The Story of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Hardcover

The first quarter was mostly text about the history of the aircraft and the rest was filled with pictures of different MSNs from different liveries and carriers. Overall fun and entertaining for aviation buffs and amateur lovers of the type.

Loved it! Incredible!

Excellent!

As the DC-10 successor the MD-11 was ahead of it's time in some ways and behind in others. In the late 1980's and early 1990's three new commercial aircraft from the three majors; Airbus, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas were in various design stages and development. The Airbus A340 was a new wide bodied, long range, four engine aircraft. The Boeing 777 wide body was to be the largest and longest ranged twin engine commercial aircraft up to that time with specifically the largest and most powerful turbo fan engines developed thus far, the GE-90. The MD-11 would be the largest and longest triple engine aircraft ever built. Previously the DC-10 had experienced severe and tragic "entry into service" issues resulting from both design issues and improper maintenance. Though these issues were subsequently solved and rectified with a total 446 airframes constructed, more than double it's contemporary competitor, the L-1011. The MD-11 innovated two major commercial aircraft design features that are commonly used today; the "glass" cockpit (enabling a two man cockpit and shared with the MD95/B717) and split "scimitar" winglets. There was also a smaller empennage, refined airfoils and more extensive use of composites than in the DC-10. However, the MD-11 did not have "fly by wire" flight controls, but, continued to use the quickly becoming outdated mechanical cable system for flight control surfaces. Even with it's innovative features McDonnel Douglas greatly over estimated the aircraft's fuel consumption efficiency which resulted in the loss of a major potential customer, Singapore Airlines, when it was realized that the flight range was considerably less than anticipated. Two other major customers who did accept delivery disposed of their substantial fleets relatively quickly. The aircraft was a passenger favorite due to it's roomy cabin, only the B777 was wider at the time and in the twin engine class remains so today. Ultimately several of the passenger airlines who did purchase the aircraft replaced it with the more economical B777. However the MD-11 enjoyed a long successful career as a cargo aircraft. This book well details the story and history of this fine aircraft.

This is a great book to have for admirers of the MD-11 design and aviation enthusiasts in general. Solid hardcover, great quality prints and photographs, history and anecdotes. However, while well-composed, the writing could disappoint at times. The first third is full of historical insight, details from operations, useful diagrams, illustrations and photos. The most salient chapter for me was "Safety, Flying and Handling" where the MD-11's handling quirks are covered, especially in landing. It was satisfying reading about exactly what gave the aircraft its reputation for being a handful. Yet this chapter also frustratingly confuses "longitudinal" and "lateral" throughout, with even the plane's LSAS erroneously dubbed "Lateral Stability Augmentation System." This being at the heart of the MD-11's redesign versus the DC-10, such mistakes were a let-down. The following two thirds of the book is taken up with photos and data under "Individual Aircraft History", with registration histories, whereabouts and the like, so not much reading in this part. It ends with an entertaining story from a Swissair line pilot. All-in-all great quality book for aviation lovers, the overall excellence only occasionally dampened by weak proofreading.

Etwas überrascht war ich, dass der Großteil des Buches aus einer Fotodokumentation jeder einzelnen gebauten MD11 besteht. Die eigentliche Geschichte des Flugzeugs, insbesondere jene nach der Entwicklungsphase, fällt sehr knapp aus bzw. findet nicht statt. Nichtsdestotrotz eine hübsche Dokumentation, wenn auch sehr fotolastig und eher textarm.

Excellent book with lots of great pictures. I would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in the MD-11 or McDonnell Douglas.Nice history section on the Douglas/McDonnell Douglas aircraft that preceded the MD-11

Great book especially for someone who flew as a cargo loadmaster on this wonderful aircraft.

Im been eagerly awaiting the release of this book. Im a big fan of the MD11 though sadly never had the opportunity to fly on one. Although I have in my civil aviation library two other books on the MD 11, both were published years ago and so here we have a book that covers the later years of the MD11 in passenger service and its current role as a freighter. The book is very high quality and Im very proud to add this to my collection. A must for all civil aviation fans. My only regret is that there isn't more details of the specific airlines which ordered and operated the MD11. There are photos of every airline but not specifics about routes flown, aircraft capacity with all the airlines etc.