Saudia Royal Flight operates an MD-11 as a private jet for use by the Saudi Royal family. In economy class, airlines used several different configurations. Based on the DC-10, it features a stretched fuselage, increased wingspan with winglets, refined airfoils on the wing and smaller tailplane, new engines and increased use of composite materials. For passengers, when I asked them which aircraft they preferred between the DC-10 and MD-11, things became tense and immediately two groups of passengers formed. Both the DC-10 and MD-11 are very similar in terms of their specifications. The Widebody Wars —DC-10 vs L-1011 vs A300 (I) ... the MD-11, which also failed to compete with both the Boeing’s 777 and Airbus’s A330/A340 airplanes. I also interviewed several avgeeks about which aircraft they prefer. As such the DC-10 re-used much of the technology present in the DC-8. The last commercial flight of the MD-11 was in July 2009. With FedEx’s desire to operate both the MD-11 and DC-10 with some interchangeability, the company approached Boeing (who purchased McDonnell Douglas in mid-1997) to develop a common cockpit for the DC-10 and MD-11. The most common was a “two-two-two” configuration. It first flew on August 29, 1970; and was introduced on August 5, 1971 by American Airlines.. Your email address will not be published. As such, McDonnell Douglas began working on an extension and re-engineering of the DC-10. All of these photos are copyright jetphotos.net and are available in higher resolution versions at jetphotos.net. The MD-11, manufactured by the McDonnell Douglas Co., is a derivative of the DC-10. McDonnell Douglas MD-11: The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is an American wide-body airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. An Eastern L-1011 had a fan disc failure on a #2 engine during climb out from JFK; the fragments severed lines in 3 of the 4 systems (damaged, but did not penetrate the lines in the 4th) or it would have had a worse problem than the Sioux City DC-10. There were never any DC-10F’s in the new livery. December 1990 saw the introduction of the MD-11 with Finnair, the MD-11 soon became a favorite of other airlines, including KLM. Soon, many airlines, including American, were interested in the DC-10 and placed orders or options for it. Dassault Falcon 900: Dassault’s Best Private Jet Yet! As usual, many argued either way, arguing that the DC-10 was better for various reasons, whilst the MD-11 was better for various reasons. Boeing told them that they could buy the MD-11, however, these airlines wanted an aircraft with similar specs to the DC-10, not the MD-11. I’ve occasionally been asked how to tell the DC-10 and MD-11 apart. Unlike the DC-10, McDonnell Douglas gave the MD-11 as much of the latest technology as they could, without completely redesigning the MD-11. MD-11 for Lease ACMI Sale aircraft engines for Lease ACMI Sale The most common DC-10 variant is the DC-10-10. The MD-11 is a much heavier aircraft as well, which results in it needing a much longer runway to take off from. Although several variants of each aircraft exist, the specifications will include those from the main variant of both aircraft. The DC-10 is shorter than the MD-11 by roughly 20 feet (depends on the variant). Airbus A300-600 versus McDonnell-Douglas DC-10-30; 54.10 m: 177 ft 6 in: length: 55.50 m: 182 ft 1 in: 44.84 m: 147 ft 1 in: wingspan: 50.40 m: 165 ft 4 in: 260.00 m 2: 2,799 ft 2: wingarea DC-10 vs MD-11: Who truly wins? Intake on the other 72 MD-11's: And a bare DC-10 intake showing the grey banjo frames: Ok, the main thing to look at is the trailing edge of the intake's bulge. The MD-11 outclasses the DC-10 in almost every regard. In 1965, Douglas Aircraft submitted their proposal to the USAF, however, Lockheed’s CX-X (later C-5 Galaxy) won out. The most common DC-10 variant is the DC-10-10. In 1966, American Airlines approached several aircraft manufacturers for an aircraft that was smaller than the 747 but had a similar range. Included below is The DC-10’s horizontal stabilizer (tail) is larger than the MD-11’s. The #2 engine inlet on the MD-11 is larger than on the DC-10. © 2014 Varrin Swearingen. TAM Linhas Aéreas was the operator of the MD-11, operating them between Brasilia, São Paulo and the US, being replaced by the 777. Just as with the DC-10, the MD-11 was used by legacy carriers, most commonly flag carriers for their native country. American non-profit, Orbis International also operates a DC-10. This photo guide using World Airways DC-10’s and MD-11’s might prove helpful. The last commercial DC-10 flew in February 2014, from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Birmingham, UK. With the upgrade of the DC-10 into the MD-11, especially the cockpit, led to violent unintentional pitch movements mid-flight. First, the DC-10/MD-11 are virtually identical systems wise. Many airlines wanted a replacement for the DC-10, but still liked the DC-10, but hated the fact it still had a flight engineer position. After McDonnell merged with Douglas to form McDonnell Douglas, and the introduction of the DC-10 many airlines wanted an airliner that was better than the DC-10. However, first class on the MD-11 has also been configured in a “two-one-two” configuration, although that was short lived and with only one airline. and just for fun, here’s a set of pictures of various World aircraft August 1970, saw the first test flight of the DC-10. In terms of specifications and opinions, the MD-11 is the superior aircraft, regardless of my personal views! Before we can compare the DC-10 and the MD-11, we need to cover the MD-10, the MD-11 after the MD-11. When it came to economy class, the MD-11 was the better aircraft