Iconic in appearance, the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was born out of the DC-10's development studies. The program was officially launched on 30 December 1986, with assembly of the first prototype beginning on 9 March 1988. The MD-11 first took to the skies in January 1990 and impressively entered commercial service within the same year.
Despite its sleek design and advanced systems for the time, the MD-11 failed to meet several promised performance targets. This led to order reductions and cancellations. Even so, McDonnell Douglas managed to produce four main variants: passenger, freighter, combi (passengers and cargo), and convertible freighter.
In 1997, McDonnell Douglas was acquired by Boeing, which absorbed the MD-11 into its Commercial Aircraft Division. Production of the type officially ended on 22 February 2001. Yet, more than two decades later, the MD-11 still graces the skies-mainly in freighter service-with no sign of disappearing soon.
Who Still Operates the MD-11?
Although passenger service ended when KLM retired its last MD-11 on 26 October 2014, the aircraft has enjoyed a long afterlife as a freighter. This is typical in aviation history, as freighter versions of passenger jets often remain in service far longer.
Today, three operators maintain a combined fleet of about 56 MD-11Fs. The largest operator is Western Global Airlines, which flies 24 examples, many of them under contract for the U.S. Air Force. Current fleet plans suggest that these aircraft could remain in service well into the next decade, even past 2030.
The MD-11's Place Among Modern Freighters
The MD-11 may be a design from the 1980s, but it continues to hold its own in the freighter market. Many carriers worldwide still operate cargo aircraft based on decades-old designs. However, the industry is also looking toward the future. New-generation freighters such as Boeing's 777-8F and Airbus's A350F-both derived from highly successful passenger jets-are poised to define the next era of cargo aviation.
For now, though, the unmistakable tri-jet silhouette of the MD-11 remains a familiar sight, a reminder of an era when three-engine widebodies pushed the boundaries of design and performance.
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