Beyond the four major body forms, DC-10s were produced in several variants. Part of the original release were the DC-10-10, DC-10-10CF and DC-10-15. The -10 was the early base passenger variant of which 122 examples were produced. The -10CF was a passenger/cargo conversion model though only nine were produced. The -15 represented seven "hot and high" variants with special performing engines. The long-range forms began with the DC-10-30 (bypassing the proposed DC-10-20). Its conversion (passenger/cargo hauler) form was the DC-10-30CF. The DC-10-30ER was an "extended range" model with different engines for the longer-range role. The DC-10-30AF/F was the dedicated cargo hauler of the group. Military KC-10 Extenders were born from the DC-10-30 line (DC-10-30CF) and delivered from 1981 to 1988 across 60 examples. The USAF selection of the DC-10 occurred in December of 1977 through the Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft (ATCA) program. The KFC-10 was of similar form and function, destined for the Royal Netherlands Air Force though based on conversions of civilian DC-10-30CF models and not new-build airframes. The RNAF took delivery of their aircraft in 1995. The DC-10-40 was the first DC-10 to be outfitted with Pratt & Whitney engines (previous forms all used GE engines). The DC-10-50 and DC-10 "Twin" were ultimately abandoned endeavors.
Operational service of the DC-10 line was not without issue. Its type was centered across some 50+ situations which went on to stain the aircraft's reputation time. Despite this, the aircraft managed a useful service life only recently retired in December of 2013 with Bangladesh. Comparatively, the DC-10's service life was not much worse than other competing types seeing issues in heavy aviation operation. Some notable events included American Airlines Flight 96 and its "near-crash" incident while Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed and killed all 346 onboard. American Airlines Flight 191 resulted in the loss of 271 lives when its Number One engine detached on take-off, severing hydraulic lines in the wing. United Airlines Flight 232's tail engine unit failed due to a detached fan disk, again severing hydraulic control. This aircraft managed a partially-controlled landing under duress (pilots were forced to work the remaining engines to stabilize the aircraft) with 111 killed at a Sioux City, Iowa airport in July of 1989. It was a DC-10's piece found on the runway that ended the flight of an Air France Concorde in 2000, the Concorde crashing shortly after take-off with all lives lost.
Modifications eventually met the series and modernization kept it flying in a more safe manner. The MD-10 mark represented upgraded DC-10s with seating for just two personnel with more advanced instrument panels (based on the MD-11 line). The MD-11 was a further tri-engine development of the MD-10 and introduced in 1990 with FinnAir. 200 of this model were produced and remain in service.
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