The Past And The Future

A FedEx MD-10-10F waits on a taxiway, while a Japan Airlines DC-10-40 passes by on its final approach to land on a crossing runway. The FedEx freighter is taxiing to depart for Los Angeles, from Runway 8R, while the JAL airliner arrives from a flight from Kona before returning to Tokyo.

The reason for the title is, that the Japan Airlines DC-10 could possibly be converted into a freighter jet after its retired from its passenger carrying days at JAL. The FedEx MD-10F was once a passenger carrying airliner (then callled a DC-10-10) before its freighter conversion. Instead of falling victim to scrappers torches and hatchets, some airliners find a second life as airliners for new airlines in developing countries, or as a freighter. In 2005, Japan Airlines retired their DC-10 fleet, relegating them to the deserts in California, until they can find new lives, though some have already been bought to fly cargo.

While doing research on some of the MD-10-10F airframes, many of these FedEx birds previously flew with either American Airlines or United Airlines. In fact, during the late-90s, Hawaiian Airlines leased several of American's DC-10-10s as the core of their wide-body trans-Pacific fleet. I would not doubt if most of these birds brought folks over to HNL during their passenger carrying days. I know I rode on a couple of those Hawaiian 10s in 1999.


Wow! Can you believe it's already February! Seems like New Year's Day was a few days ago. Time sure flies!