TWA, L-1011 takeoff, flight & landing STL - PHX ,1991

This is a VHS video recording from March 16, 1991, of a flight aboard a Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1011 TriStar from St Louis Lambert Field to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (by the way, if you look carefully, you should be able to count five different TWA L1011's on the ground while at St Louis). The flight was about two and a half hours long. The video shows just over 27 minutes of highlights from that trip. Seen and heard are the push back, Rolls Royce RB211-22b typical smoky engine start, taxing from gate to runway (notice the Missouri Air National Guard McDonnell F-4E Phantom IIs), takeoff, flying over the Mississippi River with aircraft's shadow, a long shot of Lambert Field from the plane, interior cabin shots, landing (talk about greasing her in!), taxing at Phoenix and finally a shot of the L-1011's cockpit (at the end of the flight a TWA stewardess asked me if I'd like to take some video shots of the cockpit. Obviously, I took her up on her offer. Wouldn't get a chance like that today!). Video made using a then new, enormous (relatively speaking), Montgomery Ward, Signature 2000 HQ 8x zoom, VHS video camera.
Sorry about the hum or buzz or a combination of both, once the TriStar becomes airborne (someone also referred to it as a "cow mooing" sound. I like that description!). Anyway, KZbin member N747PA suggested this sound may be the result of a leaking L2 door seal as I was near a passenger door while recording. The sound disappears when the L1011 lands whereby "the pressurization controller opens the outflow valves dumping the cabin pressure". Seems a reasonable mechanical explanation to me.
Hope you enjoy this video of the last of the Lockheed built airliners and what many consider to be the best passenger aircraft ever built by Lockheed (now Lockheed-Martin) and also the best of the original widebody jetliners (Douglas DC-10 and Boeing 747 being the other ones).
One last thing. TWA never made an issue at any time during this flight of using my large shoulder mounted video camera or on any of the three other TWA flights where I also used it to video record. Other airlines, such as United and American, would announce over the cabin's P.A. system that "all electronic devices" had to be turned off during takeoff and landing.

[@ampex352]

This is the best video of the L1011. Flew Eastern and Delta Tristars between O’Hare and Miami 70s and 80s. Flew ATA L1011s in 90s to Las Vegas out of Midway. The best plane ever made. The wrap around bathrooms in the back of the plane you were never waiting! Thanks for showing the cabin area. So much comfort and room. I hate flying today! Too many seats on cramped planes.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Glad you liked my L-1011 video and thanks for your comments about the aircraft. Yeah, too many cramped seats these days!

[@CoolAce1]

I agree!

[@FBWFTW]

My very first flight was BOS-STL on a TWA L10… They had us in the middle in the back… Under the #2. I couldn’t see what was happening to me, lost my 💩 on takeoff (I was 3-4 ish years old) and to this day, I insist on having a window seat. I did get eggs pancakes and sausage for breakfast on that BOS-STL flight tho, which apparently made me stop crying.

[@MVR326]

11:06- music to my ears. Proud and former TWA employee here

[@MrCraigblaze]

I liked the outfit's the flight crew wore between 1968 - 1971 .. XD

[@MrCraigblaze]

Do you have to listen to that to all the way where you were going ?? XD

[@austindarrenor]

Flew TWA trans Atlantic on the 707 many times (one of the prettiest airplanes ever built). Godspeed TWA.

[@MrCraigblaze]

@@austindarrenor And Pam am was good too . XD

[@austindarrenor]

@@MrCraigblaze Speaking of flight attendants' uniforms, I remember for a short time the gals wore gold mini-skirts on TWA. Google imaged it but nothing like what I remember showed up.

[@take942]

In 1979, I took my first trip to California. I flew on a TWA L-1011 from Boston to San Francisco by way of LAX. It was what we used to call a "red eye" flight at night. We stopped over at LAX for 30 minutes before heading up to SFO on the same plane. I'll never forget how on the flight from LAX to SFO the plane was empty of passengers except for myself and two other people. We were amazed how it was just us three on that large wide body jet flying up to San Francisco, feeling like it was our own private plane. It was fun!. A very rare occurrence these days, if ever at all. I always enjoyed flying on the L-1011 powered by those great Rolls Royce engines.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Wow! What an experience on a TWA L-1011. Seems like that flight from LA to SF was more or less a "dead head movement" (as we say in the railroad industry). Thanks for relating this experience!

[@FBWFTW]

Flew ATL-TPA late night on a Delta L10… We had gotten bumped and they put us in first class. Nice china, with an appetizer of cheese and crackers plus a soup and sandwich plus warm cookies dessert on an hourlong flight… The good old days of flying!!! Plane was a Rocketship-maybe 50 or so people!

[@dlane5292]

Never been on large jumbo with few on board, but I've had a few 737 flight on Delta with as few as 25 aboard.

[@Howrider65]

I Miss TWA and the L1011s and the 80s and 90s when flying was fun...

[@zemog9715]

they were the best RIP TWA you'll always be in my heart

[@austindarrenor]

If I had a time machine the first thing I'd do is go back to the 1950's and take a cross country flight on a TWA Super Connie.

