
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a commercial airliner that first flew in 1970 and was produced until 1989. The DC-10 has a poor fuel economy reputation, which, along with a deadly crash in 1979, led to its discontinuation. The DC-10-10, the first version of the aircraft, has a fuel tank capacity of 21,762 US gallons and a range of 3,500 nautical miles. The DC-10-30, the best-selling version, has a total fuel capacity of 137,770 litres (108,149 kg) and can travel 10,200 km non-stop. The DC-10 Air Tanker, a converted DC-10-30, carries up to 9,400 US gallons (35,583 litres) of water or fire retardant for aerial firefighting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total fuel capacity | 137,770 litres (108,149 kg) |
| Minimum fuel consumption | 7,262 kg/hr |
| Fuel burn rate | 9 tonnes per hour (initially) reducing to 7-7.5 tonnes per hour |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 590,000 pounds (270 tonnes) |
| Maximum payload | 43,014 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 21,762 US gallons |
| Maximum take-off and landing weight | 195,045 kg and 164,881 kg |
| Range | 6,600 miles (5,730 nmi; 10,620 km) |
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What You'll Learn

The DC-10-10 has a fuel capacity of 21,762 US gallons
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a commercial airliner that first took flight in 1970. The DC-10-10, the first version of the DC-10 series, has a fuel capacity of 21,762 US gallons. This version was produced from 1970 to 1981 and was intended for the domestic market. The DC-10-10 can carry a maximum payload of 43,014 kg and has a travel range of 3,500 nautical miles. It is powered by three GE CF6-6D engines and can fly at a maximum cruise speed of 507 knots, with a climb rate of 2,000 feet per minute.
The DC-10-10 has a cabin length of 36.7 meters, a width of 5.7 meters, and a height of 2.41 meters. It can accommodate up to 270 passengers in a standard configuration and 380 in a high-density configuration. The aircraft's exterior dimensions include a length of 55.5 meters, a tail height of 17.53 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 6 meters. It features a low-wing design with a wingspan of 47.35 meters and a wing area of 330 square meters.
The DC-10 series faced challenges due to design flaws and safety concerns, which contributed to its discontinuation in 1989. Despite these issues, 386 aircraft were delivered to airlines, and it outsold its competitor, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. The DC-10-30 was the best-selling version, known for its larger wingspan and slightly longer fuselage, contributing to its increased range and fuel efficiency.
The DC-10-10's fuel capacity of 21,762 US gallons is an essential aspect of its performance capabilities. This fuel capacity enables the aircraft to undertake long-haul flights and provide a range of 3,500 nautical miles. The fuel efficiency of the DC-10 series was a key consideration, with subsequent versions, such as the DC-10-15 and DC-10-30, incorporating design enhancements to improve fuel efficiency and range.
The fuel capacity and efficiency of the DC-10-10 played a significant role in its operational capabilities, allowing it to serve various routes and destinations within its range. The aircraft's fuel capacity contributed to its overall performance and helped establish its place in the aviation industry during its production run from 1970 to 1981.
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The DC-10-30 has a total fuel capacity of 108,149 kg
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a commercial airliner that was first launched to the public by American Airlines in 1971. The DC-10-30 is a variant of the aircraft with a larger wingspan and a slightly longer fuselage than the DC-10-10. It also has a higher maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) and was the best-selling version of the aircraft. The DC-10-30 has a total fuel capacity of 108,149 kg or 137,770 litres.
The DC-10-30 was first flown in February 1973 and the first aircraft was delivered in April 1973. The launch customers were KLM and Swissair, who were the first to take the aircraft into service. The DC-10-30 is powered by three GE CF6-50C2B engines, each producing 54,000 lbf of thrust. The aircraft has a range of 6,600 miles (10,620 km).
The DC-10-30's fuel efficiency can be improved by a crew that maximises the use of optimum levels and trades altitude for wind graphs. The fuel burn rate of the aircraft is estimated to be around 7.5 tonnes per hour for a trip greater than five hours. This estimate includes contingency and diversion fuel.
The DC-10 series was succeeded by the lengthened, heavier McDonnell Douglas MD-11 in 1989. The DC-10 made its last commercial passenger flight in February 2014, but cargo airlines continue to operate a small number of the aircraft as freighters.
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The DC-10-30 can make London to Los Angeles with a full payload
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a commercial airliner that was first launched to the public by American Airlines in 1971. The DC-10-30 is the best-selling version of the aircraft, with a larger wingspan and a slightly longer fuselage than the DC-10-10. The DC-10-30 has a maximum fuel capacity of 137,770 litres (108,149 kg) and can travel 10,200 km non-stop.
