McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40
The Pratt & Whitney DC-10 — built for just two airlines · First flight 1972 · In service 1972
The DC-10-40 exists because Northwest Orient wanted the same Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines as its Boeing 747s. It was first called the DC-10-20, but Northwest asked for a new number so the aircraft would not look inferior to the Series 30 then in development. It shares the -30's longer wing and centre main gear, and the FAA certified it on 27 October 1972.
Only two airlines ever ordered it: Northwest (22 aircraft, with 50,000 lbf JT9D-20 engines and a 252-tonne MTOW) and Japan Air Lines (20 aircraft, with 53,000 lbf JT9D-59A engines allowing 256 tonnes). JAL also had a domestic version, the -40D. From the outside the -40 is told apart from the -30 by a slight bulge near the front of the tail-engine nacelle.
42 were built between 1973 and 1983. JAL and Northwest flew the type for decades; Northwest retired its last DC-10 from scheduled service on 8 January 2007, the last major airline to do so.