[@kendallevans4079]

Eastern L-1011s were so cool also. Delta used them right up to the end for LAX-Oahu flights. I remember flying on those near the end of their use and sitting over the wing it looked like there was duct tape on much of the wing! I know it wasn't duct tape and probably safe but still it looked weird

[@austindarrenor]

@@kendallevans4079 Duct tape holding the wing together, hahaha. You know you're flying Alaska when you're at the gate and you see the pilot out there banging on one of the engines with a wrench.

[@austindarrenor]

@@kendallevans4079 I generally didn't like the unpainted style that AA had for so long. But Eastern did it right, beautiful.

[@DieselDucy]

Back when you could fly anywhere from STL. TWA was amazing.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Yep, back when TWA had one of its hubs at STL.

[@dlane5292]

The clarity of the video is awesome. I'd have to say this is the best L1011 video I've yet seen. Thanks for sharing the awesome memories of how it was 🙂

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Glad you liked it!

[@brianseraus1091]

Ow goodness, such a melancholy seeing this. Flying was still romantic in the early nineties. Love the video.

[@yolandaandrews4914]

Life was so much simpler then.💯

[@doriangabrielmaysonet4278]

Ĺlĺ

[@doriangabrielmaysonet4278]

P P

[@tmmaston]

Back when flying still had class. Nobody telling people their weave make them smell like a river rat or telling them.their weave is being held together with Elmer's glue.

[@dianecrowder4971]

Brings back memories when I used to fly TWA with my parents since my dad worked for TWA out of JFK airport for over 35 years right up until the demise of TWA! There will never be another airline like TWA!👏👍👌💪✈😎

[@kathryneast6919]

Flew to Europe on TWA L1011 Tri Stars back in the ‘80.Excellent planes

[@44jonest]

To this day, the 1011 is my favorite airplane to ride as a passenger

[@frmphxaz84]

If that 4pm time stamp at landing was still central time then 6 year old me was watching the clock to get out of Mrs. Smith's 1st grade class at Orangewood Elementary several miles north of Sky Harbor. My Grandpa, God rest his soul lived in Scottsdale and from his back patio I watched countless planes come and go from there. Thanks for sharing.

[@eddiekachnik3144]

I remember in late 80s flying on L1011 from Phoenix to Las Vegas in late evening after it arrived from New York. I felt lucky and free to be on such a giant of a plane with few passengers. I loved TWA the people where very nice to a young college kid going home.

[@timk.9827]

I remember doing that same late night flight to vegas after it arrived from new york, Only time I flew on a L1011 So cool!

[@danedmiston7734]

Love this! Brings back some fond memories of my dad and me for I was taking dad on a father and son trip to Vegas in March of 1991 out of St. Louis. The TWA L1011 we were scheduled on was over booked so I went up to the agent at TWA and she said you and your dad will not have a problem.As we boarded we were escorted to First Class. Wow!!! Dad has been gone since 1994 and I will never forget this trip with him. Thank you TWA even though your not around anymore.

[@jamiejansen9518]

I really miss TWA...I flew on TWA Super Constellation in 1953 to California. I was in the Air Force going to Alaska for 4 years.....

[@johnwilliamson5191]

your right Dan ,it's changed alot. It's a real shame the city pushed out the good folks in Bridgeton, for that runway.

[@crocodile1313]

@@johnwilliamson5191 Totally true! Then, as soon as the new runway was built, American (which had purchased TWA) promptly pulled their STL hub. Disgusting.

[@crocodile1313]

Dan Edmiston-- Such a good story. Thanks for brightening my night a bit my friend! 😊

[@fukawininetynine5999]

Dan Edmiston We are still around, and you’re welcome. I was lucky enough to be a Flight Engineer on the TWA TriStar from 1985 through 1987. Went from a little commuter turboprop to this bird and was in awe. Fantastic machine.

[@21299]

I was a cargo and US Customs broker in Phoenix in the 1980s and 90's and beyond. I swear to you that I was standing by the fence at cargo WATCHING this VERY plane go by and admiring the L1011. Wow this is freakin me out.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Small world!

[@jertzie]

Look at the beautiful F-4s! Great bit of aviation history here! Thanks.

[@Chios82100]