for passengers. The most common MD-11 variant is the standard commercial MD-11 (also known as the MD-11 PAX). The MD-11 has a smaller empennage than the DC-10 it is based upon. The DC-10 was suceeded by the MD-10 and then MD-11 which were slightly larger and updated models. The DC-10 does not. The DC-10 has also become a favorite of militaries, as a refueling tanker. McDonnell Douglas insisted on getting the DC-10 to market as soon as possible. So what are they doing today? One of those groups preferred the DC-10 stating that in business or first class, the DC-10 had nothing on the first or business class on board an MD-11. Less than 190 * MD-11s have been built, making it a commercial failure. In business class, airlines used one of two different configurations. The MD-11 is also a longer and taller aircraft. This allowed a common type rating for both the MD-10 and MD-11, and also eliminated the need for a flight engineer. Most airlines also operated the MD-11 with a first class, operating a “two-two-two” configuration. Plus, a DC-10 was once used as Executive One, Air Force One for when the president is traveling on a commercial airline. Today's Posts; Member List; Forum; General Discussion Forums; Aviation Discussion Forum; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Although comfort varied based on the airline you flew on, there are certain aspects that were better depending on the variant you flew on. They wanted an aircraft that had the range of the 747, but the economics of the DC-10. The KC-10 (and converted passenger airliner, the KDC-10) is used by the USAF, Dutch Air Force and Saudi Arabia. Although many are being retired, many DC-10s are being used as executive transport for air charter companies. However, they aren’t considered to be one of the most dangerous either. It has a maximum service ceiling altitude of 43,000, and a maximum cruise speed of 528 miles per hour. This was done when Richard Nixon flew commercial in 1980, rather than fueling up Air Force One. The McDonnell Douglas MD-12 was a "superjumbo" airliner planned by the McDonnell Douglas company in the 1990s. Gareth Seagull is a traveler and former Airbus A320 pilot. since been sold to UPS. I was actually able to interview a former DC-10 first officer who later an MD-11 captain. The latest incident with a DC10 was: 21 December 1999; Cubana DC10-30; Guatemala City, Guatemala: The aircraft overran the wet runway and came to rest in a residential neighborhood adjacent to the airport. Note that World had other liveries prior to the MD-11 era, which aren’t pictured below. See if you can spot some of the visible differences between the two aircraft: … Systems-wise, the L-1011 design is still far superior to the DC/MD. DC-10s and MD-11s are also on display at airports and aviation museums together. However, what surprised me was the fact that some of the avgeeks actually began arguing that the MD-10 was the better aircraft! This re-engineered version was re-designated as the MD-10. the MD-11 is 200 feet 10 inches (61.2 m) long, or 18.6 feet (5.66 m) longer than the earlier DC-10 trijet, and carries about 50 more passengers. In the early 80's it was facing competition not only from the DC-10 but also from 2nd generation and more fuel efficient, two crew man, twin jets. 2 Flight Deck Retrofit This mostly came down to a design flaw with the cargo door- more accurately, you could takeoff with it being unlocked. The MD-11 often saw larger seat pitch and larger legroom compared to the DC-10 (although this did vary from airline to airline). From a pilot’s point of view- the MD-11 was so high-tech compared to the DC-10, that he actually did less paperwork and more flying! As such, Boeing began to re-engineer existing DC-10s similarly to the MD-11. The DC-10 was most commonly used by legacy carriers, usually the flag carriers of their native country. Originally, the DC-10 operated a “two-two-two” configuration, but now, the DC-10 operated a “one-two-one” configuration. The MD-10 is for all intents purposes a DC-10, with the exception of the cockpit. The DC-10 was developed into the MD-11 by McDonnell Douglas (and later Boeing) as an alternative to the 747. The re-engineering mainly centered around the cockpit, installing new systems that eliminated the flight engineer role. The DC-10’s lower aft cargo door on the right side is in the wing root fairing. McDonnell Douglas took everything that was wrong with the DC-10 and fixed it, resulting in the MD-11 having been involved in 30 accidents with only 244 fatalities. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Capabilities of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. For comparison, the MD-11 is 200 feet 10 inches (61.2 m) long, or 18.6 feet (5.66 m) longer than the earlier DC-10 trijet, and carries about 50 more passengers. The winglets are credited with improving fuel efficiency by about 2.5%. The MD-11 has winglets (the ‘tipped up’ parts at the ends of the wings). However, 2014 wasn’t the last flight of the DC-10. Of those MD-11s that did crash, it was mostly due to poor maintenance on the part of the airline or freak accidents that no one could’ve predicted. Neither the DC-10 or the MD-11 are considered to be one of the safest aircraft on the planet. The MD-11’s is aft of the faired area. Boeing, who bought out McDonnell Douglas, is shutting down the production line in the near future. The DC-10 was later introduced a year later in August 1971 with American Airlines before being introduced by several other airlines. DC-10 Series 30: 580,000 lb (263,086 kg) with a payload of 180,000 lb (81,720 kg) for a nonstop range of approximately 3,700 nmi. The result of FedEx’s request was the MD-10. The DC-10 saw a larger seat pitch