McDonnell Douglas DC-10

The USAF's 1965 CX-HLS programme brought the DC-10 into being. Douglas Aircraft Company designed and built their transcontinental trijet developed to compete with Boeing's 747, in Long Beach, California. They refined a proposal for a 650 seat aircraft to suit the same 250-seat market (and proposed American Airlines requirement) at which the TriStar was aimed. Two engines are mounted beneath the wings; the third is above the aft fuselage at the base of the vertical stabilizer.

DC-10 production started in January 1968 with 50 orders, soon increasing to over 100, the first orders were placed by American on 19 February 1968 and by United 2 months later. Six commercial models of the DC-10 were developed. All versions of the trijet transport accommodate from 250 passengers, in a typical mixed first class and coach arrangement, to 380 in all-economy seating

The Series 10 model was designed for service on routes of up to 4,000 statute miles (6,436 km) The DC-10-10 was aimed at the US domestic market and entered service with American Airlines on 5 August 1971, between Los Angeles and Chicago. A combi variant was produced and designated the DC-10-10CF, with side cargo doors. The DC-10 Convertible Freighter, first delivered in 1973, can be arranged to carry all passengers or all cargo and is available in the basic Series 10, Series 30 or Series 40. All versions have available cargo space of more than 16,000 cubic feet (453 cu m), as much capacity as four 40-foot (12.19-m) railroad freight cars, or up to 380 passengers.

The DC-10-40 was the next version and featured Pratt & Whitney engines at the insistance of launch customer Northwest Orient. The 40 Series was capable of flying longer legs, first flew on 28 February 1972 and 42 were ordered by Northwest and JAL. The intercontinental range Series 40, powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D turbofan engines, with nonstop range up to approximately 5,800 miles (9,322 km), was introduced to service in 1972

The long range DC-10-30 was launched in 1969 and developed alongside the DC-10-40. The penultimate production DC-10 first flew on 21 June 1972 and entered service with Swissair on 15 December. Other launch customers were KLM, SAS, and UTA. The DC-10-30 required an additional undercarriage leg on the centreline due to its increased operating weights acheived by a wingspan increased by 3.08m (10ft) and a fractionaly shorter fuselage with more powerful engines.The Series 30, an intercontinental model with a range of approximately 5,900 miles (9,493 km), also introduced in 1972, is equipped with General Electric CF6-50 fanjets.

A few longer range DC-10-30ER's with extra fuel and more effeicent engines were delivered between 1982 and 1988.

28 DC-10-30CF combi variants were made as well as 9 dedicated freighters primarily for Federal Express (DC-10-30AF).

The DC-10 Series 30F, an all-freighter model, was ordered by Federal Express in May 1984. First delivery was made Jan. 24, 1986. This pure freighter version will carry palletized payloads of up to 175,000 pounds (79,380 kg) more than 3,800 miles (6,115 km)

The final version DC-10-15 was a 'hot-and-high' variant, with only seven built for Mexicana and Aeromexico. The Series 15, launched in 1979, combines the basic smaller airframe of the Series 10 with a version of the more powerful engines used on the longer-range Series 30s. The combination gives the Series 15 outstanding performance with full loads from high-altitude airports in hot climates

Plans for a stretched DC-10-60 were shelved but later re-emerged to form the basis of the MD-11, a much improved and advanced design.

A USAF order for 60 tanker/transport versions of the DC-10-30 the KC-10A Extender, kept production going late into the 1980s. The last DC-10-30 was delivered to Nigerian Airlines in 1989, the 266th Series 30 and the 446th KC-/DC-10.A military variant of the DC-10 is the U.S. Air Force KC-10 tanker/cargo aircraft, adapted from the Series 30CF for aerial refueling and cargo transport. Sixty were built and delivered to the Air Force.

In September 1996 an upgrade program started which converted passenger DC-10s to freighters featuring refitted 2 crew cockpits similar to the MD-11. Federal Express is the main customer, the first MD-10 flying on 14 April 1999.

 The DC-10 was the first commercial transport to be certified under the stringent FAA Stage 3 regulations governing sound levels for new aircraft, and it also complies with international noise standards. The DC-10 is certified for automatic landing under Category IIIA weather conditions

designed specifically to be a "good airport neighbor," operating from existing runways, taxiways and loading areas.

McDonnell Douglas was taken over by Boeing in 1997.