McDonnell Douglas | International Aviation HQ

McDonnell Douglas DC-10: Your Ultimate Guide

23Jul

By Salomón Marco1 Comment

Aircraft Digest

McDonnell Douglas DC-10: Your Ultimate Guide

It is 1985 and you are on a flight from Los Angeles to Copenhagen. Chances are, you are on a DC-10, but this is not by chance. The DC-10 was built for this. The DC-10 was a workhorse of its time. An icon in aviation history. The aircraft was met with scrutiny and a lack of confidence after some incidents and accidents following its introduction into service. Despite this, the DC- 10 secured its place in the history books as a reliable, easy to maintain, and economically viable jetliner. The DC- 10 family capitalized on the gap between the smaller twinjet airliners and the larger quadjet airliners like the Boeing 747. The market desperately needed an aircraft that could reach further with less. The DC-10 delivered. The DC-10 featured advanced avio...

Remembering McDonnell Douglas: The Last Great American Aerospace Giant

1Sep

By Charles YongzhengNo Comments

History

Remembering McDonnell Douglas: The Last Great American Aerospace Giant

Today, Boeing is an aviation giant with almost no competition. Yet before their 1997 merger, Boeing's main competitor was the famed McDonnell Douglas, with the two companies often embroiled in a game of cat and mouse to produce the best aircraft possible. Indeed, even after their merger, Boeing had so much respect for the aircraft their former rivals built, that many of the pre-merger aircraft - both civil and military alike - kept their McDonnel Douglas designations, only with newer variants holding Boeing ones. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-McDonnell Douglas: Douglas Aircraft Having been interested in aviation since he was a teenager, Don Douglas chose to pursue a career in aviation, eventually becoming the chief engineer at the Glenn ...

MD Helicopters MD 500: The Best Helicopter Family Yet?

17Jul

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

Helicopters

MD Helicopters MD 500: The Best Helicopter Family Yet?

Now relegated to the pages of history, Hughes Helicopters was one of the largest helicopter manufacturers of its day. Among their most famous designs is the MD Helicopters MD 500 light helicopter, which originally began life as the Hughes 500. Produced by three different companies (Hughes Helicopters, McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems and MD Helicopters) continuously since 1967, a total of 4,700 Hughes 500s (as it was originally known) have been built to date! Beyond being one of the most produced helicopters in the world, the MD 500 is also one of the most famous, with a name that's known across almost every generation and that's synonymous with the word "helicopter" itself. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-MD Helicopters MD 500 In 19...

Remembering The Douglas Aircraft Company: The Company That (Nearly) Beat Boeing

12May

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

History

Remembering The Douglas Aircraft Company: The Company That (Nearly) Beat Boeing

At its height, just prior to WWII, Douglas Aircraft Company produced 80% of the US's commercial aircraft, and many of the US military's cutting edge fighters, dwarfing rival company, Boeing, in almost every regard. Despite this, the company is arguably most famous for its merger with McDonnell Aircraft, forming McDonnell Douglas, which soon became Boeing's main competitor in both the commercial and military scenes (before their own merger in 1997!) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Douglas Aircraft Company In 1915, former US Naval officer Donald W. "Don" Douglas would join the Connecticut Aircraft Company (the precursor to today's Sikorsky Aircraft Company), where he'd help design the US Navy's first airship, the DN-1. Three years later,...

F-15 vs F-22: The USAF’s Most Advanced Fighter?

31Oct

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

Aircraft Compare

F-15 vs F-22: The USAF’s Most Advanced Fighter?

For almost fifty years, the F-15 has served as the USAF's primary fighter jet, alongside the F-16. Recently, the USAF has introduced the F-22 and F-35 to take that place, prompting many people to wonder which is better: the F-15 or F-22? Both the F-15 and F-22 were designed in completely different eras, with completely different philosophies backing their design. However, they serve alongside one another quite often and never in direct combat, so which is truly superior? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); F-15 vs F-22: What is a Fighter? In recent years, aviation movies like Top Gun have began the cult of the fighter jet. Whilst not inherently wrong, the modern day roles of fighter jets have been misinterpreted by the general public as a whole. ...

F-15 vs F-18: The Best McDonnell Douglas Fighter Jet?

26Sep

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

Aircraft Compare

F-15 vs F-18: The Best McDonnell Douglas Fighter Jet?

McDonnell Douglas helped to develop both the F-15 and F/A-18. Since then, avgeeks, members of the public and generals alike have wondered which is better- the F-15 or the F-18? Although the F-15 and F/A-18 were designed in completely different eras for completely different roles, for completely different services, they often serve alongside one another in most conflicts. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); F-15 vs F-18: What is a Fighter Jet? Both the F-15 and F/A-18 are fighter jets. In recent years, the term "fighter jet" gets thrown around a lot. This is mostly due to famous aviation movies such as Top Gun having become pop culture icons. As such, the term "fighter jet" has lost much of its meaning. To many, any military aircraft that is smal...

9Sep

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

Aircraft Compare

F-14 vs F-18: The Best Navy Fighter?

The US Navy introduced the F-18 in 1983 to compliment and eventually replace the F-14. Since then, many avgeeks, members of the public and Navy higher ups have wondered which is better: F-14 or F-18? In 2006, the US Navy retired its iconic F-14 aircraft, with their remaining F-14 pilots retraining on the F-18. Many of the original F-18 variants have been retired by the US Navy, in favor of newer and more advanced F-18 variants. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); F-14 vs F-18: What is a Fighter Jet? Thanks to popular aviation movies like Top Gun, the term “fighter jet” has entered popular vernacular. With that, it’s true meaning has been mostly distorted, with many small military aircraft being dubbed “fighter jets” by both the media and the general...

22Aug

By Charles YongzhengNo Comments

Aircraft Compare

F-15 vs F-16: The Best US Fighter Jet?

Both the F-15 and F-16 are some of the best and most produced fighter jets in the world. Despite this, F-15s and F-16s have never fought one another directly, leading many avgeeks, generals to wonder: F-15 or F-16? The F-15 and F-16 are both fighter jets, serving in several different roles for several different militaries. Both F-15s and F-16s often serve alongside one another in different conflicts, often playing to their own strengths. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); F-15 vs F-16: What is a Fighter Jet? I know. I know. But before we can really compare the F-15 and F-16, we need to truly understand what a fighter jet is. A fighter jet is a jet powered aircraft (unlike other fighters like the P-51 Mustang or Spitfire). It is specifically de...

F-16 vs F-18: The Best Multirole Fighter?

5Aug

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

Aircraft Compare

F-16 vs F-18: The Best Multirole Fighter?

The US military introduced the F-16 in 1978, and later the F/A-18 in 1983 to replace their ageing jets. Since then, many members of the public, avgeeks and generals have wondered which is better- F-16 or F-18? Both the F-16 and F-18 serve in multirole fighter roles for their respective branches, and often serve alongside one another on operation. However, they have never active engagement between one another in anything other than simulations. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); F-16 vs F-18: What is a Multirole? Both the F-16 and F-18 are multirole fighter aircraft. But what exactly is "multirole" and how does it differ from other aircraft? As the name would imply, a multirole fighter can be used in multiple roles. These roles might include air-...

1Jul

By Gareth SeagullNo Comments

Aircraft Compare

DC-10 vs MD-11: Father vs Son

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! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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 ...