I work as an aircraft mechanic for UPS. We have MD-11s with two engine types: the General Electric CF6-80, and the Pratt and Whitney PW4000. The Pratts are being retired first due to a costly Airworthiness Directive against that engine, supposedly costing $2Mil per engine; that’s $6Mil for one airplane. Some have gone to the desert to stay, while others have been stored all year just to come back in service during our peak holiday season. We have nothing that’s a direct replacement for them, at least nothing that the company has announced to us yet. The 767s are great airplanes, probably the most reliable in our fleet, but they’re much smaller than an MD-11. Also, new airplanes come with huge payments. The MD-11s are paid off, but they cost a lot in maintenance.
@@coldstream07 As a regular Line Maintenance Technician, that information has not been shared with me, although it is publicly available information if you want to take the time to search the FAA’s website. Whatever the problem is, it requires the engine be removed from the airframe to fix it.
@@coldstream07 2018-13-02 is the most recent AD on the PW4460, says the unsafe condition is cracking in one of the low pressure turbine air seals. Not sure if that's the one OP is referring to but it would make sense.
@@coldstream07 The AD he is referring to I believe is the result of the Denver United 777 that had the fan section of the engine come apart due to fan blade failure.
In early 2000 I flew with VASP (just before they collapsed) on a MD-11 from GRU via MIA and JFK to YYZ. What surprised me was the altitudes we reached. On GRU-MIA we topped out at FL390. On MIA-JFK we reached FL410. And on the shortest leg from JFK-YYZ we reached a staggering FL450. Fun fact: As we landed on one of the 04 runways the Concord landed on 13L and taxied in just ahead of us. After refueling we got delayed while for connecting passengers. While waiting the crew had opened the left over-wing exit door to check for icing on the wings, so I got to see the Concord taxi out and take-off from runway 31L. That was an absolute screamer that will remain etched in my memory.
@@lukethompson5558 I have no idea! It later turned out that VASP was on the brink of collapse. The stop in MIA was not originally on my itinerary. And by the time my return date came around, they had ceased operation and my ticket was endorsed over to Continental via EWR. So on the final approach I was able to see the Statue of Liberty of to the left side.
@@jessicanicolebelmonte6252 was Forrest Gump sitting next to you? When Vasp ceased operations in early 2005, Concorde was already retired for almost 2 years ;)
@@lukethompson5558 that’s a very good question, because Vasp collapsed 5 years after this flight took place (2 years after Concorde retired). Maybe Vasp started to to fly back stranded pax years in advance :) on her defense, Vasp retired their MD11 fleet in 2001 , but it was years before the “brink of collapse”
The FedEx MD-11s are so iconic down here at their hub city that a local restaurant put an illustration of one representing FedEx as a part of the famous local things on their menu. As a kid, when I would pass by the airport on the way to a friend’s house, my favorite plane to see would be the MD-11 because of the 3 engines. They’re very common down here and it will be sad to see them go by the end of the decade
I saw one of these for UPS take off in the rain while we waited for take off clearance. It was so cool to see this massive jet just laugh at the storm like it was nothing.
Jumped out of MIA to SDF on a UPS MD-11. By far my favorite aircraft. The pilots were professional but made sure you knew they “don’t fly those little planes” and told our crew driver “we fly that big sexy plane over there”. Very comfortable plane and took turbulence like it was nothing landing in SDF!
I flew Varig Airlines from JFK - Sao Paulo in Feb 2001 to visit friends. It was my first trip to Brazil. I remember how wide the cabin seemed. The flights were pleasant and smooth, and the service was excellent. That was my only trip on the MD11.
As a person from Arizona, you have never lived unless you’ve gotten to experience one of our mini boneyards for planes. If you enjoy aviation, it is something to experience.
The MD-11 used to be my favourite plane to spot growing up, during the 00’s we had a few that visited LHR but they were always extremely rare… I was unfortunately a bit too young to see their prime days, same with its older brother the DC-10. It will be a sad day when they are all gone. 😕
I was a KC-10 Air Refueling boom operator and a Loadmaster on the DC-10 & MD-11's with Gemini Air Cargo, and World Airways before both airlines ceased operations. Job well done to the "Gucci Birds" (KC-10), the DC-10, & "Mad Dogs" (MD-11)
The MD-11 can be tricky to fly due to its wing configuration used to improve its fuel burn. In part that led to the losses/crashes you noted. Add in the extra costs for maintenance and fuel with the 3rd engine, that Boeing will likely want to phase out support to push their aircraft (like the 767F, 777 F versions) more, perhaps as pilots retire and not easily replaced with pilots preferring to fly newer models and its reasonable that total retirement will be in the next few years. Then again a few DC-8's still fly, they are over 45-50 years old.
2002; fly on what they called the rotator; basicly military contract flight from BWI to over seas destinations. Literally half way around the world; 5 months later flew it back. Smoothest flights I've ever taken. Almost zero turbulence.
I remember flying on it's predecessor (the DC-10 - also a trijet) on a flight from Los Angeles to Milan on American Airlines. AA was so old school back in the mid-90s. The first leg of the trip (L.A. to Chicago) was on an MD-80, the Chicago-Milan leg was on the DC-10.
