Development of the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar began in 1966 when American Airlines announced a need for a short to medium-range, large-capacity transport. In March of 1968, production began when Lockheed received orders for their design from TWA and Eastern Airlines. Although Production was slowed when Rolls- Royce, the developer of the L1011's engines, was forced to declare bankruptcy, Lockheed managed to deliver the Tristar for operation with Eastern and TWA in 1972. The longer-range L1011-200 came in 1977 and the L1011-250, which featured larger fuel-capacity, started operations with Delta Airlines in 1986. The original version of inter-continental L1011-500 was delivered to British Airways in 1979 and the next year Pan Am put the extended wing version into service. After the production of 250 aircraft, Lockheed discontinued the model in 1984 due to lack of demand.

In 1913 Allan and Malcolm Loughhead (name later changed to Lockheed) flew the first Lockheed plane over the San Francisco Bay. The modern Lockheed Corporation was formed in 1932 after the fledgling airplane company was reorganized. On March 15, 1995, Lockheed Corporation merged with Matin Marietta Corporation to form Lockheed Martin. It is now headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and employs approximately 165,000 people worldwide. Today the company is a major player in the Aerospace industry but does not manufacture its own line of commercial aircraft.