I had the privilege and honor of flying in a L-1011 in 1998 from Toronto Canada to Athens Greece onboard Air Transat... Probably my most memorable flight... That sounds and that awesome cruising speed! ... I've done that flight countless times and that L1011 still holds the record at 8 hours 54 minutes. The L1011 symbolized the golden era of flying, when flying held a certain prestige when every seat was cushioned for total comfort and had an ashtray and the airline food was actually good, because we lived in better times.... Seems like planes are getting slower and alot more uncomfortable with these transit bus style seats, all they care about is profits. Make the seats smaller, less leg room, jam as many seats into an aircraft as possible, charge an arm and a leg for baggage, serve disgusting barely eatable food, charge extra for drinks and then fly slow... There was a time people hoped their flights were longer because they enjoyed being on the plane... Now people can't wait to get off the plane.... How sad.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Thanks for your relating your experience of flying aboard an L-1011 back in the late 1990s. I gather that was an Air Canada Tri-Star seeing that your flight to Athens was out of Toronto. I think one of the things that directly led to the loss of "the golden era of flying," at least in the U.S., was the deregulation of the airline industry starting in the 1970s. Before deregulation, airfares were controlled by the Federal government. This was the time of the expensive passenger seats and the REALLY expensive seats (first class). Consequently, those that flew were either business travelers, the wealthy or for the average individual, saving for a relatively long time to fly somewhere and back on a trip. Deregulation brought direct fare competition amongst the airlines leading to lower fares and now it was more affordable for folks to fly somewhere. For an airline to survive, it now has to cram in as many seats as possible and eliminate as much as possible such as meals and no extra charge for suitcases. By the way, even when growing up as a kid in the 1960s I remember airline food always being put down except for those flying first class. But as one who worked for American Airline's subsidiary "Sky Chiefs" at Chicago's O'Hare Field in 1974, most if not all of the food was pretty good even for those in coach. Anyway, "Happy Landings" for any of your future air travel!

[@LupeCoded]

This some classic throwback aviation footage, before cell phones and all that. All of this was epic.

[@jimg7318]

Excellent video!! The first time I flew on this big bird was in 1992. I got to my seat and looked around at the completely filled cabin and thought, how is this thing going to fly with just three engines. 10 seconds down the runway and I had my answer. What a powerful and beautiful plane. Still my all time favorite.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Thanks for your recollection of your 1st flight on an L-1011. It was indeed "a powerful and beautiful bird."

[@jawoody9745]

Those beautiful Rolls-Royce Engines!

[@superflyer991]

RR engines are way too easy to identify, very iconic noise.

[@mach533x]

yup. thats what makes them great. that mean growl.

[@conni70]

Boeing still uses them .

[@Ignignokt5150]

The groan of the RB-211s during startup is most gratifying to my ears .. Nice shot of a UPS DC8-73F at the end too . I miss seeing those .

[@VB-0015]

Not as good as the pratt and whitteny JT9d-7AW

[@BertBotta]

Man, loved that low "roar" when we shoved the throttles up for takeoff! So many great memories in that bird, especially the ones surrounding the galley elevator! Thanks for the memories, Dan!

[@johnfarr2738]

Sitting in the back or over the wings engines were loud

[@borninjordan7448]

My father was also an L-1011 pilot for TWA. Arthur Cox. Did you ever meet him?

[@desertbob6835]

That galley elevator comes up quite frequently from reminiscences of various L-1011 crew members. The Tristar was a fabulous bird...best heavy by far in severe WX, strong as an ox, not a glob of jelly like a BA or a DC -10.

[@DylanAmalfitano]

When I was a kid my father, a mechanic for TWA, took me on a tour of an L-1011 and we "raced" each other in the galley elevator. I'll never forget it, priceless memory. Lovely plane.

[@Mark-yf7ql]

I had the pleasure of flying on the L-1011 back in the early 90's. Of the many flights i have taken in my life , the one i will never forget was on a L-1011. We hit severe windshear on that flight and the pilots and the plane performed flawlessly.

[@doriangabrielmaysonet4278]

Moolah p00⁰

[@doriangabrielmaysonet4278]

P

[@doriangabrielmaysonet4278]

😊

[@DowntownCanon]

So cool seeing all those Tri Stars lined up.

[@leathomas9983]

Can’t beat the buzz of those RB211s

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Yes, they had a sound all their own.

[@rickohler8593]

All that headroom! Wow. Makes a huge difference without the over head bins down the middle.

[@alexmartin0824]

I must say, you are doing the lords work my friend by sharing these vintage videos of airplanes with us. Thanks for a great video!

[@JSmith-zr2ve]

Alex Martin 🙄

[@Mostopinionatedmanofalltime]

Lord's work.

[@ericjahnke7996]

Back when flying on a plane was an experience, nowadays it's a hassle to get to the destination.

[@yolsclassics6347]

Eric Jahnke flying is awful these days.. too damn cramped.

[@AlonsoRules]

blame ETOPS and budget airlines

[@frankgrimesification]

@@AlonsoRules Do you even know what ETOPS stands for? Without ETOPS (extended twin engine operations), 767, 777, 787, and A350 would not be legally allowed to fly long haul trans oceanic flights. If any of the above types are cramped, it's due to how the individual airline configures the cabin, not due to the ETOPS certifcation.

[@Spyke-lz2hl]

A hassle to be flown non stop between more cities than ever, more efficiently than ever, and safer than ever? That’s a hassle? Average wait time for TSA is less than 10 minutes, so hopefully that’s not what you were referencing. Also, coach leg room hasn’t changed, but the ergonomics of the seats has gotten exponentially better. Also, don’t forget, people were allowed to smoke on these planes back in the “good old days”. Some people look at the last through rose colored glasses.

[@Spyke-lz2hl]

reverse thrust You don’t like facts do you? Sorry to offend you.