Back in the 90’s I flew on MD-11s on SJC-NRT, NRT-LAX, and 3 round trips on Swissair LAX-ZRH-LAX for business. Very comfortable flying aircraft. I will miss seeing them once they are all retired.
Flew to Brussels on a Sabina DC 10 in high school for a European tour from Atlanta. Flew on a L 1011 Delta to Frankfort a few years earlier with my sister and grandma to meet and spend some time with my German relatives.
I lived next door to the Long Beach plant where these were built. I regularly drove through the assembly buildings and checked them out in their various stages of assembly.
I flew on the MD11 of Delta Airlines back in '99. From & to Manchester UK to Atlanta GA USA. I enjoyed the flights but the attendants on the return flight were a Lil incipit towards myself. So as a result, have never flown with DAL since. I preferred AAL even after the US Airways takeover. But all in all it was a lovely flight , not quite L1011 class, but good anyway. I miss the trijets, they add variety at the airport.
My wife and flew on one in the mid 80’s from St Louis to Boston as we were going to Europe. Worst flight I was ever on. We were seated in the middle of the main cabin. I sat next to a smelly large man for 5 hours. There was not an empty seat on that flight. I was thrilled to get off that flight. I had only flew several times but in smaller planes. We had a lay over in Boston, then on a 767 to Paris. I still see those planes sitting in Louisville when I go by the airport. I have seen them go over at the Kentucky fair grounds when I attend events there.
In the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, just walking around on a clear day, you can spot these MD-11s with the naked eye as they descend into Oakland thanks to that unmistakable tail-mounted engine and the equally unmistakable FedEx and UPS liveries!
I flew aboard Finnair MD-11s as a passenger on several flights between HEL and Asia. One of those flights was from SIN to HEL (so I now know that if you sin, you can indeed end up in hell). But the flights were all pretty good. I especially remember the spacious cabins and seats, and the very steep climb outs. It was only later that I found out that the MD-11's safety record is, believe it or not, even worse than that of its infamous predecessor, the DC-10. I understand the reason is that the MD-11 was designed to be inherently unstable, and is therefore difficult to pilot, especially on landing in crosswinds. Hence the roll-over crashes described in the video.
I used occasionally to fly ZRH-CDG on Varig’s MD11s. By the time they’d done the briefings in English, French, German and Portuguese, the flight was almost over. Just champagne and canapés, though: dinner was served on the way from Paris to Brazil, alas. I also flew ZRH-MUC once in a Swissair MD-11, just as they were returning to service after that crash off the Canadian coast. Decent enough passenger experience on those short flights.
I would add that, if the pilots had landed on the turf next to the runway, that turf would not only have provided more drag on the engines; it would also brought them around the obstruction which destroyed the aircraft. I know; I have put a small aircraft with malfunctioning gear and no flaps on turf. It slowed from 70 knots to a stop in 30 meters.
I think that 24 years of commercial service is not that long...even the A380 might be able to outdo commercial service even though we all thought it's life ended due to the global pandemic
the a380 was a mistake, even at the time. It was a poor gamble by AirBus to leapfrog Boeing and if you ask me it flopped. It is an accountant's airplane based on a world where people only go between hubs. Even when it came out, it could not match what the 747 could do. Both are retired now, but if you ask me, only one is missed. The a350 on the other hand is the true winner in Airbus's product catalog and deserves more recognition. If Airbus made a dedicated a380 freighter variant, the story may be different. But it's not the 1970's, and fuel is not cheap. Airbus is planning to make an a350F and properly win the circle.
@@shmuck66 I think that the A380 was a decision that was at the time deemed strange but ultimately is an amazing aircraft and piece of engineering that goes to the pinnacle of commercial aerospace. I think people will also miss the A380, that's just your opinion that you won't miss it, but myself as well as many others will.
@enderbeam8089 Engineering aircraft? yes absolutely. Nice aircraft? NO. It was an accountant's dream airplane for a world that doesn't exist. The a350 fills the niche perfectly and is far better of an airplane. Passenger comfort, efficiency, flexibility, etc. I could go on. The a380 was all the evils of the 747, without the elegance or grace. There's a reason most of them were retired. As a frequent flier I hate them.
Fed Ex fly’s MD’s into Oakland on a regular basis. On final, these beautiful beasts comes right over my house. An interesting MD quirk is how far back the nose gear is behind the flight deck. Something like 33ft. !
Yep, and the reason they did that is so it could maneuver better into small Class 4 gates, for which its short wingspan was especially designed- Class 4 gates are basically for narrowbodies. Even a tiny 737-800 also requires a minimum Class 4 gate. The MD11 is by far the largest plane that can use a Class 4 gate. The A330 (smaller) wouldn’t even come close to fitting. The odd shape of the wing (wide and stubby) is what makes it the most difficult to pilot, along with its small tail
I flew the Finnair MD-11 circa 2001 without ever realising how special it was. As an Aussie aircraft fan, I'm embarrassed I didn't understand at the time, the significance of that flight.
I don't think they flew the MD-11 ATL-Tokyo: My Georgia Tech roommate's father flew the L-1011-500 on that route, though. (Big Dave was also Wooley's godson!)
