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Delta was one of the early customers for the new Lockheed trijet and nowadays is committed to operating the type for many years to come via their innovative 250 airframe engine retrofit programme.
Profile Lockheed L1011 Tristar
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Tristar
In February, 1966, American Airlines issued a specification for a twin engined, widebody, 250 seat, short to medium range jet aircraft. Two companies, the newly merged McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Lockheed, responded. Discussions with potential customers ironically led both to make the same major design change, the introduction of a third engine. The L1011 was Lockheed’s baby but it was one which had a difficult birth . . .
The mid 1960s saw the world enjoying a period of economic prosperity. It was also a time of increased travel and air transport, especially in the USA.
Growing masses of people were being moved using aircraft mostly with a capacity of less than 150 seats. This meant that the major airports and terminals of the world were becoming overloaded and congested because of inadequate parking areas and facilities, while in the air there was a multiplication of traffic control problems. The latter led to fuel wastage, lengthy holding patterns and numerous diversions to other airfields. There were clearly sound economic reasons for creating larger capacity aircraft, hence American Airlines’ February, 1966, list of requirements.
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