with bigger legroom than anything the MD-11 had. Most commonly, the DC-10 was used in a “three-three-three” configuration or a “wo-five-two” or a “three-four-two”. The MD-11 is mostly a lengthened and taller DC-10. The DC-10 was the first challenger to the 747SP, much before the 747 was challenged by the 787 or A350 or the A380, or even L-1011! Why did the DC-10 MD-11 end up being used far more and for much longer than the L-1011. DC-10-30 series and MD-11 aircraft do have center gear. The DC-10’s story begins in the early 1970’s, at a pivotal time when air travel was undergoing a revolution. January 1990, saw the first flight of the MD-11. crossing the same bridge in Leipzig, Germany. This led to explosive decompression which led to the vast majority of these accidents. For most of the MD-11’s service, the MD-11 was known for its safety. It was to be similar in size to the Boeing 747, but with greater passenger capacity.However, the MD-12 received no orders and was canceled. BOEING 727 vs DOUGLAS Dc-10 vs McDonnell Douglas MD-11 vs Lockheed Tristar L1011 vs Tupolev TU-154 The most iconic airplanes ever built? The MD-11 is a medium- to long-range widebody airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. As such, the DC-10 was often used in a three-class configuration. Throughout its service, the MD-11 had the exact opposite reputation that its predecessor did. The DC-10 does not. However, the DC-10 when compared to the TriStar had a better payload-range having from the beginning a true long range version. Following an unsuccessful proposal for the US Air Force's CX-HLS (Heavy Logistics System) in 1965, Douglas Aircraft began design studies based on its CX-HLS design. However, McDonnell Douglas was made aware of this issue and it was soon fixed. The DC-10’s tailcone is rounded, the MD-11’s is … Since then, many airlines have been torn between the DC-10 and MD-11, but which is truly the better aircraft? These five airplanes are among my personal favorite airplanes and whenever one of them is expected nearby I try to film them in action. It has Tell me in the comments! However, he did also that he would fly either aircraft again if he had the option, but would choose the MD-11 over the DC-10 or MD-10. Vultee P-66 Vanguard: The US’s Forgotten WWII Fighter. Email: varrin at sugargroup dot net. The DC-10 is shorter than the MD-11 by roughly 20 feet (depends on the variant). According to him, whilst he will always be grateful to the DC-10, the first aircraft he was ever able to fly with passengers aboard, he ultimately prefers the MD-11 to the DC-10. To allow commonality between the DC-10 and MD-11 for airlines such as FedEx Express which operate both types, McDonnell-Douglas offers a cockpit upgrade to the DC-10. The MD-11 was most commonly used in two-class or more commonly a three-class configuration. However, for smaller airlines operating the DC-10, a “two-three-two” configuration was also common. The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is an American wide-body airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas.The DC-10 was intended to succeed the DC-8 for long range flights. McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40I - Japan Air Lines - JAL | Aviation Photo #2407352 | Airliners.net 27 Augustus Album Straaljagers Campinas Vliegtuigen Aviation Photo #1994426: McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) - FedEx - Federal Express Other avgeeks argued that the MD-11 was a better aircraft because the MD-11 was notoriously a comfier aircraft regardless of what class you were sitting in! Get a Quick Quote. Most of those post-merger MD-11s were freighters. First class in the DC-10 has changed dramatically between the introduction and retirement of the DC-10. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Since the cargo door fix, the DC-10 is considered to be safe. Many DC-10s and MD-11s are also stored side by side in the Mojave Desert or a similar aircraft boneyard. T he McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is an American three-engine medium- to long-range wide-body jet airliner, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and, later, by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Upon completion of the flight, the DC-10 received a heart-felt goodbye from the ATC. The trijet has two turbofans on underwing pylons and a third one at the base of the vertical stabilizer. Boeing continued to produce the MD-11 until 2000. World had 2 liveries in its fleet that appeared on both DC-10s and MD-11s, one all white (the old one), and one with the blue tail and red curved stripe (the new one). It was first conceived as a trijet larger than the MD-11, then stretched to a quadjet airliner. Featured image courtesy of Bernal Saborio. Much of this preference came from the way the rudder was designed. Ever. How it actually incorporated the best aspects of the DC-10 and the MD-11. This has resulted in the MD-11 being able to carry more passengers at both ends of the spectrum- the MD-11 can carry more passengers at the low and high ends compared to the DC-10! It first flew on August 29, 1970; and was introduced on August 5, 1971 by American Airlines. However, half way through the designing of the DC-10, Douglas Aircraft and McDonnell Aircraft merged to form McDonnell Douglas. McDonnell Douglas designed the MD-11 to have almost double the range that the DC-10 has. The DC-10’s tailcone is rounded, the MD-11’s is squared off (like a flathead screwdriver). Some avgeeks argued that because the DC-10 was more successful commercially, that it was a better aircraft in total. DC-10-10 series aircraft (not shown here) do not have center gear. 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