The Norfolk-Rota-Sigonella-Bahrain-Djibouti shuttle runs most days. Usually a WGA MD11, but I’ve seen National 747s and Atlas 767s in Rota too. Recently had a FedEx 777 at Moron in support of the B1s temporarily stationed there
I've flown several MD-11's back in the 90's. One of the nicest trips was on Continental Airlines business class from IAH Houston Intercontinental to MAD Madrid, Spain in 1995 and another MD-11 on the way back. It was a nice roomy cabin and we had a smooth and quiet ride up in the front of the plane. I used to fly on TWA a lot in the late 80's and early 90's, and I really liked their L-1011 fleet even better than the MD-11. I live in the SF Bay area and I fly in and out of SFO a lot. I see MD-11's there and at OAK airport on a pretty regular basis.
@@tomsamuelson8512 I'm sure you're right if you remember their fleet that clearly. I wouldn't have known the difference back then, they both had three engines and were about the same size.
I see plenty of UPS and Fedex MD-11s in Seattle everyday. Definitely one of my favorite planes to spot. Its tri-engine design is very unique especially nowadays with airplanes like the 737 and A320 dominating the air. It'll be a sad day when all MD-11s are retired, I'll miss those CF6s roaring over my house.
"Active" is just what it sounds like. "Parked" means that the aircraft is out of service but ready for quick reactivation. "Stored" means that the aircraft is out of service, at a boneyard, and would take considerable work to make airworthy again. Stored aircraft have typically had parts and even whole engines removed to service the working fleet.
I saw one of them when I first arrived in Hawaii in 2019... Not sure, but unexpectedly, had a closeup with those new ANA Honu A380. I wasn't aware of it until 2 years ago.
My brother, sister and I were on the first DC-10 flight for American Airlines in 71 or 72. LAX to ORD. The flight had a contest for a magnum of champagne and I won it. I was only 14 so they gave the bottle to my Grandma when we got picked up.
I flew on the Eastern Airlines rival L-1011 to/from Atlanta-Nassau ~'83, and a Continental DC-10/MD11 direct from Honolulu to Houston in 2006. Big birds! Why tri-jets? ETOPS - Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards - had not been approved yet so it was either 3- or 4-engines only to go across oceans when these were designed. The high-bypass turbofans introduced in the late 1960s for the 747 were much more efficient (and quieter) than earlier jet engine designs. Three engines of the L-1011 and DC-10 being cheaper to run than four on the competition wide-body 747.
I don’t believe Continental had any MD11s, just DC10s of two types. The standard/early -10s and the -30s aka heavy DC10’s with the additional middle landing gear. Continental operated most of these on international routes, usually Newark & Houston to London Gatwick and Paris Orly. On the west coast I took several of them from SFO to HNL and on to Guam even Manila. But LAX and Seattle even SD also had these flights. CO Air Micronesia even had a few flights. For a while they had a flight from Gatwick-Denver-Honolulu-Sydney. I believe the DC10 First & Business/First class were some of the best services offered by Continental after Gordon Bethune became the CEO. Continental treated their best customers very, very well! Domestically it was easy to upgrade any full fare ticket at the airport plus they gave coupons for hotels and rental cars sometimes. Because I often travelled on short notice, I often got these upgrades.
@alanmiller9681 I had gone through through the 10-day school to be a baggage handler ( called Ramp ) back in 1995 at the then- Cleveland hub. Lots to learn about every type in the fleet. DC-9, MD-80, 737-100,200,300,500, 757, DC-10, 747, and even though they were being phased out, the 727-200... also was schooled on Express planes, Embraer Brasilia, etc... MD-80s were the most reviled by Ramp personnel.
@ You might have handled my bag once or twice although I didn’t go through Cleveland once. But perhaps my last 727 flight was from Cleveland to Tampa. I still remember how the Captain banked tightly after takeoff to the point I’ll never forget it! I have a former co-worker whose husband works at SFO as a baggage handler. They’ve done very well!
Being from Memphis, I’ll miss the MD-11’s once they’re retired. Although only a year and a half old, I was glad to fly on the KLM MD-11 before Northwest replaced it with the DC-10-30. I was surprised N601FE was retired earlier on, also being regularly used to STN, CDG, and LGG.
Soy de Bogotá,Colombia 🇨🇴.... Al aeropuerto El Dorado no vienen los MD-11 desde el 2020 con Lufthansa Cargo, Centurión Cargo, Martín Air, y recuerdo el último que vi, de Western Global... Era magnífico ver volar este majestuoso avión y escuchar el intenso sonido de sus tres motores.... Deseo que Western Global regrese a Bogotá y traiga otra vez sus MD-11 ya que UPS y FedEx vienen pero con 756 y 767.
I work at EWR so I see it everyday. All 3 cargo airlines land here so I see the FX, 5X and KD MD-11s. the fuelers that use the large tankers get to fuel them everyday. FX and 5X also use A300s.
