30 replies to this topic

[737MMA]

The US air force still flys KC-10s and probably will for a while.

IIRC, the Netherlands do as well. Not sure though.

A while? Those KC-10s will be in the service for, more than likely, decades to come. Any tanker chosen by the USAF will take many years to get into flight testing, then many more years being approved for production. By that time, the original order will have been reduced, the price per aircraft will balloon into the hundreds of million a piece, and those KC-135s, KC-10s, and KC-130s will soldier on. I have little doubt I'll be dead before the KC-10 leaves the inventory...

[whowey]

Geez, I see Tri-jets everday. UPS and Capitol Air Cargo both fly them. 727 variants at least. Also I see Fed-EX MD-11's at ORD.

I was on the wrong side today, But I did catch a glimsp of something Tri-Jet over at Terminal 5(International) at ORD this morning.

My first Tri-Jet ride, was the tender age of 6 monthes. It was a DC-10, ORD - SAN. on American Airlines. My second DC-10 flight was my LAST. ORD - DEN - SFO stuck in 28E. AAACK! Talk about crappy place to be stuck.

[WingsOTWorld]

You tend to have a lot of issues with airplanes...lol....

[whowey]

You tend to have a lot of issues with airplanes...lol....

Take a look at SeatGuru, and see where 28E is. Stuck in a middle seat But unfortunately my boss doesn't like traveling, so I get to do my share plus his. Like everyone, I have my preferences.

Both my flights today were good flights. I ride 737 family ALOT, nothing wrong with them. I feel the same about the 320/319/321 family. Just that US Aiways/America West has alot of jets that could use some refurb time. Having a power plug at every seat is a BIG plus for US's planes.
And I liked the Dash-8 a bunch. I picked my seat on that flight, and I wasn't complaining I was pointing out what I thought. If it sounds like I have a dislike for older aircraft, I DO. If I travelled purely for enjoyment, or non-rev I would feel differently. But having to work, pay for the ticket, then get stuck in an antique. I have never been a fan of the DC-9 line. I do kinda like the 80's seats behind the back galley. Usually, its almost completely empty back there. But it is pretty noisy.

[Orange County Air]

Okay I know this thread is over two months old but I have some good news for you DC-10 lovers.
ATA is trying to get 10 of NW DC-10's 9 to fly and one to part out. My guess would be for the DC-10 to fly for ATA for a few years untill the 787 comes out and their are more 767's on the market. So the DC-10 still has a few years of flying if this deal works.

[drv4truk]

ATA is more than likely going to be using them to fulfill the government contracts they have. I see them and some others a lot at KNGU - Norfolk Naval Station.

[Orange County Air]

ATA is more than likely going to be using them to fulfill the government contracts they have. I see them and some others a lot at KNGU - Norfolk Naval Station.

It's probably gonna be the same for the 767 if they get one. It also depends on how much the USMC likes the DC-10.

[mandala499]

If you want DC10s, you can try your luck at CGK-DPS with Garuda... sometimes they bring it out to keep the crews current... it serves as a backup plane. If you're really desperate for a trijet, the narrowbodies are still around... somewhere... Tu154/Yak40/Yak42s anyone? No thanks, Falcon 900s please...

[WingsOTWorld]

Or wherever MD-11s are still used..

[Martynair]

they do . The royal dutch airforce has 2 old Martin-air tri-jets . i remember being flown to Bosnia in 1 . with half the martin-air interior still in place , the other half stripped and being converted into a cargo/tanker compartiment .

Correct, two ex-Martinair D10's which are quite unique since they are the only two KDC-10's in existence AFAIK. They were retrofitted with a refueling boom but since the factory built KC-10 had a heavier built tailsection (where the refueling operator lies looking through a very small window) the commercial DC-10 can't be modified. That's why they went off-spec and added a tv-circuit and the operator is seated right behind the flight deck using 3D goggles...

By the way they also acquired a third DC-10 ex-United which serves as a pure transporter (pax+cargo) which doesn't have the refueling capability.

Best regards,
Martynair

[AirKevin]

Although that would be the last passenger DC-10 around, there's plenty of freighters to go around. I actually saw a FedEx DC-10 earlier today flying over the school.