COAMiG29 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 515 posts, RR: 2 Posted (8 years 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 6345 times:
I was wondering what the current status of all the Delta Tristars is? are there any left, i know one was used for the show lost and one used as a flying hospital but what about the others. the faa registry lists ship 728 as destroyed but the last i heard DL still had all the tristars in their posession and they could not sell them or somthing like that. if anyone can tell me the current status of these Tristars id appreciate it alot.
if this has been discussed before please tell me
--COAMiG29--
LONG LIVE THE L-1011
If Continental had a hub at DFW with nonstop flights I would always fly them, unfortunantely good things take time.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 6339 times:
DL has retired all of their L-1011s. Most have been scrapped by now, but a few are still parked in the desert. Yes, the scrapped hull of a DL TriStar was (is?) used as part of the backdrop for the current TV show 'Lost'.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (8 years 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 6296 times:
DL loved the TriStar, it turned out to be a great airplane for them, they had the worlds largest fleet of L-1011s at one time. Sadly, DL-191(H), a L-1011, was lost at DFW in August 1985 in a windsheer accident. A few former DL L-1011-500s are still flying with TZ as military charters. It's good to see a few others have found homes.
there were still 27 Tristars left as of January 31st, and given that not to many planes are being scrapped, it should still be over 20 of at VCV as of today.
Delta also used to have alot of L-1011s stored at MHV, but I believe those have all been scrapped or sold.
And as an add-on info, over the years, Delta operated a total of 78 different L-1011s, out of 250 produced, with the highest one-time number being 51, IIRC.
OttoPylit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (8 years 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 6068 times:
Some of the older birds have been scrapped. Many are still sitting in VCV awaiting their fate, since many Third World airlines can only afford older airplanes, even though they are fuel guzzlers and maintenance nightmares in their later years. Although they are old, most were kept in as immaculate condition as possible, so they still have a few years life in them. And a few have gone on to live again. A website to look into to see some pics of revived L-10's, as well as the "Lost" movie plane was created by a DL flight attendant and her husband. It also talks of the DC-3 "Ship 41" and DL 727's. The website is:
And the last I heard, Ship 728, the "Delta Belle" is still in one piece. She was donated to the Flying Hospital, a nice thing to do, but for spare parts, meaning she will be cannibalized. But the last I heard from my people, she is still in one piece and has not needed to be used. She is probably wherever the Flying Hospital is located, somewhere in AZ, I think.
N160LH From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 279 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 5740 times:
Quoting OttoPylit (Reply 9): Ship 728, the "Delta Belle" is still in one piece
I would love to know if that is true.... I was lucky enough to be one of the employee's to take the "Belle" to the desert, so i have a huge bond with that Star. I wish somebody could get a recent picture of the "Belle" where ever she is....
N160LH
"I do alright up in the air, its down on the ground that I tend to mess up..."
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 80 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 5731 times:
Quoting COAMiG29 (Reply 2): how many tristars are left , i heard it was unprofitable to scrap them. are they by any chance for sale?
Unprofitable? Of course DL is not getting back what they paid for them, but they still get some money selling them to a scrapper. Many are being used for spares as Lockheed is not exactly producing L1011 spares in droves, though the engines are still readily available as Rolls still produces the RB211. The best examples are often sold, which is why DL actually keeps them in decent shape down in VCV.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
First of all, let me say this is not meant to agitate anyone, this is truly a question purely based on curiosity, so here goes -
Why do so many people love the L-1011 so much?
I don't get it, I flew on one once - a DL sometime in the mid 90's, it was OK I guess, but I wasn't enamored with it. I do remember it had the same funny, oily smell coming from the AC system that all military Lockheed planes have also. I don't find it particularly attractive looking, though it does have a certain uniqueness that is kind of cool. At 250 produced, it wasn't overly successful - so why the fascination with this plane? The L-1011 has a definite cult following, for lack of a better word.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 80 Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 5690 times:
Quoting KC135R (Reply 12): Why do so many people love the L-1011 so much?
Many reasons, see below
Quoting KC135R (Reply 12): I don't find it particularly attractive looking,
You are in the minority as most find it one of the most beautiful designs ever to fly
Quoting KC135R (Reply 12): The L-1011 has a definite cult following, for lack of a better word.
