The story
The MD-11 was McDonnell Douglas's last widebody: a stretched DC-10 with winglets, a glass cockpit and two pilots instead of three. As a passenger jet it fell short of its range and fuel-burn promises, and KLM flew the last passenger service in 2014. As a freighter it found its calling.
The MD-11 is about 20 feet longer than the DC-10 it grew from, yet its horizontal tail is about 30% smaller.
Quick answers
How do you identify a MD-11?
Three engines: two under the wings and one through the base of the tail. Winglets above and below each wingtip, which the DC-10 never had. FedEx flies most of the survivors.
What does a MD-11 sound like?
Three engines — two under wing plus one in the tail — create a unique asymmetric sound profile.
How fast is the MD-11?
Top speed is Mach 0.88 (MMO).
How many passengers does the MD-11 carry?
Up to 410. A typical layout is 298 (3-class).
How far can the MD-11 fly?
Range is about 6,725 nmi (7,130 nmi ER).
How big is the MD-11?
It is 202 ft 2 in long and 170 ft 6 in across the wings.
When did the MD-11 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1990.
How many MD-11s have been built?
200 built.
How rare is a MD-11 in Bogey?
UNCOMMON. Not rare, but not every day either. Worth looking up for. Your first MD-11 catch is worth 50 points.