[@aviationvideos]

This has been added to my KZbin favourites. What a fantastic piece of aviation history. TWA was the airline that got me interested in aviation. I was lucky to get to STL a few times and fly TWA a handful of times (from UK). Seeing and hearing so much of the L1011 AND TWA in this video was great. I loved the rolling takeoff and roar of those engines and the views of so many L1011s and 727s. In a few years these were replaced by 757. Thanks for posting the video. 👍

[@heyitstinsac]

Oh my gosh!! I love this video. I loved TWA. I rode on an L1011 a few times. It seems like you're in the same seat I was. "Leading the way TWA"!

[@motten78]

As some who lives in phoenix I still fly American a lot. I can always spot the TWA flight attendants. Please keep the legacy you are the best

[@duanequam7709]

Boy does that bring back memories. In the late 80s I made many trips from Atlanta to Frankfurt on Deltas L1011 s What an amazing airplane. Like someone else else has said here ,flying was fun. Now it's only work. Thanks for the memories.

[@brianstebbins5130]

I loved the L-1011, I flew one time from Salt Lake City to LAX February 1991. Delta Airlines, what a beautiful plane

[@EM-od6gu]

Great video. It’s like we are there experiencing this like u did. I was a teen in 91 but was well acquainted with both Lambert and Sky Harbor airports. I was only able to fly twice on TWA L1011 from PHX to Vegas and back in 89. It’s so sad to see the once mighty Lambert field reduced to Southwest 737’s and other smaller jets and lots of empty space. I remember Lambert used to be filled with Jumbos and no empty space!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

A lot of airlines that used to fly into Lambert are also gone such as TWA, Ozark and Eastern.

[@domjohnm]

A lot of memories returning. Man I miss terminal 2. TWA used to fly the L10-11 to Vegas from PHX. Last flight out at night, first flight back in the AM. Flew 707's from PHX to Lambert and it's wood panelled corridors. Great stuff. Thank You!

[@frankgrimesification]

I used to love flying TWA and having the flight attendant serve me some delicious TWA tea.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Mondo Duke And the food was good not like today rubbish .

[@fukawininetynine5999]

😆 Got that!

[@cheddarpig]

I was a TWA new hire flight engineer on the L10 in the early 90s for several years. Brings back memories.

[@DrSeuss-nv9hw]

The L1011...unlatched forever.

[@BradRoss63]

Man, did I love the L-1011 - it was the first plane trip for me at the age of 11. Miss it to this day!

[@cobolsaurus]

My first trip at that same age was on a DC-8. I never flew Tristars, always DC-10s. I guess I was a McDonnell Douglas boy =-)

[@debearp2721]

Wow, I loved working on this aircraft! I miss my TWA family!

[@jrbflymeful]

The L1011 was the best ac to fly! Kudos to the manufacturer and more so to the interior design. The most flight attendant friendly ac I’ve ever worked!

[@craigpennington1251]

Tri Star, big luxurious, and super cool aircraft. They were really nice. Too bad TWA and the L-1011 are gone. Miss them both. Outstanding video of your flight. I used to live just 8 miles East of STL International Airport or Lambert Field as we called it. Flew in and out many times. That airport changed looks from 1960 to when this was filmed.

[@terryduncan5718]

Flew back from LAX to BWI in 1973 on a L1011....so smooth didnt feel like l was even on a jet...One of my top 5 jets !!!

[@JSmith-zr2ve]

My first plane and airline. Flew Indy to Denver back in 1981. Loved that plane.

[@mmichaelnowell1512]

Excellent video!!!!!!! Lots of good memories!!!!😅

[@visionist7]

I'm happy there's at least one video of a TWA flight on KZbin! Look how many planes they had! :-0 They must surely have seemed "too big to fail" at the time. I was born in 88 so I still remember when flying was an experience, not an ordeal. 9/11 ruined everything.

[@ndegepilot]

Awesome! Apart from the plane itself its amazing to see how the Phoenix metro area has grown since 1991. All the desert and farmland seen in this video on the arrival from the east is now all built up and very much in the metro area.

[@danka2000]

I know right? My family and I were living in Phoenix in 1991. There is another video this poster put up with take off from Phoenix. You can see at the time the new terminal 4 which was just months old as it opened in late 1990. Today thermal 4 is way larger, you have Phoenix sky train now. Terminal 3 redone and terminal 2 where this plane parks at at end of video was recently closed and demolished. At time too of this flight, Sky Harbor had two runways, today it has 3 and way more traffic now. I live in Phoenix today again and yes way bigger more freeways.

[@danka2000]

And on the farmland, I was at Texas Roadhouse at power rd and Santan freeway. Was just thinking where all that shopping is today, was farmland.

[@1867Phoenix]

The 1990s when there were more airlines, more hubs in the Midwest and those airlines had bigger planes! This route is probably handled by a Southwest 737-800 or American Airlines A320 now. It was around this time you could fly an America West 747-200 from Phoenix to Honolulu and on to Nagoya,Japan. Great video!

[@johnfarr2738]

1867Phoenix TWA’s hubs were JFK and St. Louis.

