Lockheed L-1011 TriStar American Trans Air
Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar - American Trans Air (USA) - N195AT (MSN 193C-1041) - Frankfurt Rhein/Main Airport (FRA) - 1990s.
Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar - American Trans Air (USA) - N195AT (MSN 193C-1041) - Frankfurt Rhein/Main Airport (FRA) - 1990s.
American Trans Air (ATA, later ATA Airlines) was one of the biggest operators of second-hand Lockheed TriStars. It operated twenty of the type of several versions, including six short-body L-1011-500s.
American Trans Air was founded in 1973 as a travelclub airline (named Ambassadair) and acquired full charter status in 1981. At first it replaced its Boeing 707 fleet with McDonnell Douglas DC-10s, but because of the poor availability of second-hand aircraft of this type, it switched to the Lockheed TriStar. The first L-1011-1 TriStars entered the fleet in 1985. In 1998 the first TriStar 500s joined the fleet. TriStars served the airline until 2003. ATA Airlines ceased operations in 2008.
Lockheed TriStar MSN 193C-1041 was originally delivered to Delta Air Lines as a L-1011-1 in October 1973. It was the first TriStar operated by this airline and was registered N701DA. In September 1985, the aircraft was taken over by Total Air. In November 1986, it joined the fleet of Air America. American Trans Air acquired the aircraft in May 1987 as N195AT and converted it to L-1011-50. In 1990, it underwent a further conversion to L-1011-150. In 1989 and 1990, it was also operated for short periods by EgyptAir and Air Algerie on lease from ATA. The aircraft was withdrawn from use in 2003.
© Pictures and text: Copyright Widebody Aircraft Parade - All rights reserved - Do not use without permission ©