We would also like to suggest a very interesting video on Youtube about Court Line's L-1011 and some of its special features:
Also, Jon Proctor's full article about TWA's TriStars is now available for reading on its own website.
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.
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| Airways Magazine - November 2014 |
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.
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| 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
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| CS-TMR@AMS - November 2006 |
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| Damaged elevator |
Photos via Luzair
And another incident with CS-TMX at Havana .
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| CS-TMX@HAV - August 2005 |
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| Engine #3 nacelle |
Photos via Linhadafrente.net
Portuguese TriStar fleet status 05/14
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| 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.
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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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