McDonnell Douglas MD-11

McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a wide-body jet airliner developed by McDonnell Douglas, a leading American aircraft manufacturer, in collaboration with Alenia Aeronautica, Airbus, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. The MD-11 was designed to replace the DC-10 and compete with the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777. The MD-11 first flew on January 10, 1990, and was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on November 8, 1990. The first MD-11 was delivered to Japan Airlines on December 22, 1990, and entered commercial service with Finnair on December 20, 1990, and American Airlines on January 19, 1991.

Introduction

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a trijet airliner with a range of approximately 7,000 nautical miles and a maximum takeoff weight of over 600,000 pounds. The MD-11 was designed to be more efficient and have a longer range than the DC-10, with a more advanced glass cockpit and fly-by-wire systems developed by Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, and Parker Hannifin. The MD-11 was also designed to be more comfortable for passengers, with a wider cabin and larger windows designed by PPG Industries and GKN Aerospace. The MD-11 has been operated by several major airlines, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Alitalia, and Delta Air Lines.

Design and Development

The design and development of the MD-11 began in the late 1980s, with a team of engineers from McDonnell Douglas, led by John McDonnell, working with Airbus, Boeing, and other aerospace companies such as General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce Holdings. The MD-11 was designed to be a more efficient and advanced version of the DC-10, with a more modern avionics system developed by Thales Group and BAE Systems. The MD-11 also featured a more advanced wing design, with a raked wingtip developed by NASA and Lockheed Martin. The MD-11 was powered by three high-bypass turbofan engines developed by General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce Holdings, which provided a significant increase in fuel efficiency and range.

Operational History

The MD-11 entered commercial service with Finnair on December 20, 1990, and American Airlines on January 19, 1991, and was later operated by several other major airlines, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Alitalia, and Delta Air Lines. The MD-11 was used for both passenger and cargo operations, with a range of configurations available, including a combi version developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes and a freighter version developed by Airbus Freighter Conversion. The MD-11 was also used by several cargo airlines, including FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and DHL Aviation. The MD-11 has been operated in several countries, including the United States, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, and Japan, with Airports Council International and International Air Transport Association providing support and guidance.

Variants

There were several variants of the MD-11, including the MD-11C combi version, the MD-11F freighter version, and the MD-11ER extended range version developed by McDonnell Douglas and Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The MD-11C was designed to carry both passengers and cargo on the main deck, with a cargo door developed by Goodrich Corporation and Safran. The MD-11F was a dedicated freighter version, with a large cargo door and a cargo handling system developed by Telair International and Ancra International. The MD-11ER was an extended range version, with additional fuel tanks developed by Zodiac Aerospace and Eaton Corporation.

Specifications

The MD-11 has a range of approximately 7,000 nautical miles, with a maximum takeoff weight of over 600,000 pounds. The MD-11 is powered by three high-bypass turbofan engines developed by General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce Holdings, which provide a significant increase in fuel efficiency and range. The MD-11 has a cruise speed of approximately Mach 0.80, with a service ceiling of over 40,000 feet. The MD-11 has a wing span of over 170 feet, with a length of over 200 feet developed by Spirit AeroSystems and GKN Aerospace.

Incidents and Accidents

There have been several incidents and accidents involving the MD-11, including a crash on April 6, 1993, at Guam International Airport operated by China Airlines, and a crash on August 31, 1999, at Buenos Aires operated by LAPA. The MD-11 has also been involved in several hijackings, including a hijacking on October 11, 1999, at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The MD-11 has been the subject of several airworthiness directives issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including a directive related to the engine mounts developed by Goodrich Corporation and UTC Aerospace Systems. The MD-11 has been operated by several airlines and cargo airlines, including FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and DHL Aviation, with International Air Transport Association and Airports Council International providing support and guidance. Category:Aircraft