Duke From Czech Republic, joined Sep 1999, 1108 posts, RR: 1 Posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 1152 times:
Air Transat had until recently a rather big fleet of L1011s, but has been retiring the long-body ones for awhile now. How much longer do you think the long-body few remaining ones will be around and what about the more recently acquired short body -500 ones? What do you think will replace them -only A310/A330s? I wonder until when I'll have a final chance to fly on one of their L1011s. I hope I'll have a chance to do so before the type goes out.
is the only L1011 operating out of here. Most of the time it sits at the north end waiting its next flight. Not that I exactly know but it will fly 2-4 days a week. I BELIEVE that its main role is to fill in for other downed aircraft, but i am sure it has a route or two in this busy winter season!
As far as getting a ride, I feel lucky in getting my last ride in one last christmas from MCO-YYZ, was C-FTSW, and trust me inside was looking very worn out. I loved the flight but its about time they got put down, OR a complete over haul of the interior is badly needed!
I am pretty sure that TS will be getting more A310's and A330's in the future. They seem to very pratical aircraft for the company and serves their needs quite well. I was on the A310 C-FDAT on the way down to MCO last chirstmas, and I would have to say, its not bad and I could handle an exit row seat on there for like 8 hours over the pond!
Grant
tdotphotography -- You know you are in tdot when all you do is photograph AC A320's!
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6377 posts, RR: 60 Reply 4, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 836 times:
They will be gone by April this year. They have been slowly retired from service, with very few remaining. I'd love to go for a final ride in this bird, but probably wont get the chance anymore. The A310's are replacing the L1011's. Remember, the industry is much different today than it was just a couple of years ago. Then, TS was getting more 500's and would use them until the end of this decade. But the capacity, and lack of spare parts has proven to be a poor mix in these times. The A310 cuts capacity, but offers greater flexibility for Air Transat. I'm also sure they can get them dirt cheap too.
Look for the new colours on the next A310 to join the fleet in the upcoming months.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Canuckpaxguy From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 1403 posts, RR: 55 Reply 5, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 650 times:
"... but its about time they got put down..."
Grant, you hit the nail on the head!!!
I flew on a TS L10 last year (YYZ-CUN). Three hour delay prior to departure due to mechanical issues...then we boarded and sat for another 45 minutes. I got a little nervous when a TS mechanic boarded the plane with a manual. (At least he didn't bring duct tape!!!).
Maybe the L10 were great planes in their day, but unfortunately I only flew them on TS. I can't share the fondness for the L10...I won't miss it.
AirbusfanYYZ From Canada, joined Oct 2002, 1337 posts, RR: 23 Reply 6, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 610 times:
Yeah I think that the 310s give them so much more flexibility and are cheaper to maintain. I never did fly on their L10's but I wish I could fly in one just once. I will miss them.
Fanofjets From United States, joined Apr 2000, 1677 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 544 times:
I saw an Air Transat L1011 at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ), on Jan. 2; most of the AT flights there, however, are operated by the carrier's A330s.
The aeroplane has unveiled for us the true face of the earth. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
SM777 From India, joined Nov 2003, 132 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 435 times:
The L1011 was one of the best aircraft to fly in from a passenger viewpoint - spacious, quiet, comfortable. Pity they are no longer around in most parts of the world.
I've flown on CX and BA L1011s way back in the '80s and more recently, on 4R-ULA/ULB/ULC/ULE (in 1998-99 when these beauties were flying with Air Lanka)
Each flight had an Engineer on board + a box of spares in the hold. I met this guy in AirLanka uniform once and he explained to me that since it was an old acft the L1011 needed attention after a long flight so he was there with his box of spares to fix anything that went wrong.......when Air Lanka had the L1011 as the mainstay of its long haul fleet, they earned the unfortunate sobriquet of "Usually Late"....for UL , which was Air Lanka's code (continues with Sri Lankan).....thanks to the technical problems.
One consolation is that while Delta's L1011s probably had 30 years+ of service with the airline, the much newer MD11s were retired soon after the L1011s !!
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6377 posts, RR: 60 Reply 10, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 348 times:
Duke, I'm afraid so. I've heard anywhere from March to May roughly. Don't expect to see any after that. Even now, it is very rare to see one flying at YYZ. Maybe one or two movements per day tops. Sorry, I hate to see them go too.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Gmonney From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 2082 posts, RR: 18 Reply 11, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 302 times:
CPDC10-30 I was in Orlando this year as well...ya great weather...was 85 when we got off in SFB and it was 85 when we got on in SFB. I was there from Dec 24- Jan 3rd.
I would have to say i am one of the lucky ones in the bunch, I have travel twice YYZ-LAS-YYZ on TS's L1011's, even one was in old colours! This was some time ago, and so my total time legs is 5 in an L1011. Even better is to stick one beside the super connie and make a restaurant out of it!! ha ha ha (for the guys in toronto)
Well missed but we need some more aircraft to photograph!
Grant
tdotphotography -- You know you are in tdot when all you do is photograph AC A320's!
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The interior was very nice, not looking worn down at all.
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