MSN 1248 Luzair CS-TMP - scuttled in the Gulf of Aqaba

N140SC with updated Northrop Grumman titles

N140SC © JetPhotos / xuxinyi1000

Video of L-1011 TriStar CS-TMP underwater

CS-TMP © Arab Divers / AQUAZOOM - White Water Photography

Hewa Bora Airways' TriStar 500 preserved

Along with other vintage aircraft, L-1011-500 9Q-CHC, was moved from Kinshasa N'Djili Airport - where it was stored for many years - to Parc de la Vallé de la Nsele.

9Q-CHC © An Van Den Poel

Some very cool pictures of the airframe can be seen following the link below:

• Aviation24.be: Hewa Bora Airways’ Lockheed L-1011 TriStar – Parc de la Vallée de la Nsele

Uncertain future for L-1011 Stargazer

Ahead of the latest ICON/Pegasus XL launch, Northrop Grumman's Vice-President stated that they are planning to keep their L-1011 Stargazer five to 10 years more.

Phil Joyce, vice president of space launch programs at Northrop Grumman, said this week that the company is trying to sell the launches using the two remaining Pegasus XL rockets, and officials plan to keep the Pegasus rocket’s L-1011 carrier jet flying for at least five or 10 more years. 

“We’re looking out five or 10 years with the L-1011, and what parts do we need, being the only flying L-1011 on the planet,” he said. “We have the only trained pilots, we have the only trained mechanics for that aircraft, and we needed the parts.”

However, and since there are no new Pegasus missions scheduled, some rumors say that the aircraft used as an airborne launch platform will be retired soon and turned into a monument, as it was already proposed in the recent past.

Stargazer monument © Gordon/Orbital ATK

In even if Stratolaunch project seems to be having its difficulties, the fact is that new airborne launch platforms for small satellites (like Virgin Orbit's Cosmic Girl/Launcher One) are being developed and the challenge of keeping an aircraft that is 45 years old and that is the last operational L-1011 in the world will certainly condemn Stargazer to its final retirement soon or later.

• LoudounNow: Northrop Grumman Proposes Rocket Monument at Orbital ATK
• Spaceflight Now: Rockets purchased by Stratolaunch back under Northrop Grumman control

More underwater photos of Lockheed L-1011 CS-TMP

CS-TMP © Aqaba.jo

The ex-Luzair L-1011 TriStar is providing the opportunity for amazing photos underwater. You can find some of them on the link below as well as more information about its scuttling.

• Aqaba Site: Dive a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Wreck

CS-TMP was finally sunk in the Red Sea, near Aqaba

In April of this year, photos of CS-TMP could be seen with the aircraft laying with its wings clipped, near the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba.

CS-TMP © Fábio Conceição

Information was spread that it was intended to sink the airframe to become an artificial reef and to serve as an attraction to scuba divers. Last 26th of August, CS-TMP was finally sunk with its wings and horizontal stabilizers re-attached.

Several websites covered the sinking of the airplane:

• A Lockheed L-1011 TriStar joins Aqaba’s Underwater Military museum

• Aqaba: The Scuttling of a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Plane

• The Telegraph - Pictures of the Day: 30 August 2019

• Se sumerge avión comercial en desuso en Museo Militar Subacuático de Aqaba

The updated status of ex-Portuguese TriStar fleet is the following:

MSN 1206 euroAtlantic CS-TMX - scrapped at Lisbon (LIS)

MSN 1240 euroAtlantic CS-TEB - stored at Amman (ADJ)

MSN 1241 Luzair CS-TMR - re-registered N91011; stored at Victorville (VCV)

MSN 1248 Luzair CS-TMP - sunk in the Gulf of Aqaba

• Aircraft Fleet: MSN193H-1248

ICON launch delayed once more

New date is yet to be decided.

The L-1011 Stargazer carrying the Pegasus rocket arrived at CCAFS last Friday and will remain in Florida to conduct the testing. The spacecraft remains in good health.

• NASA KSC: ICON Launch Delayed

Another new date for ICON

Launch moved forward to October 26, in Cape Canaveral. L-1011 Stargazer to be used as airborn launch platform.

• Spaceflight Now: Launch Schedule

Stargazer painted with Northrop Grumman titles

Stargazer © Airliners.net/Brad T

Orbital ATK is the new owner of N91011

When consulting FAA Registry website, Orbital ATK (trade name for ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP) shows up as the new owner of the L-1011 with tail number N91011, a transaction that took place on April 5.

N91011 parked at Victorville

This airframe, an ex-TAP Air Portugal, was previously owned by TriStar Experience, which gave up on it in favor of preserving the ex-Flying Hospital L-1011.

No press release was made about this move on Orbital's website but one can assume N91011 will be used for spare parts to support the operation of the only active L-1011 in the world, the "Stargazer".

• FAA Registry: N-Number Inquiry for N91011

Next Pegasus XL launch

According to Spaceflight Now, the ICON mission is now planned to take place on June 14. The ICON satellite will be launched into orbit using the Pegasus XL rocket released from an airborne platform, the L-1011 Stargazer.

• Spaceflight Now: Launch Schedule

Aéroports de Lyon - TriStar, a guided tour

Although this is not a recent video, it's always nice to learn more about the L-1011 that was written off in 2001, after flying through a hail storm near Lyon.

This aircraft was acquired from Air Transat by Aéroports de Lyon and remains preserved at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to this date.

SN: 193M-1019
Type: -150
Regstr: C-FTNA
Owner: Aéreoports de Lyon
Status: Preserved

N910TE landed safely at KCI Airport

N910TE © Lee's Summit Tribune

The ferry flight was initially planned for last Friday (June 14) but a minor glitch in engine #2, detected after take-off, made the airplane return to Tucson International Airport.

Fortunately it seems the problem found was of easy repair and a second successful attempt was made the next day. During its cruise, the L-1011 reached a maximum altitude of 27.000 feet.

For such a complex aircraft that was in storage for over 15 years, we must give huge credit to TriStar Experience organization who made this possible.

Before landing at KCI - Kansas City Airport the L-1011 performed a beautiful low pass over the active runway.

Low pass:

Landing:

Water canon salute:

I almost forgot how beautiful a L-1011 is while in flight... Kudos to TriStar Experience for acquiring and preserving this historic airplane!

On a different note, Orbital's Stargazer was also active last Thursday, flying out of Mojave. Pegasus XL's ICON mission is now planned for November 14, according to Spaceflight Now.

• AirlineReporter: The Rare Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Returns to the Skies Once More
• Lee's Summit Tribune: TriStar’s N910TE L-1011 Jumbo Jet Has Landed at KCI