The Lockheed L-1011 was a superior aircraft to the Douglas DC-10 in a number of ways, but the single choice of the Rolls Royce RB-211 single spool engine was a major setback to this aircraft. The S-duct engine mounting was also safer than the DC-10 engine mounting, but the restrictions of a fixed duct precluded Lockheed from considering other engines than the RR RB-211. Engine development and financial problems led to Rolls’ bankruptcy, leading to a two year delay in the TriStar coming to market. As a result, while MDD easily developed and sold the enhanced DC-10-30, Lockheed only sold 250 TriStars of all models, lost money and departed the passenger aircraft market. (Ironically, the poor sales of McDonnell Douglas’ followup to the DC-10, the MD-11, purchased by AA and often referred to as the “MD a lemon”, caused MDD’s failure and takeover by Boeing.)
The TriStar was operated by Delta, Eastern, Pan Am and TWA all operated TriStars, as did several others. I flew in a number of these - BA, BWIA, Eastern, Delta, Pan Am, TWA. Nice reminiscences if TW TriStars. I loved the final color scheme.
The Airline History Museum in Kansas City preserves a Lockheed L-1011-1.
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