Actually, it is not so much a cult following. Those old enough to have flown the L1011, especially people who are not airplane nuts, have praised the L1011 for its smoothness and stability in the air, its amazing safety record and its comfort (a great deal of space was built into it by Lockheed, something MDC did not do as much of with the DC-10). I am lucky enough to have flown the L10 on several occassions and can totally attest to all of those things.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
N160LH From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 279 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 5671 times:
Quoting KC135R (Reply 12): Why do so many people love the L-1011 so much?
There is nothing like hearing an L-1011 spin up all three Rolls-Royce's on takeoff... It was just the most comforting humming noise... Thats what did it for me... I absolutely hated working the "Star's", but would plan a trip around flying on one....
Quoting KC135R (Reply 12): I don't find it particularly attractive looking
that's where you are wrong the L-1011 is simply beautiful!
"I do alright up in the air, its down on the ground that I tend to mess up..."
MKEdude From South Korea, joined May 2005, 1008 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 5606 times:
Having grown up in Atlanta you came to the conclusion that if you wanted to go anywhere interesting an L-1011 was in your future. I have logged many hours in the back of various Tri-Stars. As we used to say, if you want to leave Atlanta you have 2 choices; fly Delta or walk!
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline." Frank Zappa
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18805 posts, RR: 64 Reply 19, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 5584 times:
Quoting KC135R (Reply 12): Why do so many people love the L-1011 so much?
The sound. The checkerboard ceiling. The performance. The sculpted lines of the tail engine. The perfect balance it seemed to feel inflight.
While I grew to like the DC-10 after flying it numerous times on the DEN-LGW route, it just never had the same overall feel to it as the Tristar.
For the longest time, I'd spent more time and logged far more miles on a TWA L-1011 to more destinations than any other single aircraft type. All of them enjoyable moments.
Delta767300ER From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2559 posts, RR: 14 Reply 22, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 5458 times:
The L-1011 was simply the greatest airplane ever. I had the pleasure of flying on Delta's L-1011's 9 times and I loved every flight. I will miss the spacious cabin of the L-1011, as well as the smokey startups, sound of the RB-211's, and smooth flights. I will really miss these birds.
Waterpolodan From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 1649 posts, RR: 5 Reply 23, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 5427 times:
What are the numerous prop planes on the tarmac in that marietta image? I assume they're C130's, but I see a couple that look like P3 orions... is marietta a naval air station or an air force base or what?
And to go back on topic, the L1011 was one of the first planes I flew on my way from Miami to Atlanta to maine when I was a child, I particularly remember the spaciousness of the cabin....
September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 24, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 5424 times:
I remember flying on Delta L-1011... DL is a huge fan of L-1011s.
25 Da man: Marietta is Lockheed's assembly site in Georgia. The C-130, C-5, C-141. da man
26 COAMiG29: Unfortunantely i never got to fly one, i know ATA still has some but they are militry charter, after the war in iraq will these return to commerical?
27 Lrgt: That is actually incorrect. There are too many spares available and they're worth nothing!
28 AirEMS: Wasn't a DL L-1011 used in the movie SWAT? Fly Safe -Carl
29 APFjoker: When I worked ground crew for TZ at RSW in 1999, the L-1011 used to come in on the weekends. When we would push back, and the number 3 would start up,
31 N160LH: I have to say this post is like a breath of fresh air... I have so many good memories of working/flying on Mother Delta that have been so hard to thin
32 COAMiG29: as i said before, is it ever going to be possible in the near future to fly on a L-1011 and if so with who and where to? id also like to speculate abo
33 GARUDAROD: If you want to fly a Tristar, you should head to Bangkok! Between Orient Thai, Fly Thai, Thai 1-2-3 you can capture the glistening Lockheeds once agai
34 DAL767400ER: Only fuel cost approximately 50% less, but with fuel prices on the current level, no chance. Personally, I got to fly the L-1011 multiple times, espe
35 AirEMS: Yet another 3 hole aircraft I would have loved to fly on.. Long live the L-1011, the DC-10 and MD-11 Fly Safe -Carl
36 Tom in NO: I'm very partial to the 1011. It's what put food on our table for many years while I was growing up. My dad worked for Lockheed for over 30 years at B
37 Srbmod: The four C-130s parked next to the L-1011 are among the eight Libya ordered in the 1970s, but the a/c were blocked from being delivered to them by th
38 COAMiG29: OK. thanks for all the info if you want to post your stories of L-1011 flights please feel free. if anyone can tell me where to book a flight id love
39 TZTriStar500: You're in luck! Our scheduled LAX-CUN roundtrip is an L15 beginning June 18 on Saturdays and Sundays for the summer months....last and only chance to
