This an old photo I found, scanned it on one computer and forwarded it to my new computer. The photo was taken around 1972. I [Don Pierce] am the person on the far right. The men in the dark suits in the center of the photo are, from left to right, the pilot, the FE, the co-pilot (second pilot), and my boss (team leader). The photo is of all of the various engineers involved. It does not include flight line personnel. The "301" on the on the nose is Eastern's number assignment - the FAA registry number of the plane was N301EA.
A confusing story: The second TriStar built was in TWA colors during flight test, but built as an Eastern plane, so it was repainted prior to delivery - in EAL colors and numbered N301EA. The plane on which I flew during flight Test, was renumbered N302EA prior to delivery. If you have a log of planes delivered, you will note that Ship 1002 (painted in TWA colors during flight test) was actually delivered as N301EA. The first TriStar to be delivered to TWA was Ship 1012 or 1013 (I don't remember exactly).
I used know the serial numbers for the LTU planes, since I taught them many times. Their first plane was 1033, which was basically an EAL plane with a few modifications. LTU would lease from EAL on occasion. Three of LTU's later planes were originally built for PSA, but not taken up by PSA, so LTU obtained them for a good price, after they sat on the flight line for quite a while. LTU had a mixture of -1, -200 and -500. (I still remember their "tail numbers")
"1003 while in route on 9/24/95 flying as DL157 (LAX-HNL) about 450 miles west of LAX airplane experienced sudden decompression at FL330 Airplane descended to FL140 and safely returned to LAX Due to cost of repairs Delta decided to retire the airplane which had over 52K hours and 25K cycles on its airframe at that point strd Dobbins AFB Marietta, GA used for stress evaluations by Lockheed"
The aircraft has most likely been destroyed after testing.
YAY! The blog is active again!
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