The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Would've Likely Been Killed If It Weren't For Air Cargo Demand

McDonnell Douglas MD-11: An Evolution Of The DC-10Credit: ShutterstockIn the 1980s, the DC-10 design was beginning to age. At full payload, the aircraft's range dropped to around 6,460 nautical miles (11,963 km), well below McDonnell Douglas' original performance targets. Related How Many McDonnell Douglas MD‑11s Were Built? The MD-11 Found A Second Life In CargoCredit: ShutterstockFurthermore, in 1997, Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas, which further undermined the program. Indeed, the aircraft may not have become the long-haul passenger aircraft McDonnell Douglas envisioned, but demand from the cargo market gave it a much longer career than it would have otherwise achieved.