The McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 has to be one of the most interesting aircraft in Philippine Airlines’ historic fleet. In fact, PAL flew the DC-10 for nearly 22 years! It is now time to discuss one of PAL’s most recognizable aircraft, the DC-10 trijet.
PAL’s very first widebody aircraft
Many people believe that PAL’s first widebody aircraft was a Douglas DC-8 or a Boeing 747. First and foremost, the DC-8 is a single-aisle narrowbody aircraft. The Boeing 747-200, on the other hand, was delivered to PAL in 1979. The DC-10 series 30 was the first widebody aircraft in the PAL fleet. The very first was delivered in July 11, 1974, which was registered as PH-DTI.
The second and third PAL DC-10s, designated PH-DTK and PH-DTC, were delivered in April and May of the following year. In October 1976, the fourth DC-10, RP-C2003, was delivered.
From 1979 to 1982, PAL received more DC-10s. PH-MBP was the most recognizable of all, as it continued to serve other air services and even military services until 2001.
PH-MBP served as a military air-to-air tanker for the Royal Netherlands Air Force until 2021! This DC-10-30CF was built in 1976, making it 46 years old! The aircraft was leased from Martinair Holland in 1979 and served the airline for just over a year. Prior to joining PAL, PH-MBP flew for Garuda Indonesia from 1977 to 1978.
Transpacific flights until they were replaced by the Boeing 747
PAL’s DC-10s served the airline’s transpacific and European routes, replacing the DC-8. However in 1979, the Boeing 747-200 began taking over majority of PAL’s long haul flights to the United States and Europe. The DC-10 continued to fly mostly to Australia, the Middle East, and Europe.
PAL began retiring the DC-10 beginning the 1980s. While PH-DTC stopped flying for PAL in 1976, the airline began retiring the DC-10s in the 1980s. Four were retired between 1980 to 1984. The last two, RP-C2003 and RP-C2114, were retired in 1994 and 1996 respectively.
However, this was not the end of the PAL fleet’s trijets. After the ICAO downgraded the Philippines to category 2, PAL was forced to wet-lease a more advanced version of the DC-10, the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. From 1996 to 1998, these planes were leased from World Airways.
The Airbus A340-300 eventually took the place of the DC-10s and the MD-11s, offering more passenger capacity and longer range.
All about the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was available in three basic configurations: the Series 10 for domestic routes up to 3,500 miles (5632 kilometers), and the Series 30 and 40 for extended range and intercontinental travel. DC-10s were converted into passenger/cargo convertibles and the KC-10 aerial tanker for the United States. The Air Force.
In addition to the luxury and spaciousness inherent in its wide cabin, the three-engine DC-10 advanced industry standards in propulsion, aerodynamics, structure, avionics, flight control systems, and environmental compatibility.
The DC-10 is powered by three 40,000-pound-thrust GE CF6 engines giving it a speed of 587 mph. It can carry 250 to 380 passengers with a range of 6,500km to 9,600km.
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