This is what one L1011 pilot had to say about the aircraft autoland capabilities.
"The Lockheed L1011 autoland system is unsurpassed in its accuracy, even by todays standards.
Yaw damper switches to parallel operation/runway alignment begins at 150 feet radio height.
Flare begins at 50 feet radio height.
Autothrottles disconnect at 5 feet radio height.
After touchdown, the nosewheel is lowered automatically, spoilers are extended, and the runway centerline is tracked, following the localizer beam.
The only thing the pilot needs to do is apply the brakes/select reverse thrust.
With -500 series aircraft, fitted with autobrakes...if selected on, braking is automatic.
CAT IIIC capability was designed in, from the beginning.
It may surprise some to learn that the Lockheed autoland system was designed by (some of the) same folks that designed the very FIRST autoland system fitted to a jet passenger aircraft, the Hawker Siddley 121...Trident."...
Truly unbelievable for an aircraft that was designed more than 30 years ago...
There is also the DLC (Direct Lift Control) which was a very smart solution for smooth approaches. The L1011 uses the spoilers to create more or less lift without changing the pitch too violently. When flaps are in landing configuration (33 or 42 degrees) the spoilers will deploy 7 degrees on each wing, regulated by a computer.
For example:
If the airplane is too lowon approach the pilot would simply pull back the control column, but what happens here is that the spoilers would retract hence creating more lift so the aircraft will lift 'itself' up back on the glideslope!
I could go on forever about this marvelous aircraft, it's the only commercial airliner that can take-off with full nose-down trim. Can you say masterpiece?
by Fly2e » Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:12 am 
