L-1011

[JPAustin]

I'm curious why the L-1011 didn't catch on as a freighter as well as the DC-10 did. While FedEx is still pulling DC-10-10s out of the desert and converting them to the MD-10, there are loads of L-1011s parked. Do the L-1011s have short time/cycle limits on the airframe and they're just burned out? Thanks

I would venture a guess to say that parts support is lacking and therefore expensive. Just not enough aircraft in the marketplace to begin with, thus there aren't scads of parts lying in inventory somewhere.

I will say this though, the L1011 was one sharp looking bird, and the -500 series, man, even sharper. ATA had a couple -500's it bought from some Arabian Sheik. The FAA made them put in overwing exits and the marble-floored lavs with solid gold furnishing ofcourse had to come out

 

[Bringupthebird]

My dad flew EAL's Tin Lemon's and loved them. As a kid, I thought having an elevator for the stewardesses to go up and down between the galley and main deck was too cool. My old man's only complaint was that the cockpit windows were too big and people getting on could see your big fat belly hanging over your belt.

 

[AdlerDriver]

I'm curious why the L-1011 didn't catch on as a freighter as well as the DC-10 did. While FedEx is still pulling DC-10-10s out of the desert and converting them to the MD-10, there are loads of L-1011s parked. Do the L-1011s have short time/cycle limits on the airframe and they're just burned out? Thanks

??? Fedex is pulling -10s out of the desert? I thought we were just converting the -10s that we had.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Didn't you hear? Boeing is firing up the DC-10 production line again for FedEx!

You are right, in retrospect. FedEx had owned these particular ex-Hawaiian DC-10s for a while (around 2003 I believe) and they were just recently converted over around June or so of this year.

 

[Junkflyer]

Connie had some converted and flew them in the 90's (AIA). They were cheap to buy, but heavy on mx, hard to get parts for and couldn't carry a real big load. They are fast and pilot friendly, just not a good fit for the freight business.

 

[Fliteidol]

I saw these cats in Dubai, perfect name to sum up my career!!!



http://www.luzair.com/aboutus.html

 

[pilotyip]

Another reason would be, they were haunted. Had this dead EAL F/E who kept appearing in the airplane.

 

[freightdogfred]

L-1011=Late 10 out of 11 times... (Actually, it's because it's got 10 tires, and 11 hydraulic pumps)

As a freighter, it cannot compare to the Douglas equivalent, the DC-10-30 for range, payload and reliability. Most guys who flew said it was one of the sweetest flying machines they ever flew. My buddy at Arrow Air flys the DC-10 now cause Arrow got rid of all their L-1011's, and says he prefers the way the DC-10 handles.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Another reason would be, they were haunted. Had this dead EAL F/E who kept appearing in the airplane.

The ghost of Ernest Borgnine?

 

[pilotyip]

Yea Ernie played Don Repo in the made for TV movie, based upon the book "The Ghost of Flight 401"

 

[L-1011-500]

ATA bought 5 -500 from Royal Jordanian and they were regular airplanes in passenger service with them. No marble floors or gold furnishings. I know as I flew them right up till a couple years ago. The airplane was a dream to fly and if you had MX people who knew how to work on them then they made money for you. If you were just going to defer everything and not spend money to fix them the airplane went south on you really quick.

 

[HA25]

Didn't you hear? Boeing is firing up the DC-10 production line again for FedEx!

Bet if they did (or at least MD-11) fire it up, they'd sell more of them, than just about any other wide body Freighter.. You try to find a good MD11 for sale these days.. next to impossible.

 

[Sir Innocenti]

Simple: Wiring......Its the same wiring Airbus foolishly chose to install on the A380.....Its lighter than conventional wiring, but extremely brittle.....Typical Lockheed, WAY ahead of its time, and willing to use advanced technology.....Too bad they discovered the unreliability of this wiring AFTER the L-1011's were built!!!

 

[hawkerjet]

The 1011 came to the market first and was successful, however, not having another engine selection would soon prove to be it's downfall.
As the 1011 enjoyed time in service with the airlines McDonnell Douglas pushed its DC-10 thru the certification process. Considering the huge political clout California weilded ( and did) they helped speed up the process and forced the DC-10 to market prematurely. There were several DC-10 accidents world wide and caused the fleet to be grounded. The defects were found ( had to do with aft pressure bulkhead I believe) and fixed and the 10 came to the market. Timing is everything as is a little help from your friends.

 

[PlaneDrvr]

The 1011 came to the market first and was successful, however, not having another engine selection would soon prove to be it's downfall.
As the 1011 enjoyed time in service with the airlines McDonnell Douglas pushed its DC-10 thru the certification process. Considering the huge political clout California weilded ( and did) they helped speed up the process and forced the DC-10 to market prematurely. There were several DC-10 accidents world wide and caused the fleet to be grounded. The defects were found ( had to do with aft pressure bulkhead I believe) and fixed and the 10 came to the market. Timing is everything as is a little help from your friends.

Not the 'aft pressure bulkhead' but the main floor support beams were too weak. Most notable early accident involved a European charter airline (I believe it was Spanair); a lower cargo door came open (or came off), the resulting loss of pressurization sucked the main floor down, causing it to give way, and the a/c broke up inflight. I believe this was the accident that revealed the flaw in the construction the the a/c and resulted in the fix, but there may have been other incidents/accidents.

As I remember, that was the history, but I guess someone will correct me if I am wrong.

DA