[@KingTriton1837]

John Farr he wasn't talking specifically about TWA. He was talking about the Midwest because this flight originated at Lambert.

[@crocodile1313]

Why does flying suck so bad now? I know the reasons, but isn't it nice to look back when the US had like 10 major airlines and they actually had to compete for their customers. Now, the big 3 act like they are doing us a favor by allowing us on their crammed, sardine tube! These mergers have to stop or we will only have one state-run airline like Aeroflot in Russia. 😧

[@bbmm6154]

@@crocodile1313 Even Aeroflot is better than American & United these days! Bring back TWA, Pan AM & Eastern

[@crocodile1313]

@@bbmm6154 Amen brother!

[@gw78787]

That was an absolutely awesome video! Thanks for putting it together! Wish there was one like this on the DC8!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Glad you really enjoyed my L-1011 video. Yeah, I too wish I had a DC-8 flight video on KZbin. I do, however, have video on my KZbin channel of other airliner flights. These include, another TWA L-1011 flight (PHX to STL), AA MD-80 (ATL to ORD), TWA DC-9-30 (ORD-STL), UAL 727-200 landing at ORD, Stinson tri-motor flight at Oshkosh, WI and flights on the Save-A-Connie Super Constellation between Kansas City, MO and several Chicago area airports.

[@MrPonca77]

Miss those L1011s they were such graceful looking machines, great video of north St Louis county.

[@markfoster4772]

Love the L1011. Splendid plane. First flew on one from London to Cincinnati in 1996.

[@dennymac94]

I never got to fly on a L1011, but I did fly into STL each summer to visit my dad. Back then, we flew eIther TWA or Ozark from LGA, so we usually flew on DC-9s. Now I live near STL and fly a lot for work, but no flight today will ever compare to those days. I still feel nostalgic when I see older shots of Lambert with full gates and lots of traffic. Great video. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

[@Coaljet]

Great video. Also happy that smoking aboard aircraft is thankfully history.

[@mamaharper8883]

You can hear all the coughing from the second hand smoke

[@DomoniqueMusiclover]

@@mamaharper8883 yes

[@DomoniqueMusiclover]

Definitely

[@larrydockery7201]

i worked on the l-1011 back in 70 - 80 one of the best airplane ever built yet to day

[@austindarrenor]

Working on the L-1011 would be the kind of job where I would look forward to arriving at work on Monday mornings.

[@coletrickle581]

If I recall correctly, the L-1011 never crashed due to mechanical failure. Very good plane with great engines

[@bmused55]

A plane far ahead of it's time. Almost criminal how few were sold.

[@desertbob6835]

@@bmused55 You can blame the Brits for that mess, as well as Lockheed senior management. That bird should've run Douglas right out of the heavy market.

[@RWernsing]

One of my favorite airplanes! The engine sounds so unique! Delta used to have 10 L1011 flights from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale when I 1st moved down to Florida and they served a full dinner service to the entire 1st class cabin during that 90 minute flight I was always amazed

[@visionist7]

Wow imagine something like that today

[@DrSeuss-nv9hw]

@@visionist7 ...Yeah, today you might draw a 50 seat regional jet, with a lone, disinterested, 19 year old Flight Attendant and lavatories so small that you can't stand up straight.

[@mtmac57]

That beautiful aircraft and the gone by days of flying, when it was a pleasure, as a couple have said. It was a special experience. Now it takes longer to deal with the hassles of a modern day airport, than the flight itself. It is basically Greyhound of the skies nowadays thanks to operators like Southwest. Thanks to the contributor for this excellent film of what it was, in what was, the friendly skies.

[@jimbranca1565]

Eastern was the first time i flew on an L10 11 great plane!!!

[@Mr6384]

Same here MIA to LAX 1981

[@AudioFileZ]

Delta, Atlanta to Hawaii w/ stop in LA or Dallas...and back. Rode way in back on way home but didn't mind. We had some turbulence over the Pacific that probably would have been substantial had we not been traveling in such a stable aircraft.

[@xdblx7466]

Making flight reports before KZbin exist. I love this man👍

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Back in the days when you video recorded for your own personal archives.

[@xdblx7466]

Dan Uscian an without a small and light GoPro ;)

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@xdblx7466 Sure would have been great to have had a smaller video camera at the time. Had to use my then new, enormous (relatively speaking), Montgomery Ward, Signature 2000 HQ 8X zoom, video camera.

[@Mostopinionatedmanofalltime]

I flew from Miami to Panama on an Eastern Airlines L-1011 in 1987. This brings back great memories!

[@jws2885]

I have found my new favorite video on youtube, nice capture of the wonderful/unique sounds of the L-1011-1/100 from all 3 engines from startup to landing! Thanks for uploading Dan!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

+JW's Guess you're a big fan of the L-1011! Great to read you really enjoyed it. The video may be a little long (trimmed out about 7 extra minutes, all exterior shots of landscapes), but it pretty much captures the sights and sounds of a TWA TriStar flight as experienced from a passenger seat.

[@jws2885]

+Dan Uscian Yes sir, worked on it for many years with DL. Most of them we knew by the tail number and we remembered the quirks of each of them by that...lol. It was a joy to ride in!

