The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a classic plane. Recognized by many wherever it es, the configuration of three engines, with one in the tail, together with the huge fuselage mark the time until today, and even refer to the DC-10.
For several years the MD-11 operated in Brazil, and it was almost a stamped card in Brazilian airports. The plane even operated at Varig, and remained in the fleet almost until the company's bankruptcy.
Short story about the MD-11
The development of the MD-11 began as a need for McDonnell Douglas to adjust its product to the competition, such as the Boeing 747-400. The beginning of the project was in 1986, and the manufacturer chose to update the DC-10, starting with the -30 version, the largest available.
Despite being a "reheated" product, the MD-11 was a great chance for McDonnell to overcome its financial problems, since in the forecast the company should sell at least 300 aircraft.
The MD-11 received some significant upgrades when compared to a DC-10. To a greater load, mainly due to the larger size, the main landing gear was triple, with a central one.
Technologically, the cockpit of the DC-10, for three crew , was replaced by a cockpit in the style of the Boeing 767, already launched, with electronic screens, and a functioning that dispensed with the flight engineer, maintaining the requirement of having only two pilots, improving product attractiveness for airlines.
Another innovation was the double winglet, which promised to reduce fuel consumption by up to 5% compared to the DC-10.
The MD-11 was certified in 1990 by the FAA, and after 200 safety issues were resolved, Europe accepted the plane's certification in 1991.
In Brazil, the MD-11 was operated by Varig, Vasp and TAM, the latter through a contract with Boeing, where the MD-11 would remain in the company's fleet while its new 777-300ER were being produced.
Over the years, the MD-11 went from being a enger aircraft to transporting cargo, and in the last two decades it has stood out in this last point.
Lufthansa Cargo had in its fleet the last MD-11F that came off the McDonnell Douglas assembly line, registration D-ALCN and construction number 48806. This plane was transferred this year to UPS, where it operates under the registration number N262UP.
The aircraft was removed from the assembly line, to start pre-delivery test flights, on February 22, 2001, already as a freighter, since the last MD-11 for engers was manufactured in 1998.
Last regular operation in Brazil
The last company that operated the MD-11 regularly in Brazil was Lufthansa, through the cargo version of the aircraft. As we previously published, the company even had a schedule in place in the last weeks of December to withdraw the plane from operation in Brazil.
After stopping its flights in Guarulhos, Recife and Curitiba, it was Viracopos' turn to be the last destination in the country operating regular flights with the MD-11.
The last operation took place on December 31, just in the last 24 hours of 2020, and as it should be, it was tumultuous like last year.
The MD-11 registration D-ALCK arrived close to Viracopos to start its approach, at the same time that heavy rain was falling on the airport. The result was a go-around by the aircraft, which you can see in the beautiful video below.
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After gaining altitude again, the pilots headed to Guarulhos Airport, intending to land there as an alternate flight.
It worked out! At 10:13 am, the Lufthansa MD-11 returned to touch the ground in the metropolis of São Paulo, something that theoretically it should not do after December 23rd.
Almost three hours later, the same MD-11 went to Viracopos. With better weather conditions, the trimotor was able to land at the site, and continue with its normal schedule, despite the delay.
The last takeoff took place on December 31, at 22:40 pm, following a cargo route with a stopover in Dakar and final destination Frankfurt. These were the last moments of the MD-11 in Brazil, to perhaps return in the future on a few non-scheduled flights.
You can follow the tracking of this plane on FlightRadar 24 Clicking here.
Little by little, Lufthansa is replacing the flights made by the MD-11 with the brand new 777F. As well as at the same time updating its fleet of freighters.
According to the company, the 777F has a 15% lower operating cost compared to the MD-11, in addition it can transport approximately 106 tons, while the MD-11 can transport 80 tons.
