McDonnell Douglas MD-11

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was a long-range, wide-body trijet airliner that made its first flight on January 10, 1990. It was an advanced derivative of the earlier DC-10, sharing that aircraft's distinctive three-engine layout with two engines on the wings and a third mounted at the base of the tail.

The MD-11 improved on the DC-10 with a stretched fuselage, more efficient engines, aerodynamic refinements including winglets, and an updated, more automated flight deck designed for a two-pilot crew. These changes were intended to give airlines greater range and better operating economics on long-haul routes.

Although it entered service in the early 1990s, the MD-11 faced a market increasingly favoring twin-engine wide-bodies, and passenger sales were limited. It found a lasting role as a freighter, however, and many examples spent long careers hauling cargo for major express and air-freight operators after retirement from passenger service.