L1011 still flying

[Melax]

Didn't know that NASA had operational 1011 ? :cool:
Does NASA own it or is it leased ? Must be dificult to maintain and obtain spares...

NASA launches tiny satellites to measure hurricane winds - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/15/us/nasa-launches-hurricane-satellites/index.html)

[DaveReidUK]

It's the one and only operational TriStar. It's originally an Air Canada aircraft, subsequently converted from -22Bs to 524s.

It looks in pretty good nick, too:

http://imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/3/2/1/4065123-v4c9361aee54-15.jpg

I'll admit to having a soft spot for the aeroplane, having worked on them for many years.

[Airbubba]

Here is this morning's flight, looks like they launched the Pegasus rocket while at FL390 going eastbound.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n140sc/#be5deb5

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N140SC/history/20161215/1225Z/KXMR/KXMR

The L1011 is owned and operated by Orbital ATK under NASA contracts:

https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/19/new-orbital-atk-paint-job-for-pegasus-carrier-jet/

[jack11111]

I always thought Lockheed got that one right. And such a smooth ride.

[RexBanner]

Always wanted to fly the Tristar. Or the DC-10. Or the Falcon 7X. But mainly the Tristar. I have a thing for trijets!

[DaveReidUK]

But not the trijet of which more were built than any other ?

[ATNotts]

But not the trijet of which more were built than any other ?
Quality over quantity?

I understand from reading postings from people with first hand experience of maintaining the L1011 many would disagree with that thought!

[Good Business Sense]

Love of my life !! Got Command on it at the tender age of 34 (a long time ago) - learned to love Flight Engineers ... mind you, couldn't eat a whole one !

[trident3A]

They used be a common sight at Heathrow - BA, Air Canada, Gulf Air. A fine looking aircraft and years ahead of its time by all accounts. Long may this example stay in the air.

TN25MO-1p0I

[Hotel Tango]

Spent many a happy hour in LTU Tristars, both in the cabin and on the FD (pre 911).

[Airbubba]

The 'Stargazer' N140SC is flying back to Vandenburg AFB, looks like the aircraft type is mistyped by a few decades ;):

N140SC 16-Dec-2016 KXMR - KVBG FlightAware (http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N140SC/history/20161216/1500Z/KXMR/KVBG)

After the VBG stop a short hop over to Mojave is scheduled.

[Diverskii]

N910TE is airworthy and will hopefully be shuttled to it's new home soon.

[DaveReidUK]

N910TE is airworthy and will hopefully be shuttled to it's new home soon.

Recent photos certainly appear to show it in reasonably good nick, though they have already missed a couple of scheduled dates for its ferry to Kansas City, so I suspect it isn't quite ready to fly yet.