McDonnell Douglas DC-10

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine medium- to long-range widebody airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. The model was a successor to the company's DC-8 for long-range operations, and competed in the same markets as the Airbus A300, Boeing 747, and Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, which has a similar layout to the DC-10. Production of the DC-10 ended in 1989 with 386 delivered to airlines and 60 to the U.S. Air Force as air-to-air refueling tankers, designated the KC-10 Extender.[1] The DC-10 was succeeded by the related McDonnell Douglas MD-11 which entered service in 1990.

Design:

The DC-10 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional tail unit with a single fin and rudder. It is powered by two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. It has a retractable tricycle landing gear. The later series 30 and 40 have an additional two-wheel main landing gear. It was designed to be a medium to long-range airliner with a widebody fuselage to seat over 250 passengers. It is operated by a flight-crew of three located on the flightdeck in the nose on the same level as the passenger cabin. The fuselage has underfloor stowage for cargo and baggage.

Service Issues:

Despite its troubled beginnings in the 1970s, which gave it an unfavorable reputation,[5] the DC-10 ultimately proved a reliable aircraft, much loved by engineers and pilots. The original DC-10-10's notorious safety record continuously improved as design flaws were rectified and fleet hours increased. In fact, the DC-10's lifetime safety record at 2003 is comparable to similar second-generation passenger jets.[6] Increased inspections and modifications made the DC-10 among the safest aircraft for passenger travel.