[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday January 9, 2007 at 7:45am]
Northwest retires the DC-10
Northwest Airlines once owned 45 DC-10 jets, but now has just retired the last of them. By today's standards, it was too plain inside, used too much fuel, and needed three pilots, not two, to fly it.
Personally, I haven't been on one in several years, and I don't miss it. Maybe it was just pilot judgment, but this plane always seemed underpowered to me, using every last foot of the runway on takeoff. The tires clicked the fence at the end, just clearing. Once in the air, it had an annoying buzz from the engines.
But as the pilots noted in the paper, it's heavier weight gave it good stability. I agree with that. My least favorite airplane is now the 757, simply because if there is any rough air above, this plane will find it and jostle you accordingly.
Of course, now we see the government advocating adding stronger floors and ceilings for security in future designs, adding weight again. We may yet get it right.
Personally, I haven't been on one in several years, and I don't miss it. Maybe it was just pilot judgment, but this plane always seemed underpowered to me, using every last foot of the runway on takeoff. The tires clicked the fence at the end, just clearing. Once in the air, it had an annoying buzz from the engines.
But as the pilots noted in the paper, it's heavier weight gave it good stability. I agree with that. My least favorite airplane is now the 757, simply because if there is any rough air above, this plane will find it and jostle you accordingly.
Of course, now we see the government advocating adding stronger floors and ceilings for security in future designs, adding weight again. We may yet get it right.