When I was going to the Dominican Republic from Geneva Airport we took a flight with Lufthansa to Frankfurt and to connect with Condor flight to Punta Cana. I had seen Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 on tarmac when we were going in the Condor terminal. Such nice airplane to see. It was in 2017
I see them quite often at RSW and there is currently one sitting on the ramp where they normally park. It's been there for a few months, appeared it was being repaired and maybe waiting for parts still? It's been a while but since they're headquarters are in Estero, Florida (near RSW), I would see many of their MD-11's and B744's sitting there and have watched many of them taking off and landing. So occasionally you can spot them at RSW.
the nose gear doesn't go straight down from fuselage, but angled forward about 5 degrees. that's why when it turns the outside wheel is lifted off the ground. suddenly all that turning force is all on one wheel, so it skids a lot. never understood why they designed it that way.
@@oldfrend Six degrees. A decision by Bob Rothi, one of the landing gear lead engineers. There's less of a tendency to shimmy at the higher speeds that way, similar to why a bicycle's front tire forks are angled forward: More "stable".
@@marcmcreynolds2827 fascinating that i would find the answer in a random yt comment haha but thanks. but i still don't get it - only plane i've ever seen that's designed that way. both bigger and smaller planes i've been around don't need it.
2:49 the only way to make these fly longer would be to re-engine them - I suppose the fastest and least expensive and risky option would be to retrofit existing off-the-shelf technology in the form of the GEnx-2B. Of course, any cost savings would probably be overwhelmed mainly by the necessity of redesigning the nacelle for that center engine.
This segment used footage from Portland International (PDX). PDX is a great spot to view the MD-11 because UPS and FedEx flights arrive near or at sunset in the spring and fall. Normally, those aircraft are front lit on approach.
a complete debacle upon EIS - MD lied about range and fuel consumption and had to scramble after EIS to meet the basic requirements, with series of mods
Manufacturers make contractual obligations based on engineering estimates for how the product will perform, and that's long before they have flight test data to know one way or the other. It's not just about the airframe: The engine maker has been playing the estimate game as well for their latest/greatest. As is sometimes (often?) the case, these estimates come up short, and then it's scramble time.
Well , it is a commonly known fact by pilots - that the MD-11 can be a bit of a "Diva" flying...esp. in gusty winds and cross-winds! Trimming is key with that lady!
How do we know the picture is an MD-11?! Can't see the winglets. I'm surprised these don't have new wing engines and a ability to close off the tail engine. It would be a great twin with more efficient engines. Like the newer 767.
I work as an aircraft mechanic for UPS. We have MD-11s with two engine types: the General Electric CF6-80, and the Pratt and Whitney PW4000. The Pratts are being retired first due to a costly Airworthiness Directive against that engine, supposedly costing $2Mil per engine; that’s $6Mil for one airplane. Some have gone to the desert to stay, while others have been stored all year just to come back in service during our peak holiday season. We have nothing that’s a direct replacement for them, at least nothing that the company has announced to us yet. The 767s are great airplanes, probably the most reliable in our fleet, but they’re much smaller than an MD-11. Also, new airplanes come with huge payments. The MD-11s are paid off, but they cost a lot in maintenance.
What problem(s) is the Airworthiness Directive meant to address, if you can share?
@@coldstream07 As a regular Line Maintenance Technician, that information has not been shared with me, although it is publicly available information if you want to take the time to search the FAA’s website. Whatever the problem is, it requires the engine be removed from the airframe to fix it.
@@jr56440That’s not true. New aircraft cost a lot, but not THAT much
@@coldstream07 2018-13-02 is the most recent AD on the PW4460, says the unsafe condition is cracking in one of the low pressure turbine air seals. Not sure if that's the one OP is referring to but it would make sense.
@@coldstream07
The AD he is referring to I believe is the result of the Denver United 777 that had the fan section of the engine come apart due to fan blade failure.
In early 2000 I flew with VASP (just before they collapsed) on a MD-11 from GRU via MIA and JFK to YYZ. What surprised me was the altitudes we reached. On GRU-MIA we topped out at FL390. On MIA-JFK we reached FL410. And on the shortest leg from JFK-YYZ we reached a staggering FL450.
Fun fact: As we landed on one of the 04 runways the Concord landed on 13L and taxied in just ahead of us. After refueling we got delayed while for connecting passengers. While waiting the crew had opened the left over-wing exit door to check for icing on the wings, so I got to see the Concord taxi out and take-off from runway 31L. That was an absolute screamer that will remain etched in my memory.
I’m curious what connecting passengers VASP was picking up at JFK, to go to YYZ
@@lukethompson5558 I have no idea! It later turned out that VASP was on the brink of collapse. The stop in MIA was not originally on my itinerary. And by the time my return date came around, they had ceased operation and my ticket was endorsed over to Continental via EWR. So on the final approach I was able to see the Statue of Liberty of to the left side.
@@jessicanicolebelmonte6252
@@jessicanicolebelmonte6252 was Forrest Gump sitting next to you? When Vasp ceased operations in early 2005, Concorde was already retired for almost 2 years ;)
@@lukethompson5558 that’s a very good question, because Vasp collapsed 5 years after this flight took place (2 years after Concorde retired). Maybe Vasp started to to fly back stranded pax years in advance :) on her defense, Vasp retired their MD11 fleet in 2001 , but it was years before the “brink of collapse”
The FedEx MD-11s are so iconic down here at their hub city that a local restaurant put an illustration of one representing FedEx as a part of the famous local things on their menu. As a kid, when I would pass by the airport on the way to a friend’s house, my favorite plane to see would be the MD-11 because of the 3 engines. They’re very common down here and it will be sad to see them go by the end of the decade
What city?
