The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is an American trijet wide-body airliner manufactured by American manufacturer McDonnell Douglas (MDC) and later by Boeing. Following DC-10 development studies, the MD-11 program was launched on December 30, 1986. Assembly of the first prototype began on March 9, 1988.

Jan 25, 2019 · There was a discussion between Airbus and MD about using the 330/340 wing and MD-11 fuselage on a big twin. The reason it didn't go ahead was that MD was attached to the trijet layout, while Airbus preferred the twin approach, which sacrificed some payload/range.

Sep 11, 2024 · According to John Brizendine, who was President of Douglas from 1973 through 1982, James McDonnell, Chairman of McDonnell Douglas (Mr Mac) approached Airbus with a proposal that Airbus and Douglas combine on a 50/50 basis to produce a big twin based on the DC-10 cross-section.

During that decade only McDonnell Douglas continued development of the trijet design with an update to the DC-10, the MD-11, which initially had a range advantage over its closest medium wide-body competitors which were twinjets, the in-production Boeing 767 and Airbus A300/A310.

The airlines that operated the MD-11 in passenger service didn’t operate them for long, most were converted into freighters. Whereas the 747-400 had a great market for use in long range flights, so they operated for much longer in passenger service than the MD-11.

Jun 8, 2005 · The MD -11 would have made a great twin. Sure the tail and engine reconfigure would have cost some R&D but the potential sales would have more than made up for the redesign.

Jan 24, 1995 · McDONNELL DOUGLAS has revealed new details of the medium-range twin-engined version of the MD-11 now emerging as an early leader in Douglas Aircraft's (DAC) studies of potential...

Oct 23, 2014 · The only hope for the MD-11 to really succeed was by providing great range. The A330 and 767 could fly many routes but they lacked the reach that twin engine aircraft can provide today.

Aug 14, 2009 · Artist's impression of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Twin. Line drawing of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Twin Medium Range (MR) and Long Range (LR) configuration. Had McDD pursued the MD-11 as a twin from the program's inception, they'd have given Boeing a credible challenge to the 777.

Compared to the DC-10-cabin, the MD-11 also on the sidewalls and lightweight seats, better lighting, larger, newly designed luggage compartments, which tripledpassenger numbers to three cubic meters, the level of the central tank behind the second door, and providing beds for crew rest on the head.