Photos of L-1011s in the Desert
 stored and scrapped tristars
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All photos belong to their rightful owners and they may not be duplicated or used for any commercial purposes. Please view the photos just for your own pleasure. If you would like to submit a photo, please email them to Ryosuke Yano. Special thanks to all the photographers who made contributions.
November 2000 marked the 30th anniversary of the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. As of October 2001, only a little over 50 TriStars remained active. A growing number of first-generation widebodies, facing their twilight of their era, are being retired. All are initially flown to storage facilities, often in the desert, where the climate and conditions are suitable for airliners to be left inactive for a long period. A number of storage facilities are located in southwestern US, including Marana and Mojave, which have been doing this business for decades. Other facilities include Amarillo, Kingman, Roswell, Tucson, and the recently-popular Victorville. Airliners once stored all wait for their next assignment. Those that are snatched up by airlines that cannot afford to acquire new aircraft are fortunate, because all others that do not get the treatment are eventually reduced to scrap.
New Additions
April 18, 2005: IGM-021-022
Desert TriStars
Aircraft Date Storage Facility Photographer Photo ID
No more parts to remove from American Trans Air N178AT (msn 1008). June 1995 Amarillo Duncan Stewart AMA-001
A flock of Trans World Airlines L-1011s in storage. 1999 Kingman John Bixby IGM-001
Trans World Airlines N31023 (msn 1080) sitting in the scrapyard. February 2001 Kingman Walter Wilson IGM-002
Trans World Airlines N31031 (msn 1115) in storage. February 2001 Kingman Walter Wilson IGM-003
Tails of three Trans World Airlines L-1011s in storage. February 2001 Kingman Walter Wilson IGM-004
Trans World Airlines N31023 (msn 1080) and N31008 (msn 1028) in storage. February 2001 Kingman Walter Wilson IGM-005
Trans World Airlines N7036T (msn 1232) in storage. March 1999 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-006
Trans World Airlines N15017 (msn 1063) waiting for the chopper's ax. February 2001 Kingman Walter Wilson IGM-007
Trans World Airlines L-1011s in storage. March 1999 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-008
Trans World Airlines N31008 (msn 1028) being eaten by a caterpillar. October 2001 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-009
The remains of Trans World Airlines N31008 (msn 1028). October 2001 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-010
The cockpit section of Trans World Airlines N31008 (msn 1028) being chopped off. October 2001 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-011
The aft engine of Trans World Airlines N31008 (msn 1028) is gone. October 2001 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-012
The nose section of Trans World Airlines N15017 (msn 1063). May 2002 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-013
Trans World Airlines N15017 (msn 1063) rotting away in the Arizona sun. May 2002 Kingman Doug Scroggins IGM-014
Trans World Airlines N31023 (msn 1080) tanning in the Arizona sun. June 2003 Kingman Chris Coduto IGM-015
Memories of Trans World Airlines still languish at Kingman. June 2003 Kingman Scott Kerhaert IGM-016
Trans World Airlines N31023 (msn 1080), one of few ex-TWA L-1011s still remaining intact. June 2003 Kingman Scott Kerhaert IGM-017
Trans World Airlines N31023 (msn 1080) has been sitting here since 1997... June 2003 Kingman Scott Kerhaert IGM-018
How much will it cost to bring this Trans World Airlines N31023 (msn 1080) back into service? June 2003 Kingman Scott Kerhaert IGM-019
Trans World Airlines N15017 (msn 1063). Just a few weeks before being torn into pieces. It has been sitting here for many years. October 2003 Kingman Stephan Tophoven IGM-020
Trans World Airlines N15017 (msn 1063). Reported scrapped, but still standing intact... April 9, 2005 Kingman Scott Kerhaert IGM-021
Trans World Airlines N31023 (msn 1080). This aircraft will probably never fly again... April 9, 2005 Kingman Scott Kerhaert IGM-022
Worldways Canada N125DT (msn 1079) basking next to the Casinos. August 1996 Las Vegas Doug Scroggins LAS-001
A close up view of Worldways Canada N125DT (msn 1079) stored. August 1996 Las Vegas Doug Scroggins LAS-002
Rear section of Hawaiian Air EI-BTN (msn 1046) being slashed off. summer 1996 Mojave Duncan Stewart MHV-001
Delta Air Lines N782DL (msn 1006) sitting in the sand. late 1997 Mojave Duncan Stewart MHV-002
Faucett Peru OB-1504 (msn 1087) with wings and landing gear but no roof. 1997 Mojave Duncan Stewart MHV-003
Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) in storage. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-004
Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) sitting in the sand. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-005
Delta Air Lines N725DA (msn 1162) in storage. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-006
Delta Air Lines N752DA (msn 1172) basking in the sun. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-007
The cockpit of Delta Air Lines N752DA (msn 1172). June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-008
Delta Air Lines N783DL (msn 1009) in storage. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-009
Delta Air Lines N783DL (msn 1009) with its sisters. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-010
Delta Air Lines N784DA (msn 1038) missing all engines. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-011
Delta Air Lines N787DL (msn 1126) in storage. June 2001 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-012
