RAF ends refuelling operations in the Middle East

End of RAF Refuelling Detachment

TriStar Tanker © RAF/MOD Crown

A Royal Air Force Tristar departs 902 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) and brings the curtain down on the RAFs Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) detachment in the Middle East.

There has been an almost continuous RAF refuelling presence in the region for 23 years, operated by 101 Squadron VC10s and 216 Squadron Tristars. The aircraft and crews from RAF Brize Norton have been providing AAR since Operation Granby commenced in August 1990 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

• Read the complete article: Here

Delta Digest - Special L-1011 Issue

From Airchive.com:

Delta Digest © Airchive

This is the employee magazine “Delta Digest” coverage of the entry of the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar’s entry into service with the airline. Delta, along with TWA, were the launch customers for the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. Delta went on to operate the world’s largest fleet of the Tri-Jet over the span of its operations from 1973 through 2001.

• Airchive.com: Delta Airlines Sales Brochures, History and Memorabilia

Flight Simulation news

Just Flight released today their L-1011 product for FSX which is available in Download or Boxed edition. The featured model is the long range TriStar 500.

You can see more information here and also this preview video:

The additional Livery Pack contains (among others) the liveries of Air Luxor, Luzair and Yes.

Luzair © Just Flight

Air Luxor © Just Flight

Yes © Just Flight

If you prefer the longer version of the TriStar, it seems that Captain Sim is developing the L-1011-1 also for FSX.

L-1011-1 © Captain Sim

L-1011-1 © Captain Sim

The L-1011 is finally becoming popular in flight simulation!

• Captain Sim: 1011 Captain

National Airline History Museum's new L-1011 simulator

The same guys that preserved an ex-TWA L-1011 (msn 193B-1066), recently took delivery of an old Delta L-1011 simulator.

L-1011 simulator © National Airline History Museum

This museum in Kansas City sure is the right place to visit for every L-1011 fan.

• Weblink: Airline History Museum

Cockpit videos

Two new cockpit videos were added to the website.

Take-off at Abuja airport...

... and landing at Kaduna.

Good old days...

• More L-1011 videos: Here

L-1011 Maintenance - Staffhire

In 2006, Staffhire from Trinidad & Tobago worked together with Luzair to bring back CS-TMR into flying condition and to help with maintenance works on CS-TMP while flying for PIA, during Hajj 2006/07. They were a team specialized on the L-1011.

Some photos of CS-TMR at AMS (2006) from their galleries:

Although their website is still online, there are no signs of recent activity of this team.

Staffhire's website

Luzair related galleries are:

- Projects Victorville CA 2007

- Projects Pakistan 2006

- Projects Holland 2006

- Projects Holland 2004

You can see these galleries (and others) by chosing Media Centre -> Photo Galleries on the menu.

CS-TFP, the L-1011 that never came to Portugal

In 2008, Luzair was trying to get a 3rd L-1011 for its fleet. This L-1011 was an ex-Delta example (N753DA) and was previously intended for Interstate Airlines based in Maastricht (Netherlands), with reg. number PH-RST. However, the aircraft wasn't taken up by Interstate and negotiations were held between its owner and Luzair to put this aircraft flying in Portugal as CS-TFP.

Luzair logos were applied but the aircraft never really made it into the Portuguese Civil Aircraft Register.

Here are a couple of photos taken at Amman.

Notice the grey belly - CS-TMP had an entirely white fuselage...

CS-TFP © Jorge Cernadas

... and the "Desert Chicken", the eagle of the L-1011 logo painted on the s-duct.

CS-TFP © Jorge Cernadas

Today, this aircraft remains stored at Amman Queen Alia Intl Airport, still with Luzair markings.

TAP L-1011 - textures for Flight Simulator

A new photo real paint for the Aerosim's L-1011 model is available at AVSIM. In order to download these textures, you have to be registered in the AVSIM's File Library and then search for the file named as_l10_tap.zip.

The represented aircraft is TAP's old CS-TED and the artwork was done by Edward Cox also famous for his high quality Flight Simulator videos in YouTube. Although these textures are free, Aerosim's L-1011 is part of payware package Classic Liners Vol.2.

L1011.de was updated with a new look

German Lockheed L1011 Information Center has changed its image having now a fresh new look. Initially established as a virtual airline (EuCom Airlines), Holger Ludwig's website specialized in the L-1011 and is one of the oldest sites about this aircraft, and the only one with a complete production list still being updated.

L1011.de

Air Transat L-1011 seat maps

L-1011-150

L-1011-500