McDonnell Douglas MD-11
McDonnell Douglas · In service (freighters)
Length61.62 m
Wingspan51.66 m
Height17.60 m
MTOW286,000 kg
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Douglas & McDonnell Douglas
United States · Founded 1921
From the DC-3 to the last great trijets — the manufacturer Boeing absorbed.
Aircraft here3
Longest61.62 m
Combined built1,202
First flights1958–1990
The company
The story so far
Douglas Aircraft once ruled the skies: the DC-3 made air travel a business, and the DC-8 took it into the jet age, becoming the only airliner in history to exceed the speed of sound in a dive. Merged with McDonnell in 1967, the combined company built the DC-10 and the MD-11 — the last three-engine widebodies ever produced.
The MD-11's commercial failure, alongside a shrinking military portfolio, ended the company's independence: Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Its aircraft fly on mostly as freighters, and its trijets remain among the most distinctive silhouettes ever built.
The line-up
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Douglas & McDonnell Douglas aircraft
Silhouettes are sized by real wingspan — bigger aircraft draw bigger.
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McDonnell Douglas DC-10
McDonnell Douglas · Retired (special missions)
Length (DC-10-30)55.50 m
Wingspan50.40 m
Height17.70 m
MTOW (-30)259,450 kg
Douglas DC-8
Douglas · Retired (a handful of specials)
Length (Super 61/63)57.12 m
Wingspan (Super 63)45.23 m
Height13.11 m
MTOW (Super 63)158,757 kg
Side by side
Every type, ranked by length
| Aircraft | Length | Wingspan | First flight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | 61.62 m | 51.66 m | 1990 | In service (freighters) |
| Douglas DC-8 | 57.12 m | 45.23 m | 1958 | Retired (a handful of specials) |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10 | 55.50 m | 50.40 m | 1970 | Retired (special missions) |
Sources
Primary sources
Further reading