Where is "down here"?
@@PalaniRidesI am assuming Memphis since it's FedEx's world hub there
Memphis (he said “their hub city”)
I saw one of these for UPS take off in the rain while we waited for take off clearance. It was so cool to see this massive jet just laugh at the storm like it was nothing.
All of us who flew for World Airways knew the MD11 as our office that took us around the entire planet. We miss those days in the trijets.
Tri-jets are icons!
Jumped out of MIA to SDF on a UPS MD-11. By far my favorite aircraft. The pilots were professional but made sure you knew they “don’t fly those little planes” and told our crew driver “we fly that big sexy plane over there”. Very comfortable plane and took turbulence like it was nothing landing in SDF!
I love how the FedEx MD11 at 1:02 is going for a bit of a drift as it lines up for takeoff lol
That's actually an understeer.
Common problem on a light MD11 if you are a little aggressive with the tiller!
I flew Varig Airlines from JFK - Sao Paulo in Feb 2001 to visit friends. It was my first trip to Brazil. I remember how wide the cabin seemed. The flights were pleasant and smooth, and the service was excellent. That was my only trip on the MD11.
As a person from Arizona, you have never lived unless you’ve gotten to experience one of our mini boneyards for planes. If you enjoy aviation, it is something to experience.
Great video sad that the MD-11s will retire
It’s an elegant looking plane. I believe I was on an MD-11 once when flying KLM. I loved the DC-10.
The MD-11 used to be my favourite plane to spot growing up, during the 00’s we had a few that visited LHR but they were always extremely rare… I was unfortunately a bit too young to see their prime days, same with its older brother the DC-10.
It will be a sad day when they are all gone. 😕
I remember seeing these being built in Long Beach airport. They would cross lakewood blvd to the paint shop
I was a KC-10 Air Refueling boom operator and a Loadmaster on the DC-10 & MD-11's with Gemini Air Cargo, and World Airways before both airlines ceased operations. Job well done to the "Gucci Birds" (KC-10), the DC-10, & "Mad Dogs" (MD-11)
The MD-11 can be tricky to fly due to its wing configuration used to improve its fuel burn. In part that led to the losses/crashes you noted. Add in the extra costs for maintenance and fuel with the 3rd engine, that Boeing will likely want to phase out support to push their aircraft (like the 767F, 777 F versions) more, perhaps as pilots retire and not easily replaced with pilots preferring to fly newer models and its reasonable that total retirement will be in the next few years. Then again a few DC-8's still fly, they are over 45-50 years old.
2002; fly on what they called the rotator; basicly military contract flight from BWI to over seas destinations. Literally half way around the world; 5 months later flew it back. Smoothest flights I've ever taken. Almost zero turbulence.
UPS needs to wash their planes💀
My home airport is PDX and I always had a soft spot when I saw the MD-11fs. Probably my favorite plane to see in person.
I remember flying on it's predecessor (the DC-10 - also a trijet) on a flight from Los Angeles to Milan on American Airlines. AA was so old school back in the mid-90s. The first leg of the trip (L.A. to Chicago) was on an MD-80, the Chicago-Milan leg was on the DC-10.
Flew KLM MD11's in 2010 Tehran to AMS and from AMS to Vancouver. and return. Great experience
Flew as a 12 year old with an LTU MD-11 from DUS to LPA. Even back in 1998 I had the impressions that plane is something special...
Back in the 90’s I flew on MD-11s on SJC-NRT, NRT-LAX, and 3 round trips on Swissair LAX-ZRH-LAX for business. Very comfortable flying aircraft. I will miss seeing them once they are all retired.
Flew to Brussels on a Sabina DC 10 in high school for a European tour from Atlanta. Flew on a L 1011 Delta to Frankfort a few years earlier with my sister and grandma to meet and spend some time with my German relatives.
Sadly I never got to fly on an MD11, but I was able to fly on a DC10 and a L1011
I appreciate this video! Thank you!
1:00 - tire burning
I lived next door to the Long Beach plant where these were built. I regularly drove through the assembly buildings and checked them out in their various stages of assembly.
That's another good look'n plane ....I like the fact the #2 engine sets that plane apart from all other's planes which is cool👍🏿
I seen both the FedEx and UPS MD11s at La Guardia yesterday, certainly made my day.
I flew on the MD11 of Delta Airlines back in '99. From & to Manchester UK to Atlanta GA USA. I enjoyed the flights but the attendants on the return flight were a Lil incipit towards myself. So as a result, have never flown with DAL since. I preferred AAL even after the US Airways takeover. But all in all it was a lovely flight , not quite L1011 class, but good anyway. I miss the trijets, they add variety at the airport.
My wife and flew on one in the mid 80’s from St Louis to Boston as we were going to Europe. Worst flight I was ever on. We were seated in the middle of the main cabin. I sat next to a smelly large man for 5 hours. There was not an empty seat on that flight. I was thrilled to get off that flight. I had only flew several times but in smaller planes. We had a lay over in Boston, then on a 767 to Paris. I still see those planes sitting in Louisville when I go by the airport. I have seen them go over at the Kentucky fair grounds when I attend events there.
