http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 49Above: The third variant was the -30,
an intercontinental version tted with
General Electric CF6-50 turbofans that
had a range of 6,200 miles (9,978km).
A total of 163 DC-10-30s were built
and served with 38 operators,
including British Caledonian Airways.
The latter’s G-BGAT is pictured on
approach to Gatwick in October 1984.
AirTeamImages.com/Carl FordAbove right: The DC-10’s reputation suffered
in the early years from two fatal accidents
in 1973-1974 claiming the lives of 346
passengers and crew. There have been 14
more deadly incidents during operations
in civilian hands. Not all of these were due
to problems with the aircraft though – one
was the result of a bomb, another due to
a hijacking, at least two were attributed
to bad weather, and human error played
a signi cant part in some of the others.
Various modi cations improved the design
and it has gone on to give good service.
The second basic model was the -15,
which was essentially a ‘domestic’ version
that had more powerful engines to cope
with hotter, tropical climates. Pictured is
DC-10-15 N1003W of Mexicana Airlines
at Miami International on April 16, 1984.
AirTeamImages.com/Caz Caswell
Above right: The DC-10-30ER was an early
1980s extended-range development of the
intercontinental variant that featured an
additional fuel tank in the hold. Only six were
built from new, along with a handful of DC-10-
30 conversions. CP Air was one user of the
type, and its C-GCPI is shown at Birmingham
on May 23, 1982. AirTeamImages.com/Carl Ford
Right: Thai Airways International was another
DC-10-30ER operator – the airline’s HS-
TMA is illustrated at Frankfurt-Main, West
Germany, on March 27, 1988. AirTeamImages.
com/Ralf MeyermannThe lucrative option to carry freight was very appealing to potential aircraft purchasers,
and so in the early 1970s McDonnell Douglas developed the DC-10-30CF; a variant of the
standard long-haul version that could be quickly converted into an all-passenger or all-cargo
con guration. It wasn’t massively successful for a variety of reasons and only 27 were
built. Korean Air Lines DC-10-30CF, registration HL7339, is illustrated at Paris-Orly in 1981.
AirTeamImages.com/Wolfgang Mendorf48-51_jetliners_dc10DC.mfDC.indd 49 02/05/2018 15:33