The DC-10 was developed into the MD-11 by McDonnell Douglas (and later Boeing) as an alternative to the 747. Since then, many airlines have been torn between the DC-10 and MD-11, but which is truly the better aircraft?
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!
DC-10 vs MD-11: The Basics
Before we can decide which aircraft is better between the DC-10 and MD-11, we first need to know a little bit of background.
DC-10
Just as with the 747, the DC-10 has its origins with the U.S. Air Force’s CX-HLS (Heavy Logistics System). In 1965, Douglas Aircraft submitted their proposal to the USAF, however, Lockheed’s CX-X (later C-5 Galaxy) won out.
In 1966, American Airlines approached several aircraft manufacturers for an aircraft that was smaller than the 747 but had a similar range. This aircraft also had to be a replacement for the ageing DC-8s as well.
Soon, many airlines, including American, were interested in the DC-10 and placed orders or options for it. However, half way through the designing of the DC-10, Douglas Aircraft and McDonnell Aircraft merged to form McDonnell Douglas.
McDonnell Douglas insisted on getting the DC-10 to market as soon as possible. As such the DC-10 re-used much of the technology present in the DC-8.
August 1970, saw the first test flight of the DC-10. The DC-10 was later introduced a year later in August 1971 with American Airlines before being introduced by several other airlines.
The DC-10 has also become a favorite of militaries, as a refueling tanker. The KC-10 (and converted passenger airliner, the KDC-10) is used by the USAF, Dutch Air Force and Saudi Arabia.
MD-11
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.
They wanted an aircraft that had the range of the 747, but the economics of the DC-10. As such, McDonnell Douglas began working on an extension and re-engineering of the DC-10.
The MD-11 is mostly a lengthened and taller DC-10. However, McDonnell Douglas also re-engineered the cockpit, eliminating the need for a flight engineer that was needed in the DC-10.
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.
January 1990, saw the first flight of the MD-11. December 1990 saw the introduction of the MD-11 with Finnair, the MD-11 soon became a favorite of other airlines, including KLM.
When Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, Boeing took over production of the MD-11. Boeing continued to produce the MD-11 until 2000. Most of those post-merger MD-11s were freighters.
DC-10 vs MD-11: The MD-10
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.
In 1997, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merged, and kept the Boeing name. 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.
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. As such, Boeing began to re-engineer existing DC-10s similarly to the MD-11.
The re-engineering mainly centered around the cockpit, installing new systems that eliminated the flight engineer role. This re-engineered version was re-designated as the MD-10.
DC-10 vs MD-11: Specs
Both the DC-10 and MD-11 are very similar in terms of their specifications. Although several variants of each aircraft exist, the specifications will include those from the main variant of both aircraft.
The most common DC-10 variant is the DC-10-10. The most common MD-11 variant is the standard commercial MD-11 (also known as the MD-11 PAX).
| Specifications | DC-10-10 | MD-11 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 182 ft 3.1 in (55.55 m) | 202 ft 2 in (61.6 m) |
| Width | 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) | 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) |
| Height | 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m) | 57 ft 11 in (17.65 m) |
| Seats | 270-399 | 298-410 |
| Cruise Speed | Mach 0.82 (473 kn, 629 mph, 876 km/h) | Mach 0.83 (479 kn, 637 mph, 886 km/h) |
| Range | 3,500 nmi (4,000 mi; 6,500 km) | 6,725 nmi (7,739 mi; 12,455 km) |
| MTOW | 430,000 lb (19.5 t) | 602,500 lb (27.3 t) |
| Takeoff | 9,000 ft (2,700 m) | 9,725 ft (2,964 m) |
DC-10 vs MD-11: Safety
Neither the DC-10 or the MD-11 are considered to be one of the safest aircraft on the planet. However, they aren’t considered to be one of the most dangerous either.
DC-10
The DC-10 has been involved in 55 accidents, resulting in 1,261 fatalities, making it a fairly dangerous aircraft in the grand scheme of things.
At the beginning of the DC-10’s service, it got a reputation for being an extremely dangerous aircraft. This mostly came down to a design flaw with the cargo door- more accurately, you could takeoff with it being unlocked.
This led to explosive decompression which led to the vast majority of these accidents. However, McDonnell Douglas was made aware of this issue and it was soon fixed.
Many of the subsequent accidents have been down to poor maintenance on the part of the airline, or freak accidents that no one could account for. Since the cargo door fix, the DC-10 is considered to be safe.
MD-11
The MD-11 is considerably safer than the DC-10. 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.
Throughout its service, the MD-11 had the exact opposite reputation that its predecessor did. For most of the MD-11’s service, the MD-11 was known for its safety.
However, the MD-11 wasn’t immune from crashes. 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.
With that being said, the MD-11 wasn’t free from its own problems. With the upgrade of the DC-10 into the MD-11, especially the cockpit, led to violent unintentional pitch movements mid-flight.
