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

ZE706 retirement

Royal Air Force started the phase-out of its TriStar fleet with the first example being the one with ZE706 registration number. This aircraft was ferried today from Brize Norton to Cambridge airport.

ZE706 is an ex-Pan Am aircraft which was not converted into a three-point tanker and was used as a passenger transport aircraft, a version designated C2A.

RAF's fleet is now down to 7 aircraft - ZD949 was unexpectedly withdrawn from service earlier after being retrofitted with a glass cockpit which did not go ahead.

• RAF's page about the TriStar: Here

Latest Pegasus launch

Orbital's L-1011 "Stargazer" made another successful launch of its Pegasus Rocket, last 27/06.

The rocket carried NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) satellite.

Stargazer © Orbital Sciences Corporation

Pegasus © Orbital Sciences Corporation

You can read Orbital's press release about this launch here and see some mission photos here.

Royal Flypast

One of the RAF's TriStars was seen performing in the flypast during the celebrations of the Queen's official birthday.

TriStar and VC-10 © UK Crown

Thirty seconds later the RAF’s longest serving aircraft, 216 & 101 Squadrons’ Tristar & VC-10, passed over Buckingham palace. These venerable aircraft are another foundation on which the RAF’s Strategic Global Air Mobility capability depends. Both aircraft will though in due course be replaced by Voyager, which followed seconds behind the older aircraft.

• Read the complete article about the flypast: Here

L-1011 @ Sheremetyevo

This is a very rare photo of TAAG's L-1011 at Sheremtyevo Airport, in Moscow. This aircraft was leased from TAP in the early 90s and kept its original registration CS-TEC.

CS-TEC at SVO © Por Dentro

In those days, this was a very demanding operation in Russia and Flight Crews were composed by TAP pilots and flight engineers.