Lockheed L1011 TriStar - Airliner Color History

MBI Publishing, 1998

A history of the Lockheed L1011 TriStar, which was launched in May 1968 and brought new standards of technology and safety to wide-bodied fan-jet-powered airliners. Designed in response to an American Airlines specification for a large capacity, short to medium range airliner, it was Lockheed's only commercial passenger. It was also the last civil aircraft from a manufacturer whose pedigree included the pre-WW2 Vega, Orion and Electra family - credible alternatives to the market leading Douglas DC-2 and DC-3 - and the graceful Constellation and Super Constellation. Unfortunately, the TriStar had a checkered sales history. Launched at a time of rampant inflation in direct competition with another trijet, the Douglas DC-10, the TriStar sales efforts were badly damaged by the near collapse of its engine manufacture, the British company Rolls-Royce. Government money bailed out Rolls-Royce and saved the TriStar. The RB211 engines proved to be excellent, and they are still giving good service today. For all its initial sales problems, the TriStar has proved long lived and now, at time of publication, may be approaching the twilight of its career...