Before discussing the five McDonnell Douglas DC-10s, operated by Air France, let’s look at the aircraft and see how it came to be. In 1965 the United States Air Force was looking for a new heavy transport aircraft. The Douglas Aircraft Company bid was not selected, but it did make the plane maker consider building a widebody passenger airline.
A year later, American Airlines said it was looking for a widebody aircraft with the same range as a Boeing 747 that could land at airports with shorter runways. Following the merger between McDonnell Aircraft Corporation and Douglas Aircraft Company on August 1, 1967, the new company created a design for American Airlines.
A three-engine design was selected
The initial plan was to build a four-engine double-decker plane that could seat 550 passengers and was the same length as a DC-8. The idea was quickly shelved, and designers began work on a single-deck three-engine aircraft that could carry 399 passengers.
Lockheed was also working on a similar jet, the L-1011 TriStar. When American Airlines announced on February 19, 1968, that it was buying the DC-10, Lockheed could not believe what had happened.
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 made its maiden flight on August 29, 1970, following an extensive testing program. Less than a year later, on July 29, 1971, the Federal Aviation Authority(FAA) issued the DC-10s type certificate allowing it to enter service
