Derived metrics
Computed by aircraft.fyi from the core specification — see how we calculate these.
How big is it, really?
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10's wingspan, against things you already know the size of.
The numbers
| Length (DC-10-30) | 55.50 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 50.40 m |
| Height | 17.70 m |
| MTOW (-30) | 259,450 kg |
| Range (-30) | 10,620 km |
| Typical seats | ≈270 |
| Engines | 3 × GE CF6-50 |
| First flight | 29 August 1970 |
| Built | 446 (incl. 60 KC-10) |
Put the DC-10 next to something
Last verified: 2026-07-14 · Spot an error? business@luck.fyi
What makes it different
The DC-10 was born from the same 1966 airline requirement as the L-1011 and beat it by being cheaper and earlier. Then came the 1970s: cargo-door failures and the 1979 Chicago crash gave it the worst reputation in aviation. The design flaws were fixed, and the aircraft quietly became what the numbers always said it was — a rugged, useful widebody that sold 446 including sixty KC-10 tankers for the USAF.
It outlived its critics by decades. FedEx flew modernised MD-10s into the 2020s; Biman operated the last passenger flight in 2014; the KC-10 Extender refuelled American wars until its 2024 retirement.
Its final acts are its best: 10 Tanker's DC-10s drop 35,000 litres of retardant on wildfires in a single pass, and Orbis's MD-10 is a flying eye hospital with an operating theatre in the fuselage.
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 — the short answers
How fast is the McDonnell Douglas DC-10?
How far can the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 fly?
How many people does the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 carry?
Is the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 still in production?
How big is the McDonnell Douglas DC-10?
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 line
DC-10-10 / -30 / -40
KC-10 Extender
MD-10
Who flies the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
All 2 current operators, verified 2026-07-14. Fleet counts are approximate where marked ≈.
Put it next to something
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10 vs McDonnell Douglas MD-11 →
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10 vs Lockheed L-1011 TriStar →