The story
The DC-10 was McDonnell Douglas's first wide-body: two engines under the wings and a third mounted high in the tail. It outsold its rival, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, and 446 were built, including 60 KC-10 tankers for the US Air Force. Passenger service ended in 2014; the few still flying haul cargo or fight fires.
Boeing's MD-10 upgrade gave many DC-10s an MD-11-style glass cockpit, which did away with the flight engineer and let a crew of two fly it.
Quick answers
How do you identify a DC-10?
Three engines: two under the wings and one high in the tail, with the fin rising above it and the engine's exhaust straight out the back. On an L-1011 the tail engine is buried in the rear fuselage. An MD-11 looks similar but is longer and has winglets; the DC-10 has none.
What does a DC-10 sound like?
Three high-bypass turbofans create a wall of 1970s jet noise.
How fast is the DC-10?
Top speed is 473 kts (Mach 0.82 cruise).
How many passengers does the DC-10 carry?
Up to 380. A typical layout is 270 (2-class).
How far can the DC-10 fly?
Range is about 5,200 nmi (DC-10-30).
How big is the DC-10?
It is 181 ft 7 in (DC-10-30) long and 165 ft 4 in (DC-10-30) across the wings.
When did the DC-10 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1970.
How many DC-10s have been built?
446 (incl. 60 KC-10) built.
How rare is a DC-10 in Bogey?
UNCOMMON. Not rare, but not every day either. Worth looking up for. Your first DC-10 catch is worth 50 points.