The DC-10-30 is capable of flying from London to Los Angeles with a full payload. This journey is approximately 5,500 miles, and the DC-10-30 can achieve this distance with its full payload capacity of 43,014 kg. The fuel burn for this flight is estimated to be 9 tonnes per hour, with the total fuel burn for the flight being 18,000 lbs (9 tonnes).
The DC-10 series was designed with three engines, and the DC-10-30 is powered by three GE CF6-50C2B engines, each producing 54,000 lbf of thrust. The aircraft has a maximum range of 6,600 miles (10,620 km), and a maximum cruise speed of 507 knots.
The DC-10-30 has been used for various purposes, including as a commercial passenger aircraft, a cargo aircraft, and as a firefighting aircraft. The DC-10 Air Tanker is a series of converted DC-10-30 aircraft used to fight wildfires. These aircraft can carry up to 9,400 US gallons (35,583 litres) of water or fire retardant.
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The DC-10-30 has a fuel burn of 10 tonnes per hour at takeoff
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a commercial airliner that first flew in 1970. The DC-10-30 is a variant of the aircraft that features a larger wingspan and a slightly longer fuselage than the DC-10-10. It also has a higher maximum takeoff weight and is powered by three GE CF6-50C2B engines, each producing 54,000 lbf of thrust.
The DC-10-30 was the best-selling version of the DC-10, with production taking place from 1973 to 1988. It was popular with European flag carriers and was first delivered to KLM and Swissair in 1972. The DC-10-30 could make the trip from London to Los Angeles with a full payload.
The DC-10 series as a whole gained a reputation for poor fuel economy, which, along with safety concerns following a crash in 1979, contributed to the end of production in 1989. Despite this, the DC-10 outsold its competitor, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, due to the latter's delayed introduction and high cost.
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The DC-10-30 has a minimum fuel consumption of 9.85 kg/km
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a commercial airliner that first flew in 1970. The DC-10-30, the best-selling version, has a minimum fuel consumption of 9.85 kg/km. This variant first flew in 1973 and was delivered to customers in 1974 and 1975. The DC-10-30 has a larger wingspan and a slightly longer fuselage than the DC-10-10, the first version of the DC-10 series. The DC-10-30 can travel 10,200 km non-stop.
The DC-10-30 is powered by three GE CF6-50C2B engines, each producing 54,000 lbf of thrust. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 270 tonnes. The DC-10-30 has a total fuel capacity of 108,149 kg. The fuel consumption of the DC-10-30 can vary depending on various factors, such as payload, flight distance, and crew performance. For example, for a flight distance of 2500 NM, the fuel burn can be estimated at around 9 tonnes per hour, including contingency and diversion fuel.
The DC-10 series was produced from 1970 to 1989, with 386 aircraft delivered to airlines and 60 KC-10 tankers. The DC-10 outsold the similar Lockheed L-1011 TriStar due to the latter's delayed introduction and high cost. However, the DC-10 had a poor fuel economy reputation, which, along with public apprehension after a crash in 1979, led to a decline in orders. The last commercial passenger flight of the DC-10 took place in February 2014, but cargo airlines continue to operate some DC-10s as freighters.
The DC-10 has also been adapted for other purposes, such as the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, which is a DC-10 converted for eye surgery. Additionally, several DC-10s have been converted into aerial firefighting aircraft, known as DC-10 Air Tankers. These aircraft can carry up to 35,583 litres of water or fire retardant and have been used to fight wildfires in California, Australia, and Texas.
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Frequently asked questions
The DC-10-10 has a fuel tank capacity of 21,762 US gallons. The DC-10-30 has a total fuel capacity of 108,149 kg or 137,770 litres. The DC-10-30 has a minimum fuel consumption of 7,262 kg/hr and a fuel burn of 18,000 lbs (9 tonnes) per hour.
The fuel consumption of a DC-10 depends on the variant, the number of engines, the payload, and the flight distance. For example, the DC-10-30 has a higher maximum takeoff weight and is equipped with an additional fuel tank compared to the DC-10-10.
The DC-10 outsold the similar Lockheed L-1011 TriStar due to the latter's delayed introduction and high cost. However, the DC-10 had a poor fuel economy reputation, which contributed to the end of its production in 1989.






