In the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, just walking around on a clear day, you can spot these MD-11s with the naked eye as they descend into Oakland thanks to that unmistakable tail-mounted engine and the equally unmistakable FedEx and UPS liveries!
I flew aboard Finnair MD-11s as a passenger on several flights between HEL and Asia. One of those flights was from SIN to HEL (so I now know that if you sin, you can indeed end up in hell). But the flights were all pretty good. I especially remember the spacious cabins and seats, and the very steep climb outs. It was only later that I found out that the MD-11's safety record is, believe it or not, even worse than that of its infamous predecessor, the DC-10. I understand the reason is that the MD-11 was designed to be inherently unstable, and is therefore difficult to pilot, especially on landing in crosswinds. Hence the roll-over crashes described in the video.
I work near the ups worldport in Louisville and I see them coming and going all the time.
I’m just happy they’re still flying, FedEx and UPS said at the end of 2023 they’d be retired
projected 2028 complete retirement
I work at a warehouse as a yard truck driver, and I see ups md-11s. It's sad to see these jets go in the next few years
I used occasionally to fly ZRH-CDG on Varig’s MD11s. By the time they’d done the briefings in English, French, German and Portuguese, the flight was almost over. Just champagne and canapés, though: dinner was served on the way from Paris to Brazil, alas. I also flew ZRH-MUC once in a Swissair MD-11, just as they were returning to service after that crash off the Canadian coast. Decent enough passenger experience on those short flights.
I worked on N545JN on May 19th of last year. I was helping push the freight off.
I saw one in Toronto yyz last Sunday
I would add that, if the pilots had landed on the turf next to the runway, that turf would not only have provided more drag on the engines; it would also brought them around the obstruction which destroyed the aircraft. I know; I have put a small aircraft with malfunctioning gear and no flaps on turf. It slowed from 70 knots to a stop in 30 meters.
3:50 Good thing there was no walls there..
I think that 24 years of commercial service is not that long...even the A380 might be able to outdo commercial service even though we all thought it's life ended due to the global pandemic
That should be 34 years not 24
the a380 was a mistake, even at the time. It was a poor gamble by AirBus to leapfrog Boeing and if you ask me it flopped.
It is an accountant's airplane based on a world where people only go between hubs.
Even when it came out, it could not match what the 747 could do.
Both are retired now, but if you ask me, only one is missed.
The a350 on the other hand is the true winner in Airbus's product catalog and deserves more recognition.
If Airbus made a dedicated a380 freighter variant, the story may be different. But it's not the 1970's, and fuel is not cheap. Airbus is planning to make an a350F and properly win the circle.
@@shmuck66 I think that the A380 was a decision that was at the time deemed strange but ultimately is an amazing aircraft and piece of engineering that goes to the pinnacle of commercial aerospace. I think people will also miss the A380, that's just your opinion that you won't miss it, but myself as well as many others will.
Concorde flew 27 years in service, so the trijet didnt even beat that.
@enderbeam8089 Engineering aircraft? yes absolutely. Nice aircraft? NO.
It was an accountant's dream airplane for a world that doesn't exist. The a350 fills the niche perfectly and is far better of an airplane. Passenger comfort, efficiency, flexibility, etc. I could go on. The a380 was all the evils of the 747, without the elegance or grace. There's a reason most of them were retired. As a frequent flier I hate them.
the md11 looks so good in the ups livery.
Fed Ex fly’s MD’s into Oakland on a regular basis. On final, these beautiful beasts comes right over my house. An interesting MD quirk is how far back the nose gear is behind the flight deck. Something like 33ft. !
Yep, and the reason they did that is so it could maneuver better into small Class 4 gates, for which its short wingspan was especially designed- Class 4 gates are basically for narrowbodies. Even a tiny 737-800 also requires a minimum Class 4 gate. The MD11 is by far the largest plane that can use a Class 4 gate. The A330 (smaller) wouldn’t even come close to fitting.
The odd shape of the wing (wide and stubby) is what makes it the most difficult to pilot, along with its small tail
I flew the Finnair MD-11 circa 2001 without ever realising how special it was.
As an Aussie aircraft fan, I'm embarrassed I didn't understand at the time, the significance of that flight.
One of my favorite planes of all time. Delta flights from Atlanta to Tokyo were amazing.
I don't think they flew the MD-11 ATL-Tokyo: My Georgia Tech roommate's father flew the L-1011-500 on that route, though. (Big Dave was also Wooley's godson!)
The Norfolk-Rota-Sigonella-Bahrain-Djibouti shuttle runs most days. Usually a WGA MD11, but I’ve seen National 747s and Atlas 767s in Rota too. Recently had a FedEx 777 at Moron in support of the B1s temporarily stationed there
I've flown several MD-11's back in the 90's. One of the nicest trips was on Continental Airlines business class from IAH Houston Intercontinental to MAD Madrid, Spain in 1995 and another MD-11 on the way back. It was a nice roomy cabin and we had a smooth and quiet ride up in the front of the plane. I used to fly on TWA a lot in the late 80's and early 90's, and I really liked their L-1011 fleet even better than the MD-11. I live in the SF Bay area and I fly in and out of SFO a lot. I see MD-11's there and at OAK airport on a pretty regular basis.