[@dmcnamara9859]

+JW's If only Lockheed bean counters had not been so arrogant to discount the upcoming A300 then,it(the L-1011) would have had a long life. A twin engine L-1011 variant was originally to be offered alongside the Triple...but Lockheed being Lockheed laughed-off the viability of Large Twins. And then, RR as the only engine...pretty much sealed its fate from the beginning.Far more successful (in terms of volume) DC10/MD variants (let's not forget) was always offered with the far more fuel efficient,lighter, easier/cheaper to maintain-repair,more powerful, CF6.

[@pauljames5914]

Why did that engine have such an abnormal sound like it had a bad bearing or something?

[@assaultislove]

I flew on one of these from STL to LAX in 1993. A very fine plane indeed. I was lucky to fly L-1011's on TWA and Delta

[@franciscoj.sepulvedal.7975]

Great video Sir, TWA an iconic airline. The L1011 was a badass plane! A beautiful plane like a nice woman shape! My grandfather flew with TWA in the early in the 70s when flying was a pleasure. I still remember a TWA bag! Thanks

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Glad you liked the video! Another earlier Lockheed product, the Constellation series, had a nice shape with its dolphin shaped fuselage and triple tail.

[@MrHenstep1]

Twenty-five years ago, seems like yesterday. I even remember when that gate in Phoenix was being built for the Tristar. Times have changed in air travel, some good, most bad.

[@danka2000]

MrHenstep1 do you know what terminal that is? Wonder if that gate is still there today.

[@ehaddad6]

@@danka2000 Terminal 2 which just recently closed.

[@SirTime10]

@@ehaddad6 It's been completely demolished now, almost no sign that Terminal 2 was ever there anymore.

[@northguy9761]

Great video! Always loved the distinctive sound of those Rolls Royce engines on takeoff.

[@gary6463]

Such a neat video .Thanks for posting this .In 2003 we flew on a L-1011 on Pleasant Hawaiian Holiday Airline to Hawaii from LAX..Neat aircraft .Loved hearing those engines power up to full throttle when we took off..Excellent Video ✈👍🏻

[@reyknudson7091]

Ohh Man, Thanks for Posting this video! It reminds me of the time in June of 1978 when I took a flight from L.A.X. to J.F.K Airport on a TWA L-1011! I was seated in the rear (smoking section). I could see from the window the #1 Engine. I could hear the #2 Engine spool up just before the takeoff roll! It WAS AWESOME!! R.K. 7/30/2021. B.T.W. I'll save this to my Aviation Videos! Thanks Again for Posting this video!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Thanks for your comments and glad to read this video apparently brought back some fond traveling by air memories for you!

[@FlyDog79]

Thank you for this video! My favorite airplane and airline of all time. The TWA L-1011. Great memories!

[@bjmajor]

Thank you so much for taking this video and what you covered. This is my favorite airplane model, hands down, and I believe one of the finest aircraft ever produced. Pity they are not flying now for passengers to enjoy, I'd sure love to board one again.

[@austindarrenor]

The L-1011 was one of the most beautiful airplanes ever built. I would say after that was the 707 and Super Connie.

[@areaone3813]

It’s always a treat to see your shadow on the ground. An wow them engines are loud.

[@DieselDucy]

18:00 an elevator on a plane!

[@DanielUscian]

Yes!

[@lynnmcbride2425]

I have watched this video several times, and it's just interesting to see how times have changed in flying. I had a wonderful and fortunate time flying Salt Lake City to Dallas in the 90s on the L-1011. They were de-icing the planes, and it looked like a lone wolf was around the runways. Majestic plane, yes unbelievable power for such a huge airliner. I loved this experience. This video captures it all.

[@lynnmcbride2425]

Thanks for such a wonderful and historic video!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@lynnmcbride2425 Glad you enjoyed my TWA L-1011 video from so many years ago. Was that a Delta L-1011 you flew on from Salt Lake City to Dallas? And yes, the word "majestic" exactly captures the image of an L-1011.

[@AK-fe4sq]

Nothing like the sound of those engines.

[@lrg8734]

None of the Air Canada Tristars I flew on ever made that buzzing sound, and that's going back to 1976. My last L-1011 flight was in 1994 on a Dash 500 from YYZ to YVR (Air Canada green tail livery). It was the only time my then young son flew on one. A pity that Lockheed no longer designs and builds its own airliners.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

N747PA commented here that the buzz sound may be coming from a leaking L2 door seal as you only hear it when the L-1011 is airborne. Guess Air Canada paid more attention to the condition of the door seals on their Tristars! Anyway, the return flight on an TWA L-1011 from Phoenix to St Louis which I also uploaded to KZbin lacks the buzz sound (perhaps helps that I was seated on the opposite side of the fuselage).

