IATA D10ICAO DC10

Douglas DC-10

Douglas

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Iconic wide-body trijet that transformed long-haul aviation.

First flight

1970

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

270–380 passengers

Range

6,100–10,600 km

Engines

Three turbofan engines (two underwing, one tail-mounted); GE CF6 or P&W JT9D options

Status

In service (primarily freighter operations)

The Douglas DC-10 is a wide-body, three-engine commercial jetliner developed by McDonnell Douglas in the late 1960s in response to American Airlines' requirement for a high-capacity, long-range aircraft capable of operating from shorter runways. It entered service in 1971 and became a workhorse of intercontinental and transcontinental routes worldwide. The DC-10 features two wing-mounted engines and a distinctive third engine integrated into the tail fin at the base of the vertical stabilizer. It was offered in several variants, including the extended-range DC-10-30 and the convertible DC-10-30CF, and was also adapted into the KC-10 Extender military tanker for the U.S. Air Force. Despite a strong operational record over decades, the DC-10 suffered serious accidents in the 1970s, most notably the 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 crash in Chicago, which led to a temporary grounding of the fleet. Production ended in 1989, but the type continued in service with cargo operators well into the 21st century.

Notable operators

Major operators included American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, KLM, and Lufthansa; cargo operators include FedEx Express.

Notable facts

›The DC-10 entered commercial service with American Airlines on August 5, 1971.
›A total of 446 DC-10 aircraft were built before production ended in 1989.
›The U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender is a military tanker variant based on the DC-10-30CF.
›The 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 crash in Chicago remains the deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil.
›The DC-10 was succeeded by the larger and more advanced MD-11, which first flew in 1990.