L
Launch and production
On December 30, 1986, McDonnell Douglas launched the MD-11 with
commitments for 52 firm orders and 40 options in three different versions
(passenger, combi and freighter) from ten airlines (Alitalia, British
Caledonian, Dragonair, FedEx Express, Finnair, Korean Air, Scandinavian
Airlines System, Swissair, Thai Airways International, and VARIG) and two
leasing companies (Guinness Peat Aviation and Mitsui).
Orders from Dragonair, Scandinavian and UTA, an undisclosed customer, were canceled
by 1988.
Assembly of the first MD-11 began on March 9, 1988, and the mating of the fuselage with
wings occurred in October that year. The first flight was originally planned to occur in
March 1989, but numerous problems with the manufacturing, delays with suppliers
producing essential components and labor industrial actions delayed the ceremonial roll
out of the prototype until September of that year.
The first flight was originally planned to occur in March 1989, but numerous problems
with the manufacturing, delays with suppliers producing essential components and
labor industrial actions delayed the ceremonial roll out of the prototype until September
of that year.
The following months were used to prepare the prototype for its maiden flight, which
finally happened on January 10, 1990. The first two aircraft manufactured were intended
for FedEx and thus, were already fitted with the forward side cargo door. They remained
with the manufacturer as test aircraft until 1991 before being completely converted to
freighters and delivered to their customer. FAA certification was achieved on November
8, 1990 while the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) certified the MD-11 on
October 17, 1991 after approximately 200 separate issues were resolved.
Fuselage sections for the DC-10, KC-10, and MD-11 were built by General Dynamics'
Convair Division. Yugoslav Airlines, already flying several DC-10s, became the first
customer of the MD-11.
Three aircraft were manufactured but were never delivered due to war in Yugoslavia. The
first MD-11 was delivered to Finnair on December 7, 1990 and it accomplished the first
revenue service by an MD-11 on December 20, 1990, carrying passengers from Helsinki
to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. MD-11 service in the U.S. was inaugurated by Delta Air
Lines, also in 1990.
MD 11
July 2017
www.alliance-airways.net
2 ! 9