[@mehmetokay7073]

I remember seeing an Air Canada L 1011 landing at Buffalo back in the winter of 77-78. I was 14 and had just become a spotter that past August after a flight in an Allegheny DC-9 from BUF to EWR. I was on the ground in the parking lot at Eastern Hills Mall when I saw the Tristar approaching. It was snowing. It went right over me. I saw the maple 🍁 leaf on the tail. I heard the sound of the buzz saw. I didn't even know that Air Canada didn't even fly into BUF until after I received the timetable in the mail that I ordered from their 800 number as soon as I got home that afternoon. Looking back, it was either a diversion from YYZ or, most likely, an NHL charter flying a team in to play the Sabres that night at the Aud.

[@dino6904]

Absolutely! The L1011 was my favorite and I always chose it when I could from Atlanta. Flew from ATL to Maui and Honolulu a few times.

[@mdmnmdllr]

Always loved the sound of the RR RB-211s as they spooled up ... very comforting sound, easy to sleep to, as they settled in and the plane cruised along!

[@uptowngirluptowngirl]

Dan, thanks for share this video with us! I miss these airplanes !

[@michaeldunne7139]

Enjoyed that thanks. My one and only Tristar flight was in May 1990, London to JFK. It was a TWA flight but the plane had Gulf Air markings (some arrangement between them at the time). Loved that flight as it was my first trip to NY. As for your buzzing sound, at first I thought it was an engine sound, which could explain why it stopped on touchdown when they cut engines. I have once experienced a slightly different buzz when filming on an A320 - it was the inner window pane vibrating. I'd be concerned if there was leaking door seal!!!!

[@EsotericDesi]

Great piece of aviation history... :) Loss of TWA was a big hit to American passengers... since now we have just 4 big companies controlling over 85% of the air travel market...

[@nenblom]

Great video and great airline! In 1986, me and a friend flew with TWA from New York’s JFK Airport to Copenhagen, Denmark via Amsterdam and back. Great flight! We were actually traveling to my native country of Sweden where we stayed for two months. That was onboard a TWA Boeing 747-100.

[@jawoody9745]

The video camera used for this must have been an expensive acquisition back in the day. "Thank you for flying Trans World Airlines." I remember it well.

[@RobStitt]

Seriously, that's amazing quality for that era!!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I agree, the camera played back the sound portion rather nicely. A great feature of it for its time. The video camera I used was a Montgomery Ward Signature 2000. I purchased it at Ward's in mid 1990 and it was a bit pricey at around $850.00 at the time. It was rather large and shoulder mounted giving it a bit of a professional look. It also was a bit cumbersome to operate while onboard an airliner seated and pointing it towards the window. I have to laugh looking back when I shot this video on that L-1011. I believe the individual sitting next to me was a Japanese businessman and he had this expression on his face that pretty much said, "how the hell did I get seated next to this crazy guy with his huge video camera!"

[@hiddenhotsprings]

I think the mongomery ward camera was most likely a private label Panasonic or JVC camera.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

You're probably right as there were just a few video camera manufacturers at the time.@@hiddenhotsprings

[@MattsAviationChannel]

AWESOME! Thanks for sharing this good old times of aviation! Cheers Matt

[@doug9066]

The days of noisy engines, I love it which now days people complain about noisy engines on tht MD-80/90 jets. I've liked planes since I was a kid & those who don't complain about everything now days. I flew on a Delta Air Lines L-1011 in Dec 1983 & loved it. Excellent video, I really enjoyed & thank you for sharing. God Bless!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Thanks and glad your really enjoyed the L-1011 video. To me, the really noisy jetliners were the Boeing 707s, Douglas DC-8s and Convair 880s when the first came out with their non-fan jet engines in the late 1950s and early 60s. Those planes were sometimes painful to the ears if your were close to them, especially if you were a young kid.

[@doug9066]

@@WAL_DC-6B I wasn't born until 1967 but I did see some videos of those planes from 1961 on one & 1962 on another video. Those smokey engine which I remember those smokey engines in the 70's when I was a kid, the good old days.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@doug9066 I got you beat by 10 years so as a kid growing up near Chicago's O'Hare Field I got to witness most of the new jetliners and even turbo-props coming out back then not to mention the demise of the radial piston engine airlines like the Douglas DC-6 and Lockheed Constellation. Yeah, really the good old days!

[@doug9066]

@@WAL_DC-6B I happen to see a video on KZbin earlier at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in the 60's. That sure sounded interesting especially living close to an airport. When we lived in Minnesota & every time we pass through the Twin Cities on a road trip to Mason City, Iowa to visit my grandparents (my mother's parents) the Interstate we were on would go past Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport I could see the Northwest Orient jets parked by the fence at the location of the hangar & i think the same for North Central Airlines too. Great memories of classic aircraft.

[@mrblujet]

This is a great video ! My Dad was based in STL for many years when he was with TWA. I went through there on several occasions. Thanks for sharing.

[@KenPryor]

I miss TWA and the days when STL was a hub. Great video!

[@danburgdorf6428]

Thank you for this glimpse back to when KSTL was a "real" airport. Seeing it today, is such a far cry from what it was! Thanks American and Carl Icahn.......