Cockpit sections of a Delta Air Lines L-1011 and an Airbus A300. early 1997 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-013
Cockpit section of an unknown Delta Air Lines L-1011. early 1997 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-014
Delta Air Lines N785DL (msn 1121) in a bare-metal scheme. early 1997 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-015
Faucett Peru OB-1504 (msn 1087) being towed to the scrapyard. early 1997 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-016
Hawaiian Air EI-BTN (msn 1046) basking in the California sun. early 1994 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-017
Delta Air Lines N724DA (msn 1151) doesn't have a cockpit anymore. March 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-018
Delta Air Lines N724DA (msn 1151) doesn't have a tail anymore. March 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-019
The rear section of Delta Air Lines N724DA (msn 1151) is cut. March 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-020
What remained of the cockpit of Delta Air Lines N724DA (msn 1151). April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-021
The tail section of Delta Air Lines N724DA (msn 1151) is reduced to pieces. April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-022
Hawaiian Air N765BE (msn 1105) in storage. summer 1994 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-023
Orbital Sciences Corporation N140SC (msn 1067) in active storage. April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-024
The cockpit section of Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095). April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-025
Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095) being torn into pieces. April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-026
Pieces of Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095) are gathered in a pile. April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-027
The cockpit section of Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095). April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-028
A landing gear that came from Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095). April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-029
One of the RB211 engines that came from Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095). April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-030
The rear RB211 engine of Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095). April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-031
The cockpit section of Delta Air Lines N716DA (msn 1095). April 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-032
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) literally being trashed. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-033
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) being reduced to become Coca Cola cans? May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-034
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) being scrapped. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-035
The cockpit section of Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) is torn off. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-036
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) being scrapped with engines still on. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-037
The cockpit section of Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) is torn off. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-038
Looks like Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) is diving into the sand. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-039
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) being reduced to produce. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-040
No more things to take from the cockpit of Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126). May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-041
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) treated like garbage. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-042
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) being scrapped with engines still on. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-043
Nothing left inside Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126). May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-044
The cockpit section of Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) is no longer there. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-045
The cockpit section of Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) is no more. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-046
Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) is chopped where the underfloor galley is. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-047
Giant Delta Air Lines N787DA (msn 1126) being eaten by a caterpillar. May 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-048
Delta Air Lines N715DA (msn 1092) is now only a large tube. June 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-049
The remains of Delta Air Lines N715DA (msn 1092). June 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-050
Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) meets its final fate. August 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-051
Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) being reduced to pieces. August 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-052
Cockpit sections of Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) and N715DA (msn 1092) sit side by side. August 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-053