40 COAMiG29: what airline are you refering to, ATA? thanks alot for that info by the way
41 LN-MOW: He's indeed referring to ATA, and first flight seems actually to be on the 11th ...
42 COAMiG29: is it only lax>cun or are there other available options, im out of dfw.
43 OttoPylit: I would say it is that uniqueness that others find as attractiveness. Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think many people find it
44 COAMiG29: is the LAX>CUN the only flights ata is offering, im out of dfw, the lax is not a problem but the international ticket price is pretty close to breakin
45 WDBRR: I believe EASTERN was the launch customer of the L1011, they used to have a large fleet. Eastern was also the launch customer of the A300 and B757. Ca
46 COAMiG29: so the flights are on sat and sun beginning on june 18, how long do they go? till what date
47 Dasheighty: There is a Ex Delta L-10-11 parked at Atlantic City International (It looks like it is in one piece) Also United sp "Friendship one is there also." I
48 DAYflyer: I guess you have answered your own question to a degree. But, the L1011 had many technology firsts as well. It is a beautifull, reliable old gas hog
49 Stirling: One of the most terrifying landings I've ever experienced was on a Rich International flight SFO-OGG which landed something like 30 degrees off the ce
50 TZTriStar500: The ATA LAX-CUN flights are the only scheduled service planned for the L15s. I haven't checked for sure, but I believe they operate through most if no
51 COAMiG29: i know this is a stupid question but just to be sure in case i buy a ticket L-15 is the L-1011-500 correct? if so i have the flight planned
52 TZTriStar500: Yes, L15 is the common three letter scheduling code for the L-1011-500
53 COAMiG29: TZTriStar500, assuming that i am correct and you work for ATA, is there any way you can help me get a discount on the L-15 flight,i know its alot to a
54 COAMiG29: TZTriStar500 in case you dident notice im just joking, id never ask for a favor like that. im lined up for a summer job to pay for my flight, if there
55 WDBRR: Didn't Delta buy a large number of Eastern's L1011's after they shut down in 1991?
56 COAMiG29: they may have but all of delta's L-1011s are gone now anyway
57 DeltaA380: My last L-1011 flight (unless I get lucky some time in the future,) was also DL1949 from MCO-ATL about a month before DL retired the last one to VCV.
58 Flyabunch: I always looked forward to L1011 flights. For its time, it was my favorite plane. I was fortunate enough to fly on L10's on four different airlines. P
59 N160LH: Loved to fly on them but I absolutely hated working them. I remember working flight 16, 17 DFW-HNL-DFW may times where we would have to wait for a GS
60 Tribird1011: Here's a crazy idea; given that the L10 was such a great airplane in more ways than one, is there any possibility that Lockheed may open up the assemb
61 Milesrich: How can any write anything like the post that asks if Lockheed may open the L1011 assembly line again? And then states it could be make into a profita
62 N160LH: Almost every airlines trims there aircraft like this, this by no means is just a L-10 or DL deal. Never met a pilot that had flown the L-10 that had
63 CWAFlyer: That being said, a lot of people respect the aircraft for her tremendous safety record. Of course, no aircraft will ever be perfectly safe, but over
64 ToTheStars: As a flight attendant, I loved working our L-10's at TWA (except for the overhead bins.) My favorite position to work was the lower galley. It was gre
65 DeltaA380: TotheStars: Flight 401 was which incident? I had a colleague at DL, in the last years of the L-1011, who loved working DL219 routing SLCSFOHNL, in SFO
66 OttoPylit: Flight 401 was the Eastern L-1011 that crashed into the Everglades on approach to MIA. The crew crashed the plane after accidentally knocking the cont
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