MD-11 | 1990

Airline - Global Airlines
Aircraft - McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | N811GA
Delivered to Global Airlines, 1990
Sold to Japan Airways, 2003
Sold to Peruana, 2010
Sold to Jade Air, 2016
Stored at Victorville, 2018
Livery - Standard 1985
Country - United States of America

Another aircraft type Global Airlines took delivery of was the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Apart from the 747-200s, it was the largest aircraft operated by the airline at the time, featuring 38 Sleeper First, 49 Business Class, and 228 Coach seats, for a total capacity of 315 passengers. The MD-11s saw a massive modernization of interiors and in-flight amenities. Sleeper First was completely reinvented, featuring what was advertised as "the most legroom and farthest recline in the industry", coming close to being a fully-flat bed. Business Class, introduced the same year on the 767-300ER, was kept mostly the same. The MD-11 configuration featured seven rows of seven abreast seating. In Coach, the nine abreast configuration featured wider seats than on the 767s. Global Airlines was also the first airline in the world to introduce in-flight entertainment screens at every seat, even in Coach. While these did not feature touch-screen functionality or video on demand, they did include nine channels of looping movies, updated monthly. This was lightyears ahead of the previously-used CRT projector screens.

Twenty three MD-11s would eventually be delivered to Global Airlines. They were used to begin service to Asia, with the first flight - from New York JFK to Tokyo Narita - departing on December 2nd, 1990. However, naturally, the MD-11s were also used on domestic, South American, and European routes, according to demand. While none were lost in service, one did suffer a gear collapse on landing in Barcelona, and was eventually returned to service after extensive repairs. Despite their popularity with both passengers and crew members, the MD-11s were inefficient, and had to be retired by 2007, replaced completely by the 777-200ER.