N140SC

N140SC is a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, a tri-engine jet operated by ORBITAL SCIENCES LLC. SkyMeter has tracked 56 flights totalling 77 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 2 callsigns. The most frequent segment is KMHV to KMHV. Service window in our records spans 373 days. Of those flights, 8 (14.3%) carry at least one detected incident — go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar has a maximum takeoff weight of 510,000 lb, heavy wake category.

About the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar stands as one of aviation's most technologically advanced widebody trijets, introduced in 1972 as a direct competitor to the Douglas DC-10. What distinguished the TriStar was its pioneering use of advanced automation — it was the first widebody to feature a fully integrated autopilot capable of Category IIIc autoland in zero-visibility conditions, a capability that wouldn't become commonplace for another decade. Lockheed's engineers embedded the center engine within the tail structure rather than mounting it externally, creating a cleaner aerodynamic profile and quieter cabin, though this design choice made engine maintenance more complex than the DC-10's pylon-mounted approach.

The TriStar entered service with Eastern Air Lines and quickly earned a reputation for reliability and passenger comfort, with its Rolls-Royce RB211 turbofans delivering exceptional fuel efficiency for the era. Despite its technical excellence, the L-1011 program suffered from Rolls-Royce's 1971 bankruptcy and fierce competition from McDonnell Douglas, ultimately selling only 250 aircraft before production ended in 1984 — far short of the break-even point. The type found a second life in specialized roles after airline retirements: NASA operated a TriStar as a microgravity research platform, and Orbital Sciences converted N140SC into Stargazer, an air-launch platform that carries Pegasus rockets to 39,000 feet before release, enabling satellite launches from a flying runway.

This unique mission exploits the TriStar's exceptional high-altitude performance and large payload capacity, with the aircraft capable of cruising at Mach 0.90 and carrying over 90,000 pounds of rocket and payload to launch altitude. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.