‘Good Bye DC -11’

It was planned events in Montreal and Amsterdam around the flight on 26 October Sunday . Special some Fire trucks gave the jet a water-cannon salute at both ends, airport vehicles escorted it in a motorcade when it landed, and on-board meals included special sweets with the MD-11 logo and champagne

That was retirement time for three engine Douglass MD-11 from A KLM Royal Dutch It attracted hundreds of aviation enthusiasts from all over the world to see her last journey, who booked a seat on flight KL672 to witness firsthand the retirement of an airplane that made its name as the last American competitor to Boeing jumbos. To many of them — a flight attendant estimated enthusiasts and aviation lovers occupied nearly half of the 285 seats — it was an occasion to relive an era they came to say Good bye to her.

KLM christens all of its aircraft with individual names; its 10 MD-11s bore those of distinguished women, such as Florence Nightingale and Maria Montessori. The one that made the last flight displayed proudly the name of a Dutch icon of style: Audrey Hepburn.

“The flight deck was the best I’ve worked in, but as far as aerodynamics, the plane didn’t fly well,” a captain for Italian airline Alitalia, who asked to remain anonymous, told International Business Times during a flight in 2007 aboard a Boeing 777, the airplane that largely killed off the MD-11. Able to fly farther and with more passengers, but using just two engines, the 777 was much more fuel efficient, and swept up the market for medium-to-large size long-range widebodies.

Launching of Boeing 777 is almost killed the DC11, which it was consuming more fuel, poor recording devices and costing the airline company. It was not done well in commercial market, It was sold 200 units in duration of production 1988 t0 2000. After Introduction of 777 two engine aircraft more efficient in fuel and technology made DC11 in away from the airline company eyes. And same way after recent Retirement of DC 10 which was last flight in Bangladesh and made DC models aircraft are grounded.  The MD-11’s cargo version soldiers on, with FedEx as its largest operator, and will likely fly on for several years. The passenger models have lost nearly all value except as sources of parts for other airplanes.

Though subject to change, the final KLM MD-11 flights will take place between Amsterdam, Montreal, and Toronto. KLM 691 will depart Amsterdam at 0935 local time (LT) and arrive in Toronto at 1645LT, and it will depart Toronto as KLM 692 at 1735LT and arrive in Amsterdam at 0645LT the next day. The final flight will occur between Amsterdam and Montreal. KLM 671 will depart Amsterdam at 15:25LT and arrive in Montreal at 16:45LT, and it will depart Montreal as KLM 672 at 19:00 and arrive in Amsterdam at 0735LT the next day.

In 1985, the Board of Directors authorized the McDonnell Douglas plant in Long Beach to offer the MD-11 to potential customers, and the MD-11 program was launched on December 30, 1986. At the time of the launch, there were commitments for 52 firm orders and 40 options from ten airlines. KLM was not one of the original airlines to order the MD-11. The first MD-11 flight occurred on January 10, 1990, and later that year, the first aircraft was delivered to Finnair on December 7. KLM eventually ordered ten MD-11s, and they currently have five active MD-11 aircraft in their fleet, including their first MD-11 that was delivered to them on December 7, 1993. Four aircraft have been sent to storage and one was written off.

KLM captain Erwin Gabel, who commanded the last flight from Amsterdam , would not speak censoriously of the jet he was piloting into aviation’s hall of fame (the landing, by the way, was extraordinarily smooth). He did say, speaking to passengers at the boarding gate in Montreal, it was time for more fuel-efficient models.