United DC-10-30 Rockets Out of LAX (Great Sound)

Here you see a UAL DC-10 departing from LAX after a short ground roll. Recorded in 1989.

Shot by my friend Craig Pilkington (Aviation Media ©)

Edited / uploaded by me with the kind permission of Aviation Media ©

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• DC-10-30
• DC-10
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[buster757]

There are only 2 of them in existence because the difference in performance is negligible, so it is difficult to justify the enormous cost. It is a similar situation to B-727 winglets. Delta had 2 aircraft with them and then removed them because they made very little difference. I worked for Braniff until 1982 then contracted for UPS for 15 years.

[RyanBomar]

@buster757, can you give me the MD-10 reg # so I can verify that. I know that a CO DC-10 was fitted with winglets prior to the MD-11 but I'd love to validate your story by seeing photos on Airliners.

[buster757]

They are now on the Fed Ex planes

[RyanBomar]

@buster757, you're mistaking MD-11's.

[RyanBomar]

@patrickmollette15, United never operated the MD-11. The DC-10-10 series did not have the middle gear but the DC-10-30 and -40 series did. As a side note, one way to confirm it's an MD-11 is by the presence of winglets.

[pacificbound67]

I miss those tri jets........

[crackaddict444]

@RyanBomar Not exactly. The MD-11 is longer than the DC-10 and has a shorter vertical stabilizer. The #2 engine inlet is also shaped more like a Coke bottle similar to the DC-10-40, but yes, the winglets are the most obvious giveaway.

[AcepilotC172]

Just love the FAA sign....not sure why the even post that!

[XBoeingCapt]

I love the FAA sign on the taxiway, sure, lets just taxi right over and say hi to the boys, they're our friends

[buster757]

I'll contact my friend at Fed Ex and see if I can get that for you

[RyanBomar]

@buster757, the MD-10 conversion does indeed change the aircraft to a 2 pilot cockpit but winglets are not added.

[buster757]

@RyanBomar That is of course unless it is an MD-10 conversion by which a DC-10-30 or -40 is converted to MD-11 configuration by the addition of winglets and the 2 pilot MD-11 cockpit. Performed by Timco in Greensboro, NC