DALLAS – Today, in 1972, Lockheed L-1011 TriStar (N301EA) entered commercial service with Eastern Air Lines on its Miami-New York route.
Eastern Air Lines, AKA Eastern, was a major American airline from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution, it was headquartered at Miami International Airport (MIA) in an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County, Florida, US.
A Bumpy Start
The then-Lockheed California Company (now Lockheed Martin) delivered the most technologically advanced commercial jet of its day, the L-1011 TriStar, to its first customer, Eastern Air Lines, in April 1972, after six grueling years of design and some unexpected setbacks.
The L-1011, like other legendary passenger airliners before it, encountered formidable obstacles on its way to its first flight. Design problems arose as a result of competing airlines’ differing needs. The engine’s manufacturer was afflicted by financial difficulties. In addition, a recession fueled by the world’s first oil crisis reduced demand for commercial planes…