Continental had DC-10's...I don't remember MD-11's...?
@@tomsamuelson8512 I'm sure you're right if you remember their fleet that clearly. I wouldn't have known the difference back then, they both had three engines and were about the same size.
Just saw a UPS MD-11 taking off yesterday, such a cool plane
I do see the MD11 at LAX landing on runway 25L.
Sadly, I never had the opportunity to fly on an MD-11, though I flew on quite a number of DC-10s.
Very similar the MD-11 though was much faster and didn't have wood paneling on the interior
@@jasoncentore1830Remember when the IFE was a projector? And a smoking section? Man, gone are the days.
Those FedEx planes still look great
In 2021, I saw 3 MD-11’s at JFK, one FedEx, one UPS, and one Lufthansa Cargo
I see plenty of UPS and Fedex MD-11s in Seattle everyday. Definitely one of my favorite planes to spot. Its tri-engine design is very unique especially nowadays with airplanes like the 737 and A320 dominating the air. It'll be a sad day when all MD-11s are retired, I'll miss those CF6s roaring over my house.
Check out the skid at 4:54
I work for UPS at Mather Field and we turn an MD11 every Saturday night.
A FedEx MD 11 often flys too australia
Sydney-Singapore-Usa rotation
I’ll miss it 😢
"Active" is just what it sounds like.
"Parked" means that the aircraft is out of service but ready for quick reactivation.
"Stored" means that the aircraft is out of service, at a boneyard, and would take considerable work to make airworthy again. Stored aircraft have typically had parts and even whole engines removed to service the working fleet.
I saw one of them when I first arrived in Hawaii in 2019... Not sure, but unexpectedly, had a closeup with those new ANA Honu A380. I wasn't aware of it until 2 years ago.
i see a western global md11 presumably transporting military supplies quite frequently here at HSV
My brother, sister and I were on the first DC-10 flight for American Airlines in 71 or 72. LAX to ORD. The flight had a contest for a magnum of champagne and I won it. I was only 14 so they gave the bottle to my Grandma when we got picked up.
I flew on the Eastern Airlines rival L-1011 to/from Atlanta-Nassau ~'83, and a Continental DC-10/MD11 direct from Honolulu to Houston in 2006. Big birds!
Why tri-jets? ETOPS - Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards - had not been approved yet so it was either 3- or 4-engines only to go across oceans when these were designed. The high-bypass turbofans introduced in the late 1960s for the 747 were much more efficient (and quieter) than earlier jet engine designs. Three engines of the L-1011 and DC-10 being cheaper to run than four on the competition wide-body 747.
Delta used to fly the L-1011 ATL-CLT & DC-10 ATL-PHL.
I don’t believe Continental had any MD11s, just DC10s of two types. The standard/early -10s and the -30s aka heavy DC10’s with the additional middle landing gear. Continental operated most of these on international routes, usually Newark & Houston to London Gatwick and Paris Orly. On the west coast I took several of them from SFO to HNL and on to Guam even Manila. But LAX and Seattle even SD also had these flights. CO Air Micronesia even had a few flights. For a while they had a flight from Gatwick-Denver-Honolulu-Sydney. I believe the DC10 First & Business/First class were some of the best services offered by Continental after Gordon Bethune became the CEO. Continental treated their best customers very, very well! Domestically it was easy to upgrade any full fare ticket at the airport plus they gave coupons for hotels and rental cars sometimes. Because I often travelled on short notice, I often got these upgrades.
@alanmiller9681 I had gone through through the 10-day school to be a baggage handler ( called Ramp ) back in 1995 at the then- Cleveland hub. Lots to learn about every type in the fleet. DC-9, MD-80, 737-100,200,300,500, 757, DC-10, 747, and even though they were being phased out, the 727-200... also was schooled on Express planes, Embraer Brasilia, etc... MD-80s were the most reviled by Ramp personnel.
@ You might have handled my bag once or twice although I didn’t go through Cleveland once. But perhaps my last 727 flight was from Cleveland to Tampa. I still remember how the Captain banked tightly after takeoff to the point I’ll never forget it! I have a former co-worker whose husband works at SFO as a baggage handler. They’ve done very well!
When they fly over my house you can tell by the sound it makes,no other jet sounds like it .
I see these all the time at the airport in Memphis for both UPS and FedEx
Being from Memphis, I’ll miss the MD-11’s once they’re retired. Although only a year and a half old, I was glad to fly on the KLM MD-11 before Northwest replaced it with the DC-10-30. I was surprised N601FE was retired earlier on, also being regularly used to STN, CDG, and LGG.
I spotted a FedEx MD-11 taking off from SLC en route to Memphis just a few weeks ago.
Soy de Bogotá,Colombia 🇨🇴.... Al aeropuerto El Dorado no vienen los MD-11 desde el 2020 con Lufthansa Cargo, Centurión Cargo, Martín Air, y recuerdo el último que vi, de Western Global... Era magnífico ver volar este majestuoso avión y escuchar el intenso sonido de sus tres motores.... Deseo que Western Global regrese a Bogotá y traiga otra vez sus MD-11 ya que UPS y FedEx vienen pero con 756 y 767.
