ALL AIRCRAFT McDonnell Douglas DC-10F

McDonnell Douglas DC-10F

Large, long-range freighter employing an uncommon three engine design. It’s capable of holding 23 pallets on the upper cargo deck. Big upper and lower doors support rapid loading and unloading.

CHARTER TODAY

PROVEN PERFORMANCE

Reliable, High-Volume Cargo Transport

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10F is a wide-body jet powered by three turbofan engines mounted in the tri-jet configuration: two on the wing and one mounted on the vertical stabilizer. In its original role as a commercial airliner, the aircraft seated up to 350 passengers. It was used by the military as an air tanker and cargo aircraft and later adapted as a freighter to transport large volumes of cargo for the commercial market.

The advantages of the DC-10 are its large primary cargo door and spacious cargo hold, which can carry a significant amount of large and bulky cargo, allowing easy loading and transport of palletized or container cargo. In addition, the aircraft benefits from established maintenance and support facilities due to its widespread use. It is also less expensive to operate than newer freighters.

The aircraft was designed to take off and land from major international airports and active military bases, or deactivated military bases converted for civilian and commercial use.

Choose AirFreight.com and get the right aircraft for your shipment. Let our concierge-level customer service and complete shipment flexibility get your delivery where it needs to be when you need it there.

Exclusive use of aircraft, ensuring no conflicting priorities

24/7/365 service availability for whenever you need transport

Platinum-level service and timing to reduce stress

In-flight tracking for accurate delivery status information

Cargo Capacity & Access

The spacious main deck occupies the area behind the forward passenger door to the back of the fuselage, and the lower deck is separated into three sections with one section forward of the wing and two sections aft of the wing. All holds combined, the aircraft can accommodate 18,350 cubic feet of cargo weighing up to 100,805 pounds.

Cargo Doors: The primary cargo door for the main deck is 140 inches wide and 100 inches in height and located on the left side of the aircraft. There is a large area of space between the nose and the engine for service equipment and vehicles to comfortably maneuver. The cargo door swings upward and clear of the doorway.

The lower deck is accessed by way of three doors located on the right side of the aircraft and approximately 66 inches wide and 104 inches in height. Belt ramps are typically used to service the lower deck.

Moderate-sized industrial equipment and assemblies.

Oil and gas assemblies and components.

Replacement parts for critical machinery or vehicles.

Specialized tools for repair or maintenance.

Time-sensitive goods.

Emergency equipment and supplies for disaster-affected areas.

Top Down Cutaway

Main Deck (Top)
Lower Deck (Bottom)

Max Payload

Cubic ft: 18,350
Weight: 101,805

Side Cargo Doors

Lower Deck Fore
Width: 66 in
Height: 104 in

Main Deck
Width: 140 in
Height: 100 in

Range & Routes

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10F has a non-stop range of approximately 4,200 miles at maximum payload, making it ideal for domestic routes and remote locations throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Airport Requirements

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10F is a wide-body jet designed to take off and land from major international airports and active military bases, or deactivated military bases converted for civilian and commercial use.

Taxiway Width: The aircraft’s length of 182 feet and wingspan of 155 feet requires a taxiway designed for wide-body jets.

Parking Apron Space: A large parking apron is required to accommodate its length and wingspan while allowing enough room for service vehicles and equipment to maneuver.

Ground Handling: The aircraft requires a cargo loader to lift cargo to the main deck. Belt or cargo loaders may be used to transfer cargo on the lower deck.

Fueling: Fueling may be carried using large capacity fuel trucks or fueling systems capable of transferring large quantities of fuel. Fuel capacity is dependent on the weight of the payload carried by the aircraft and the range of travel required, but can be up to 24,000 gallons.

Power and Air Support: The aircraft is equipped with an internal auxiliary power unit to provide electrical and pneumatic power when the engines are not running. The aircraft may also be connected to a ground power unit to power electrical and pneumatic systems.

Runway Requirements

Takeoff Runway Length: The minimum runway length for a DC-10 at maximum payload is between 10,000 and 12,000 feet. This requirement will vary based on altitude, temperature, wind conditions, and runway conditions. High-altitude airports with elevations over 8,000 feet may require longer runways due to lower air density.

Landing Runway Length: The DC-10 at maximum payload requires a minimum runway length of between 6,000 and 7,000 feet. Wet, icy, unpaved, gravel, or grass runways may increase the minimum landing distance required for safe operation.

Crew

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10F is operated by a crew of three, two pilots and one flight engineer. Additional cargo support personnel may be assigned to the flight by the carrier to monitor the cargo and coordinate seamless end-to-end delivery.

KEY AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS

Length

182 feet

Wingspan

155 feet

Maximum Takeoff Weight

555,000 pounds

Maximum Payload

Approximately 101,805 pounds

Range

Approximately 4,200 miles with a full payload including crew, fuel, and cargo

Cargo Volume

Approximately 18,350 cubic feet

Cruise Speed

585 miles per hour

Engines

Typically equipped with three General Electric CF6-50 turbofan engines

Emergency Relief Supplies

While we never like to see it happen, there have been instances where the well-known and traditional logistics networks have been overwhelmed by unforeseen or catastrophic events. Normal hubs and distribution centers were impacted, local infrastructure was destroyed or made inaccessible, and alternate and highly flexible air cargo solutions were necessary to meet the unique logistical challenges.

Should you face an emergency through no fault of your own, but still have to meet stringent time constraints, it’s a good idea to establish a relationship with a reputable air freight shipping company in advance to help you understand the different options available to you in case you need to call on us.

The Challenge

In the aftermath of a catastrophic event, an emergency relief agency faced the urgent task of delivering critical supplies simultaneously to multiple states in the South and the East. There was widespread and unprecedented damage, leaving thousands of residents without access to food, water, medical supplies, and shelter, and millions without electricity. Time was of the essence, and traditional freight options were unable to shift priorities to meet the immediate demand or were directly impacted themselves. The agency contacted Airfreight.com to see if we could secure aircraft for several 85,000-pound shipments of relief supplies, equipment, and building materials from several western and central states to the affected areas within 24 hours.

How We Solve It

Specializing in airborne time-critical freight deliveries, our Expeditors immediately assessed the requirements, calculated the cargo dimensions and weights, and confirmed the availability of multiple, wide-body aircraft. Cargo handling equipment was reserved, departure slots were secured, and expedited clearances were obtained to prioritize the relief flights. Ground transportation of supplies had been prearranged by the relief agency from their storage depots to the departure airports, and the destination airports prepared ground crews and facilities for the arrival of aircraft.

Supplies arrived at departure airports in pallets and mixed loose cargo and were carefully loaded onto the aircraft and secured. Our Expeditors monitored the progress of the loading and flights in real time, provided status notifications to the relief agency, and prepared contingency plans for any unexpected weather or air traffic challenges.

The aircraft landed at the destination airports early the next morning, with the prearranged ground transportation waiting to move the supplies to affected areas.

What Sets Us Apart

The seamless coordination between the relief agency, Airfreight.com, and airport authorities minimized delays and ensured a smooth operation. Most importantly, the timely delivery of supplies provided critical resources to thousands of residents, contributing to the stabilization of the situation in the aftermath of the disaster.

An operation this large exemplifies the importance of pre-planning and strong partnerships. Establishing relationships with expedited logistics companies like Airfreight.com before emergencies or disasters occur can streamline emergency response efforts. The operation also highlighted the value of technology, with real-time tracking and communication tools for managing complex logistics.