STILL FLYING? : Where are the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar of Air India in 2021
From 1995 through 1999, Air India, the national carrier of India, operated 2 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar’s, “the most intelligent airliner ever to fly.”
The carrier currently operates a range of aircraft, ranging from the smallest Airbus A319 to the biggest and baddest Boeing B747 aircrafts.
But what happened to Air India’s Lockheed L-1011 TriStar and where are they present now?
Brief Foundation of Air India
With the airlines headquartered at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, it currently serves a whopping 102 domestic and international destinations.
The airline was initially founded by J.R.D Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932. Post India’s Independence in 1947, 49% of Tata Airlines under the name of Air India was acquired by the Government of India.
In addition to becoming the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft, a Boeing B707, Air India also took delivery of its first queen of the skies Boeing B747, named Emperor Ashoka.
In 2007, Air India and Indian Airlines were merged, under Air India Limited and also became the 27th member of the Star Alliance on 11th July 2014.
Moreover, with the merger, the airline suffered severe losses, thereby leading the government to privatize Air India Ltd.
In addition to the government selling 100% shares in Air India Ltd plus 50% shares in Air India Express, an owned subsidiary of Air India, there has been no particular interest by firms to buy the debt-laden airline.
What Happened to the Air India Lockheed L1011 TriStar’s
According to Airfleets, after leasing the initial (V2-LEJ) L-1011 Tristar in 1995 from Caribjet, the lease ended in 1996, to which the jet managed to fly for about 9 more years, and in 2007 after leaving Globejet airlines (OD-MIR), it was stored at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Quebec, Canada.
However, the current status of the aircraft is stored with registration (XT-RAD).
The other Lockheed L-1011 Tristar however is with a Hercules C130, enjoying its time in the Red Sea waters.
After the lease ended from TAP Air Portugal around 1995–1998, (V2-LEK) of Air India, went on to fly for airlines such as Novair (SE-DVI), Air Luxor (CS-TMP), and Luzair (CS-TMP).
Although the jet was in service with Luzair for quite some time, it was later parked at Hussein International airport, Aqaba, Jordan for several years.
The aircraft was then purchased by ASEZA (Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority) to sink it, thereby attracting diving enthusiasts and creating a habitat for artificial coral reefs, similar to the Boeing B747 sunken in Bahrain.
With airlines phasing out the older generation jets progressively and replacing them with the newer and more fuel-efficient aircraft due to lack of demand in aviation travel, there is no better time to travel until they are grounded to experience those older jets.
