The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a long-range, wide-body trijet airliner, essentially a modernized and stretched derivative of the DC-10. It was the last commercial aircraft produced by McDonnell Douglas before its merger with Boeing.
Key characteristics of the MD-11 include:
- Trijet Configuration: Like its predecessor, the DC-10, it features three turbofan engines: two under the wings and one mounted in the tail with an S-duct.
- Advanced Design: Compared to the DC-10, the MD-11 incorporated significant aerodynamic improvements, a stretched fuselage, increased wing span with winglets, more powerful and fuel-efficient engines, and a state-of-the-art digital cockpit (a two-person "glass cockpit") that eliminated the need for a flight engineer.
- Wide-Body, Long-Range: It maintained the wide-body cabin for passenger comfort and was designed for very long-haul routes.
- Variants: The MD-11 was available in passenger, freighter, and combi (passenger/freight) configurations.
- Production and Usage: While initially intended for passenger service, many passenger MD-11s were later converted into freighters. The aircraft gained a strong reputation as a highly efficient and reliable cargo workhorse, and today, it is predominantly flown by major cargo airlines around the world.
Despite a relatively short production run for passenger versions, the MD-11 has had a remarkably successful second life as a dedicated freighter, valued for its range and capacity.
