They were aviation’s elegant solution: three engines, perfect balance. Trijets like the DC-10, L-1011 TriStar, and Boeing 727 once ruled the skies, opening new routes, pushing engineering boundaries, and bridging the gap between fuel-hungry quads and range-limited twins.

So why did they vanish?

In this deep dive, we explore the brilliant rise and sudden extinction of the trijet. From regulatory sweet spots and engineering marvels to tragic accidents, ETOPS rule changes, and shifting economics, this is the story of how one of aviation’s most iconic designs became obsolete almost overnight.

Trijets changed everything until they didn’t.

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