Douglas DC-10

Douglas designed the DC-10 in 1966, competing directly with Lockheed to produce an airbus capable of operating from normal-length runways. By designing the DC-10 around three General Electric CF6-6 turbo-fan engines, Douglas avoided the financial difficulties encountered by Lockheed with the Rolls-Royce RB.211. In a multi-company manufacturing agreement, Convair pro-duces the fuselage and Aeritalia the fins (vertical stabilizers). The -10 is a short/medium-haul version; the long-range -30 and -40 have an extra forward-retracting main gear, uniquely mounted on the centreline. An aircraft with a fixed wing sweep (the DC-10 wing, designed just before the advanced supercritical form was introduced, is broad and strongly swept) cannot be best for all ranges, but the DC-10’s sales record of 250 testifies to its attraction as a sophisticated wide-bodied jet that can fly global routes.

The Series 10, able to accommodate up to 380 economy-class passengers on domestic routes, was first flown on 29 August 1970, certified on 29 July 1971, and made its first scheduled passenger flight with American Airlines on 5 August 1971. Introduction of DC-10 service between Los Angeles and Chicago came one week after American formally accepted the trijet from McDonnell Douglas. It was followed by the inter-continental range Series 20, which flew for the first time on 28 February 1972.

Conversion of the CF6-50A engines to -50C standard increases the thrust from 49,000 lbs to 51,000 lbs.

First flight of the long-range Pratt & Whitney JT9D-powered McDonnell Douglas DC-10-20 took place on February 28, 1972. Northwest Airlines having ordered 14, with 14 more on option

A derivative of the commercial DC-10-30CF, selected in 1977 as the USAF’s advanced tanker/cargo aircraft (ATCA), the first KC-10A flew in July 1980. The aircraft has high-flow-rate, 5,680lit/min refuelling boom plus an independent, 2,2701it/min hose-drogue system. As a transport the KC-10 has a cargo capacity comparable with that of the C-5 to 8,300km range, but is superior over longer ranges up to 18,500km.

Some 445 DC-10s were delivered since the first went into service in 1971, the last in July 1989 to Nigerian Airways.

Gallery

DC-10 Srs 10
Engines: 3 x General Electric CF6-6D turbojets, 40,000 lbs thrust each.
Length: 181 ft 4.75 in.
Wingspan: 155 ft 4 in.
Ceiling: 35,000 ft.
Range: 2,429 mls.

DC-10-30
Engines: 3 x CF6-50C, 51,000 lbs thrust.
Wing span: 165.3 ft.
Max takeoff weight: 259.45 tonnes.
Max landing weight: 182.79 tonnes.
Fuel capacity 111.40 tonnes.
Pax cap: 247.
Range: 10,232 km.

DC-10-30ER
Engines: 3 x CF6-50C2, 233.5 kN.
Wing span: 50.4m.
Length: 55.5m.
Height: 17.7m.
Max speed: 0.88M @ 7620m.
Max range (full load): 7410 km.
Crew: 3.
Accommodation: 243 pax.

DC-10-30CF / KC-10A Extender
Engine: 3 x GE CF6 turbofan.
Installed thrust: 701 kW.
Span: 50.4 m.
Length: 55.3 m.
Wing area: 339 sq.m.
Empty wt: 109,350 kg.
MTOW: 267,620 kg.
Payload: 78,840 kg.
Max speed: 956 kph.
Initial ROC: 20 min to 8530 m.
Ceiling: 12,800 m.
T/O run: 2590 m.
Ldg run: 790 m.
Fuel internal: 200,940 lt.
Range: 11,110 km with 45,400 kg payload.
Air refuel: Yes.

McDonnell Douglas KC 10 A Extender
Engine : 3 x General Electric CF6 50C2, 229064 N / 23350 kp
Length : 181.759 ft / 55.4 m
Height : 58.071 ft / 17.7 m
Wingspan : 165.354 ft / 50.4 m
Wing area : 3957.923 sqft / 367.7 sq.m
Max take off weight : 590102.1 lb / 267620.0 kg
Weight empty : 241072.7 lb / 109330.0 kg
Max. payload weight : 349029.5 lb / 158290.0 kg
Max. speed : 530 kts / 982 km/h
Landing speed : 138 kts / 256 km/h
Cruising speed : 490 kts / 908 km/h
Initial climb rate : 2755.91 ft/min / 14.0 m/s
Service ceiling : 32808 ft / / 10000 m
Wing load : 149.24 lb/sq.ft / 728.0 kg/sq.m
Range : 9989 nm / 18500 km
Crew : 6
Fuel capacity : 132330 lt