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Lockheed was once a major name in the commercial aircraft industry, alongside companies like Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. The company had built several respected airliners since its founding in 1926, including the Vega and Electra series. Lockheed’s collaboration with Trans World Airlines led to the development of the L-049 Constellation, which became its most successful airliner up to that point.
However, after World War II, increased competition made it difficult for Lockheed to maintain its position in the market. The introduction of the L-188 Electra in the late 1950s failed to revive sales due to early structural issues. By the early 1960s, Lockheed relied more on military contracts for financial stability but did not abandon ambitions in commercial aviation.
In response to American Airlines’ request for a mid-size widebody jet in the late 1960s—an aircraft larger than existing narrowbodies but smaller than a Boeing 747—Lockheed decided to re-enter the market with a new design. While McDonnell Douglas adapted existing technology into what became the DC-10, Lockheed opted for a modern approach with an all-new three-engine configuration: the L-1011 TriStar.
