Why was the L-1011 less successful than the DC-10 in terms of sales?

Question

I know the L-1011 had better safety record than the DC-10 when they were first launched, So why she was less successful?

Answer 1

It has to do with bribery, size, and 3 engines.

In 1976, Lockheed was caught trying to bribe senior government officials of several state airlines (including Air Canada, KLM in the Netherlands and ANA in Japan) to buy the L-1011. Lockheed was also involved in briberies with some other aircraft products. In addition, the L-1011 used Rolls Royce engines out of the UK and there was another bribery scandal on the engines.

AC and ANA ended up buying the L-1011, but in Holland KLM ended up buying the DC-10 and then the MD-11. That makes KLM the only airline to have flown every commercial MD aircraft from the DC-2 right through to the MD-11. Maybe that was one of the reasons that KLM went for the DC-10, even though they were being bribed by Lockheed. Who knows?

The L-1011 was a great design, but the DC-10 never had the negative stigma of Lockheed's bribery scandal and the DC-10 was a little bigger aircraft for about the same price.

Neither aircraft ever became really popular due to the third engine. At the time they were designed, flying more than 60 minutes from an airport was restricted to aircraft with 3 or more engines - the 707, 747 and DC-8. Both MD and Lockheed recognized the economy of flying with 3 engines instead of 4 so they designed the DC-10 and L-1011. Just after the DC-10 and L-1011 were certified, ICAO recognized that jet engines were becoming very reliable and they leifted the 3 engine minimum. Airbus produced the A300 and Boeing the 767 - the first wide-body twin-engine jets certified for Extended range Twin engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS - engines turning or passengers swim!) which were cheaper to build and operate - and just as safe. Every new plane designed since 1980 has been a twin engine, except the A340 and A380.

Another small reason may be the credibilty of the US Air Force buying the DC-10 as flying gas stations.

Answer 2

Besides the above mentioned, the DC-10 is just a much larger airplane. While I was a Second Officer on a DC-10, we parked next to a L-1011 once in Frankfurt. I always imagined the planes were about the same size, but the 1011 wasn't even close. Several of the people I worked with had been on the 1011 and told me it's triple spool engines were very maintenance intensive. As far as the "after thought" engine of the DC-10, the out in the open appearance, made work on it much easier. In fact the cowling unfolded to become a platform ( a usually oil covered slippery one) , that mechanics could use.
As far as why it was more successful, I believe it was just economics, the DC-10 could move more people, for less cost to the airline.

Answer 3

DC-10: As of July 2009, there have been 100 and fifty DC-10s in service with commercial operators, along with FedEx exhibit (eighty 5), Omni Air international (12), international airways (12), Arrow shipment (7), Cielos airways (5), Avient Aviation (4), Biman Bangladesh airways (4) and others with fewer airplane. L-1011 a finished of five Lockheed L-1011s were in commercial service in March 2010 with operators Elite Aviation (a million), EuroAtlantic airways (a million), Orbital Sciences organization (a million), Sky Capital (a million), and SAM Intercontinental (a million).

Answer 4

Despite the L1011 being an aircraft way ahead of its time in technological advances, the DC-10s were better selling because Lockheed could only offer the Rolls-Royce RB211 engine, whereas the DC-10 offered GE and P&W engines. The L1011 introduction was slightly delayed and that affected the sales as well. The DC-10 beat the L1011 by half a year.

Answer 5

Shame...really.
The 1011 was a really great airplane. Way overbuilt.
The DC-10 actually had a much better safety record than was perceived. A spate of accidents however doomed it in the public eye.
Also..the L1011 certainly looked right...not like a 3rd engine was added as an afterthought!
Waiting to read more on this....

Answer 6

If you mean less L-1011s were sold, yes that is true.

I really dont know why, the L-1011 is a wonderful plane and i even flew on one yself awhile back, it was a very nice smooth ride. Too bad we cant see any modern or ADV L-1011s like were seeing with DC-10s, its a beautiful aircraft.

Answer 7

Lockheed just ran out of money, even though the L1011 was a better aircraft, cost overruns and problems with the Roll Royce engines put the DC-10 in the lead.

Answer 8

I did a research paper in high school on the L & the DC you mentioned. Go to the NTSB web site to research the safety records you mentioned.

Answer 9

You will find "The Sporty Game" by John Newhouse (1982) of great interest......