DC-10 vs MD-11: Comfort
Although comfort varied based on the airline you flew on, there are certain aspects that were better depending on the variant you flew on.
DC-10
The DC-10 was most commonly used by legacy carriers, usually the flag carriers of their native country. As such, the DC-10 was often used in a three-class configuration.
In economy class, airlines used several different configurations. Most commonly, the DC-10 was used in a “three-three-three” configuration or a “wo-five-two” or a “three-four-two”.
In business class, airlines used one of two different configurations. The most common was a “two-two-two” configuration. However, for smaller airlines operating the DC-10, a “two-three-two” configuration was also common.
First class in the DC-10 has changed dramatically between the introduction and retirement of the DC-10. Originally, the DC-10 operated a “two-two-two” configuration, but now, the DC-10 operated a “one-two-one” configuration.
Plus, a DC-10 was once used as Executive One, Air Force One for when the president is traveling on a commercial airline. This was done when Richard Nixon flew commercial in 1980, rather than fueling up Air Force One.
MD-11
Just as with the DC-10, the MD-11 was used by legacy carriers, most commonly flag carriers for their native country. The MD-11 was most commonly used in two-class or more commonly a three-class configuration.
In economy class, the MD-11 was equipped in a similar way to the DC-10. The MD-11 was most commonly used in a “two-five-two” configuration, the MD-11 was also used in a “two-four-two” configuration with some carriers.
For business class, the MD-11 was most commonly used in a “two-three-two” configuration. Most airlines also operated the MD-11 with a first class, operating a “two-two-two” configuration.
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.
DC-10 vs MD-11: Today
Though released as commercial airliners, neither the DC-10 nor the MD-11 currently operate as scheduled airliners. So what are they doing today?
DC-10
The last commercial DC-10 flew in February 2014, from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Birmingham, UK. The flight was operated by Biman Airlines- the flag carrier of Bangladesh. Upon completion of the flight, the DC-10 received a heart-felt goodbye from the ATC.
However, 2014 wasn’t the last flight of the DC-10. Several airlines still operate the DC-10 in various means, most commonly as a freight aircraft, similarly to how the 757 and 767 are now used as freighters.
The DC-10 is also used in several other means as well. Although many are being retired, many DC-10s are being used as executive transport for air charter companies.
American non-profit, Orbis International also operates a DC-10. However, this DC-10 is equipped as an eye hospital, rather than a private jet or freighter.
MD-11
The last commercial flight of the MD-11 was in July 2009. TAM Linhas Aéreas was the operator of the MD-11, operating them between Brasilia, São Paulo and the US, being replaced by the 777.
The MD-11 had a similar fate to the DC-10, in more ways than one. Many former airliners have been converted into cargo freighters and are currently used as long haul high-volume freighters.
Saudia Royal Flight operates an MD-11 as a private jet for use by the Saudi Royal family. Several other MD-11s are currently used by corporations and air charter companies, however, these are being phased out.
Many DC-10s and MD-11s are also stored side by side in the Mojave Desert or a similar aircraft boneyard. DC-10s and MD-11s are also on display at airports and aviation museums together.
DC-10 vs MD-11 Opinions
As usual, we asked several different groups about their opinions on the question of “DC-10 vs MD-11?”
Pilots
I was actually able to interview a former DC-10 first officer who later an MD-11 captain.
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.
He said that he preferred how the MD-11 allowed him to do less work. 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!
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.
Passengers
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.
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. The DC-10 saw a larger seat pitch with bigger legroom than anything the MD-11 had.
The other group preferred the MD-11. When it came to economy class, the MD-11 was the better aircraft for passengers. The MD-11 often saw larger seat pitch and larger legroom compared to the DC-10 (although this did vary from airline to airline).
Avgeeks
I also interviewed several avgeeks about which aircraft they prefer. 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.
Some avgeeks argued that because the DC-10 was more successful commercially, that it was a better aircraft in total. From a planespotting point of view, the DC-10 was more common, which makes it better in that context!
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!
However, what surprised me was the fact that some of the avgeeks actually began arguing that the MD-10 was the better aircraft! How it actually incorporated the best aspects of the DC-10 and the MD-11.
Summary
The MD-11 outclasses the DC-10 in almost every regard. In terms of specifications and opinions, the MD-11 is the superior aircraft, regardless of my personal views!
In terms of speed, the MD-11 is a slightly faster aircraft than the DC-10. The MD-11 is Mach 0.01 faster than the DC-10, mostly thanks to the MD-11’s newer and much faster engines.
The MD-11 is also a longer and taller aircraft. 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!
McDonnell Douglas designed the MD-11 to have almost double the range that the DC-10 has. The MD-11 is a much heavier aircraft as well, which results in it needing a much longer runway to take off from.
DC-10 vs MD-11: Who truly wins? Tell me in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of Bernal Saborio via Flickr.