Printable View
It seems that AA has had a history of trying lots of different aircraft.
Regarding their trijets, (too bad they did not have the L1011)
I know they have the 727 and DC10, but didnt they have the MD11 for a short while? How many of those did they have? Was the MD11 their successor to the DC10?
Also, I read recently something regarding the....MD10? Was that a desigation for a short while for the MD11?
Thanks. Just digging up some history and trying to put it together.
American was one of the reason's behind the L1011 but as we know they went with the DC-10.
Mario, Yes, AA did operate the MD11, into JFK as well. As for the MD10, that is the designation now for any old DC10 that has had the avionics upgrade. Fedex technically operates: DC10F's. MD10F's and the MD11F.
I do remember AA MD-11s at JFK.
AA was not fond of them towards the end. Crandall or one of the execs was claimed to have muttered the MD-11s should've been painted blue (the colores of AA's ground equip) because they has so many issues...
Tom
American flew MD-11's beginning in late 1991, and although I am not sure exactly when they got rid of them, it was about 5 years ago if memory serves.
The MD-11 was a poor performer-specific fuel consumption was always more than planned, and it had range shortfalls. I believe that was the main reason for their going.
I flew on the MD-11 from NRT-SEA in 1991, before it was fully certified for low visibility landings--therefore we held near SEA for about an hour before being able to land. I flew the MD-11 again in 1994 JFK-DFW and back, when it was on a couple of domestic runs (probably to get to DFW for maintenance).
The MD-11 might have been the only aircraft AA disliked almost as much as they hated the 747.
American got rid of their MD-11's shortly after 9/11 due to the obvious problems of the times and the arrival of more 777-200s.
I was lucky enough to fly An American MD-11 to LHR from JFK back in 1993.