The interior of Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) is also broken into pieces. August 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-054
Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) being reduced to produce. August 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-055
One of the RB211 engines that was torn off from Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088). August 2002 Mojave Alan Radecki MHV-056
The crushing of Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) begins. August 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-057
The moment when the caterpillar ate into Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088). August 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-058
Two joined photos of Delta Air Lines N712DA (msn 1088) being scrapped. August 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-059
The cockpit section of ex-Delta N789DL (msn 1142) was saved for a museum. October 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-060
A portion of the forward section of ex-Delta N725DA (msn 1162) was saved for the movie SWAT. November 2002 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-061
Ex-Delta N783DL (msn 1009) sits in the middle of a scrapyard. This one is rather lucky, it will be saved for preservation. October 2003 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-062
Ex-Delta N783DL (msn 1009) is seen being broken up. Plans to preserve the aircraft failed due to a lack of funding. February 2004 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-063
Another photo of Ex-Delta N783DL (msn 1009) is seen being broken up. Always a sad sight. February 2004 Mojave Doug Scroggins MHV-064
Former British Airways L-1011s in storage. Early 1990s Mojave Mark S. Daniels MHV-065
Former British Airways L-1011s in storage. Early 1990s Mojave Mark S. Daniels MHV-066
All Nippon Airways JA8508 (msn 1099) receiving maintenance after arrival. April 1995 Marana Duncan Stewart MZJ-001
Trans World Airlines N41012 (msn 1034) awaits the chopper's ax. 1994 Marana Duncan Stewart MZJ-002
The cockpit section of Air Transat C-FTSI (msn 1032). April 2002 Marana Doug Scroggins MZJ-003
The cockpit of Air Transat C-FTSI (msn 1032). April 2002 Marana Doug Scroggins MZJ-004
The cockpit of Air Transat C-FTSI (msn 1032). April 2002 Marana Doug Scroggins MZJ-005
Rich International N302MB (msn 1129) in storage. early 1997 Roswell Duncan Stewart ROW-001
Rich International L-1011s lined up on the tarmac. early 1997 Roswell Duncan Stewart ROW-002
Air Sweden SE-DPR (msn 1231) in the corner. early 1995 Tucson Duncan Stewart TUS-001
Cathay Pacific VR-HOC (msn 1042) in storage. early 1995 Tucson Duncan Stewart TUS-002
Kampuchea Airlines XU-600 (msn 1043) right after arrival. spring 2001 Tucson Terry Nash TUS-003
Delta Air Lines N1731D (msn 1200) preparing for delivery to Orient Thai. spring 2001 Tucson Terry Nash TUS-004
Kampuchea Airlines XU-122 (msn 1221) is about to leave for its new home. spring 2001 Tucson Terry Nash TUS-005
Kampuchea Airlines XU-600 (msn 1043) still remains stored missing only its engines. July 2002 Tucson John Hewett TUS-006
A gathering of Delta Air Lines L-1011s. summer 2000 Victorville Duncan Stewart VCV-001
Delta Air Lines N768DL (msn 1216) still on the tarmac. October 2000 Victorville James Bixby VCV-002
A line of Delta Air Lines L-1011s on the west side. October 2000 Victorville James Bixby VCV-003
An impressive line of Delta Air Lines L-1011s. August 2001 Victorville Chris Coduto VCV-004
Delta Air Lines L-1011s bask in the California sun. August 2001 Victorville Chris Coduto VCV-005
American International N103CK (msn 1212) needs a little wash. spring 2001 Victorville Walter Wilson VCV-006
The tail section of American Trans Air N187AT (msn 1077). May 2002 Victorville Doug Scroggins VCV-007
The cockpit section of American Trans Air N187AT (msn 1077). May 2002 Victorville Doug Scroggins VCV-008
Parts being removed from American Trans Air N185AT (msn 1052). June 2002 Victorville Corey Robinson VCV-009
Former Delta Air Lines L-1011s in storage. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-010
A former Delta Air Lines L-1011-500 slowly giving up its parts. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-011
A flock of former Delta Air Lines L-1011s in storage. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-012
Former Delta Air Lines L-1011s in storage. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-013
Former Delta Air Lines L-1011s in storage. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-014
Kitty Hawk L-1011-200F N104CK (msn 1193) still in Kalitta livery. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-015
Kitty Hawk L-1011-200F N106CK (msn 1211) still in Kalitta livery. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-016
Kitty Hawk L-1011-200F N106CK (msn 1211) in deteriorating condition. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-017
Kitty Hawk L-1011-200F N107CK (msn 1182) still wearing partial British Airways livery. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-018
Former Delta Air Lines L-1011-1 N714DA (msn 1090) in storage. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-019
Former Delta Air Lines L-1011-500 N763DL (msn 1197) slowly being broken up. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-020
Former Delta Air Lines L-1011-1 N790DL (msn 1143) reported broken up in September 2004, but still there. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-021
TriStars of Delta and Kitty Hawk (nee Kalitta) lined up on the sand. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-022
Former Delta L-1011s parked in the desert. February 2005 Victorville Mark S. Daniels VCV-023
Editor's Note
This page was last updated on: April 18, 2005
Copyright (c) Ryosuke Yano.