ABOUT THE SITE

About TriStar500.net Site

In the late '90s, internet was booming in Portugal and I wanted to do something related to aviation to mark my online presence.
One of my first researches over the web was the fate of the ex-TAP L-1011's, my favorite aircraft type. I always felt the L-1011 a special aircraft but I didn't know to explain. I came across with excellent websites dedicated to the L-1011 that made me understand (in a technical way) why the L-1011 always seemed so unique. While those websites existed, it was never my intention to build another one telling the same things with the same detailed production lists. I wanted something to reflect my own view on the TriStar, especially the -500 version and its presence in Portugal over the years.
The first pages of this website were written during the Christmas season of 1999. It was very simple, written both in Portuguese and English while using Microsoft Notepad. Although it was ready for upload still in 1999, it was only on the first days of January 2000 that I was able to have this website online with the name "Lockheed TriStar L1011".

In July 2001, the first editor's note was published and the website started its mission of providing news about the L-1011 operation.
The "Portuguese Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Information Center" designation was introduced in early 2003. However, due to hosting problems and lack of spare time while at university, the website was put on hold in the summer.
By the end of 2003, Air Luxor announced the phase-out of its L-1011 fleet.

In the beginning of 2004, a temporary lighter version was uploaded. On the 15th of January, the "Portuguese L-1011 TriStar Information Center" was the first media to announce Luzair as the new operator of the two L-1011s phased out from Air Luxor. Although professional media were initially skeptical about the veracity of that information, the confirmation came a few weeks later.
In February, a new domain 'tristar500.net' and the option for a paid hosting service - instead of relying on free providers with limited resources - gave bigger wings to the website. A complete new design was unveiled, a new logo was displayed and the "TriStar500.net" name was adopted. After these changes and with the addition of a new L-1011 operator in Portugal, the website would definitely take-off for its best and most dynamic years.
Another highlight for "TriStar500.net" came in April 2006 with the reveal of the first photos of CS-TMP in its new livery, displaying Luzair logos and coincinding with the fact that this airline finally obtained its own AOC.