You should be able to see the FedEx MD-11’s at Indianapolis too.
You can still see the FedEx birds at EWR & the KC-10's out of McGuire/Dix over the Jersey Turnpike around exits 8A through 12
I work at EWR so I see it everyday. All 3 cargo airlines land here so I see the FX, 5X and KD MD-11s. the fuelers that use the large tankers get to fuel them everyday. FX and 5X also use A300s.
55 years of DC-10 and 35 years of MD-11 in 2025.
Im not sure how the MD11 still has some years left but they already started retiring the 757-200s. Both lovely airframes and I'm sad to see them go
Some 757’s are nearly 45 years old! Most of the ones FedEx retired are older than the MD’s
I flew on Swiss Air MD-11's in the past - 2004. By that time, even Business Class felt worn out.
Excellent👍. I don't think i would ever spot an MD-11Fs in action as an avgeek in real life but it is a really good looking aircraft.
When I was going to the Dominican Republic from Geneva Airport we took a flight with Lufthansa to Frankfurt and to connect with Condor flight to Punta Cana. I had seen Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 on tarmac when we were going in the Condor terminal. Such nice airplane to see. It was in 2017
I see them quite often at RSW and there is currently one sitting on the ramp where they normally park. It's been there for a few months, appeared it was being repaired and maybe waiting for parts still? It's been a while but since they're headquarters are in Estero, Florida (near RSW), I would see many of their MD-11's and B744's sitting there and have watched many of them taking off and landing. So occasionally you can spot them at RSW.
I have seen ups MD-11s at Toronto and FedEx MD-11s flying over
05:00 | The nose wheel(s) really seem to be getting a workout in that left hand turn.
Smokin' it!
I'm glad I wasn't the only one that noticed this...
the nose gear doesn't go straight down from fuselage, but angled forward about 5 degrees. that's why when it turns the outside wheel is lifted off the ground. suddenly all that turning force is all on one wheel, so it skids a lot. never understood why they designed it that way.
@@oldfrend Six degrees. A decision by Bob Rothi, one of the landing gear lead engineers. There's less of a tendency to shimmy at the higher speeds that way, similar to why a bicycle's front tire forks are angled forward: More "stable".
@@marcmcreynolds2827 fascinating that i would find the answer in a random yt comment haha but thanks. but i still don't get it - only plane i've ever seen that's designed that way. both bigger and smaller planes i've been around don't need it.
2:49 the only way to make these fly longer would be to re-engine them - I suppose the fastest and least expensive and risky option would be to retrofit existing off-the-shelf technology in the form of the GEnx-2B. Of course, any cost savings would probably be overwhelmed mainly by the necessity of redesigning the nacelle for that center engine.
Flew on a Delta MD-11 from Brussels to Atlanta. I still see the FedEx variants at TPA.
Md-11 pls not be retired!
I not wnat you to be scrapped!
You are my fav plane qith dc 10 and 727!
I remember seeing the announcement of the program in the Los Angeles Times back in 1986. I flew on it one time LGW-DFW 1998.
There's been a parked UPS MD-11 at Toronto Pearson for around 5 years, so not all 29 I'm assuming are active.
Are you sure it's not flying at night and parked just during the day?
Going to cry once they stop flying, they're gorgeous and masculine for an aircraft haha
I last see one at Stansted about 5 years ago
I believe the MD-11 can fly up till 2030 or 2035 out the latest
I've never flown on any of the MD11's and I really don't think I'll ever be flying on them. But these jets look good.
I was fortunate with american.
This segment used footage from Portland International (PDX). PDX is a great spot to view the MD-11 because UPS and FedEx flights arrive near or at sunset in the spring and fall. Normally, those aircraft are front lit on approach.
I didn’t know that 767s were still in production?
Yes - as freighters.
@@LongHaulbySimpleFlying Wow. You learn something new every day.
Can you send me a link to the research you relied on?
wow
When I was taking off from Charles De Gaulle Paris, I saw a stationary FedEx MD-11.
a complete debacle upon EIS - MD lied about range and fuel consumption and had to scramble after EIS to meet the basic requirements, with series of mods
Manufacturers make contractual obligations based on engineering estimates for how the product will perform, and that's long before they have flight test data to know one way or the other. It's not just about the airframe: The engine maker has been playing the estimate game as well for their latest/greatest. As is sometimes (often?) the case, these estimates come up short, and then it's scramble time.
Well , it is a commonly known fact by pilots - that the MD-11 can be a bit of a "Diva" flying...esp. in gusty winds and cross-winds! Trimming is key with that lady!
Never got to fly on them but saw the last passenger KLM in Italy one year. The Freighters are always flying into IAH Houston.
I see both ups and fedex md-11s quite frequently at ksat here in San Antonio Texas
UPS MD-11 sighted at BWI airport in Maryland.
How do we know the picture is an MD-11?! Can't see the winglets. I'm surprised these don't have new wing engines and a ability to close off the tail engine. It would be a great twin with more efficient engines. Like the newer 767.
3:42 good thing there wasn’t a concrete wall at the end of the runway
Flew the DC10 but never the MD-11. Do see the freighter versions across many airports like Austin, Dallas, Houston and Atlanta fairly regularly.