[@scruffylee]

loved seeing the interior of the plane this was a very good trip into the past

[@46monkeyes]

I loved the the L 1011 ✈️👍🏼 Great video of a classy bird! Your camera had some good zoom, too

[@vizio32]

At minute 9:00 , do all 1011 land on what appears to me an unusual high angle of attack ???

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Good question. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable on flying L-1011s can provide an answer.

[@vizio32]

@@WAL_DC-6B Just read that the L1011 flew with a slight up nose attitude (nose facing up a few degrees) the bottom of the body provided something like 15% lift so perhaps it landed with a slight nose up ??. Yes perhaps someone versed on the matter can clarify

[@HerrinSchadenfreude]

2:12 the view I grew up from the seat in the fuselage position I always took with the airline that made this, my favorite plane, the only choice for flying. I miss this whole era from the 70's to the late 80's early 90's. It was the best.

[@BlobBoi]

The days when aviation had the best looking planes of all time

[@lucillesmithers4042]

Loved This Aircraft. I used to Fly NYC-STL on The L 10-11 Then to Phoenix. Back Again. She was Queen of The Sky then. The Crew was always Wonderful to Me. We Enjoyed Meals on Each Flight. Back then People could Smoke in The Back Rows. The first Time I Boarded this L 10-11 I wondered how it Would Even Take Off. I miss TWA and I Miss This Aircraft

[@wyomingbullfighter]

Great video. I remember when STL was a hub for TWA. Now the airport is really dead. Thanks for bringing back the memories!!!!!

[@ccwalker050]

WOW! I remember flying the TWA L-1011 out of then Stapleton international Airport in Denver non-stop to JFK. Loved the L-1011 whether it was TWA or Eastern or Delta. Great video!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@N747PA]

The "buzz" sound may be coming from a leaking L2 door seal, it seems you were only one row away. Notice that the "buzz" stops right before touchdown, right when the pressurization controller opens the outflow valves dumping the cabin pressure. Thanks for filming and posting this. It brings back many memories of flying and working on the TriStar.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

+N747PA Thanks for your mechanical interpretation of the potential source of that "buzz" sound heard during this L-1011 flight. I've heard the same sound on another KZbin video TriStar (Delta, I believe) flight. That may also explain why my return L-1011 Phoenix to St Louis flight, also on KZbin, lacks this buzz sound as I was on the right side of the aircraft.

[@incheon]

Thanks for clarifying that, I can hear the "buzzsaw" and the other buzz wondering what it is.

[@HerrinSchadenfreude]

It will never stop being the coolest to read something like this from someone so familiar with their plane that they can diagnose it without even being there to do the diagnostic. Especially three decades after the fact! 💫

[@fernandosalas8589]

My 1991 my last year in high school at this same time I went to Orlando to see a flight school, Eastern also had the L1011s and got to go to Orlando in an L1011 but I had a camera and took pictures and still have the negatives. Nice video thank you for sharing.

[@chooch1995]

Fantastic video! My first flight ever was aboard an Eastern L-1011 - what a great plane! Hard to believe TWA is gone - Carl Icahn used it as his personal cash station machine & ran it into the ground.....pathetic. Thanks for preserving this time capsule!

[@TWA-km9wt]

The demise of TWA can be traced back to the failed leadership of Icahn. It was thru his mismanagement of the airline, and selling of assets in particular, that ultimately would lead to the bleeding of millions of dollars, which resulted in a bankruptcy that TWA would never recover from. This eventually opened the door for a takeover by AA, and would guarantee the cease of TWA Operations forever.

[@mikeprevost8650]

@@TWA-km9wt didn't the TWA pilots go to the bottom of the seniority list at AAL, after the takeover?

[@DrSeuss-nv9hw]

The TWA employees negotiated a 15% pay cut, so that the board of directors would choose Carl Ichan over Frank Lorenzo. The unions were more terrified by Lorenzo. This was like a choice between dying by electrocution or burning at the stake (Darth Vader vs. the Devil).

[@DrSeuss-nv9hw]

@@mikeprevost8650 ...I'm pretty sure that was the case, Mike. The TWA employees were not happy, but the alternative was worse.

[@philscholze6118]

I had many flights on the L1011 both TW and DL. Sure was always a comfortable flight. Nothing like the crap you have today. You could smoke, the F/A were all slim and attractive and passengers had MANNERS!

[@MrHenreee]

Phil Scholze we still have milkshakes and rascism, grandpa

[@highnumber9494]

Discwhizkid huh?

[@Mikeyp1054]

Apart from smoking I agree

[@Marcus.Robinson]

Smoking flights were rightly done away with

[@c2lredstone946]

"You could smoke..." I think you meant forcibly give lung cancer to everyone on board.

[@juancarlosnunezf96]

Beautiful! Thank you very much for posting this!

[@dlane5292]

Wow Sky Harbor looks so different.

[@rtraveler2004]

flew the L-1011 St. Louis to LAX and back in 1997! Loved these birds!!

[@CinderFox98]

Wow....just wow. Arizona looked so different.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Thanks for your comment! I gotta' get back and check out all the changes in AZ for myself.

[@UPGF54860]

This is the best all around L1011 video I have watched!!