Norcal773 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 1280 posts, RR: 12 Posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 10107 times:
Do they? I've been to find this out but I cannot get an answer for sure and I am flying them next week to AMS and I am just curious coz I've never been on an MD-11 before. It'd be cool to fly one for sure.
Sl1200mk2 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 31 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 10086 times:
I can almost 100% say that they still do as I believe I saw one on approach last week from SQL which is right under the approach. Of course, I may be totally off but I do think they still send MD-11s to SFO.
N593HA From Germany, joined Oct 2004, 152 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 10034 times:
Yes, I can confirm this. KL is utilizing MD-11s on KL605+606 for the remainder of the winter-season.
In-fact today's flight just touched down on runway 28R at SFO a few minutes ago (thank you liveatc).
See flightaware for confirmation: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/KLM605
I will be flying with KL605 to SFO on Dec. 18th and I am already excited. This also will be my first MD-11 flight. By the way KL is just installing new cabin-interiors into their MD-11s
But I am not sure on many have been fitted with the new interior already.
Just as a side-note. KL used 772ER on this route until Nov. 8th.
Norcal773 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 1280 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 9870 times:
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I am stoked coz I was hoping they'd be sending the old boy next week. It'll also be my first time to fly KLM and to AMS so a lot of firsts for me which is amazing considering I've been around. I guess I'll be on it again 6 weeks later after my vacation in Europe and Africa. I kinda feel like I am betraying * Alliance considering I've been so royal to them but ooh well!
Alexinwa From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1107 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 9626 times:
Quoting Norcal773 (Reply 4): Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I am stoked coz I was hoping they'd be sending the old boy next week. It'll also be my first time to fly KLM and to AMS so a lot of firsts for me which is amazing considering I've been around. I guess I'll be on it again 6 weeks later after my vacation in Europe and Africa. I kinda feel like I am betraying * Alliance considering I've been so royal to them but ooh well!
I HATE YOU!!! (JOKE BY THE WAY)
The MD11 is the one a/c that I haven't been on yet and chances are I won't before they all have FedEx or UPS colors on them. Good for you!!!
Maybe I should wrap myself up as a pacakge via FedEx?
Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 6, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 9609 times:
Quoting Norcal773 (Thread starter): Do they? I've been to find this out but I cannot get an answer for sure and I am flying them next week to AMS and I am just curious coz I've never been on an MD-11 before. It'd be cool to fly one for sure.
We know darn well you would prefer flying on one of THESE beauties..
Modesto2 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2634 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 9014 times:
Saw the daily flight land yesterday at SFO as an MD11. What a beautiful plane! I'm glad someone still operates it besides the cargo carriers.
L1011buff From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 112 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 8244 times:
how much more life do the MD11s have? how old are the PAX ones still flying with KL and other carriers?
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21495 posts, RR: 24 Reply 9, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 8171 times:
Quoting L1011buff (Reply 9): how much more life do the MD11s have? how old are the PAX ones still flying with KL
KL's MD-11s were delivered between 1993 and 1997 (1 in 1993, 5 in 1994, 3 in 1995, 1 in 1997).
The last passenger MD-11 was delivered in April 1998. Another 21 MD-11s were delivered through February 2001 (the last to LH Cargo) but they were all freighters.
Brucek From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 246 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 years 5 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 7814 times:
Quoting LarSPL (Reply 11): the MD-11s have just been fitted with an all new pax interior to come to A330 and 777-2 standards
Does that imply that they will be in pax service for some time to come yet?
I wonder how the world economics today influences airlines to keep older aircraft vs buying newer ones? Other than the need to keep a pool of rated pilots and dedicated maintenance facilities for the MD11's, I wonder just how much more inefficient they are compared to the B777's and A33's.
TrijetsRMissed From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2099 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 6732 times:
Norcal773, I'm very jealous, enjoy your trip. You should consider posting a TR, I don't think anyone has with the refitted KL MD-11s.
Quoting Brucek (Reply 12): Does that imply that they will be in pax service for some time to come yet?
At least a better half of a decade more. KL previously stated the gradual phase out will occur between 2012-2015. Most likely replaced by the A350, which is still just a paper airplane. Take your time Airbus.
Quoting Brucek (Reply 12): I wonder just how much more inefficient they are compared to the B777's and A33's.
Three engines is always more fuel thirsty than two. But they are from the same generation of airliners as the 772 and A333, it's not like operating the DC-10. Plus, every aircraft from PH-KCE on is a full PIP model. Not sure about the first few deliveries, but they were likely upgraded as well.
ContinentalFan From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 355 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 6402 times:
Saw a KLM MD-11 at the Int'l Terminal at SFO yesterday when I arrived.
Homer71 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2209 posts, RR: 17 Reply 15, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 6126 times:
In case you need visual proof
From 13 Nov 08:
"On spaceship earth there are no passengers...only crew."
Richiemo From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 195 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 6052 times:
It will be really be a shame when these beauties are gone. The loss of the L10s and DC10s was sad enough, and even the 727s. The MD 11s are the last link the good ol' three-holers. Don't get me wrong, I love the 777s, 757s, airbuse, etc. But there is just something about the MD 11, especially in the KLM colors. Enjoy them while they last.
PHKLM From Northern Mariana Islands, joined Dec 2005, 1198 posts, RR: 3 Reply 18, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 5779 times:
Quoting N593HA (Reply 17):
So does that mean all 10 aircraft (# according to airfleets.net) have been fitted with the new interior already?
Yes and no. All M11's have been refitted with new interiors and seats in a 3-3-3 seating config in the Y cabin. However, the original plan was to fit the Y cabin with AVOD too. Hence, the new seats that were installed during the refit were prepared for later installation of an AVOD system. It was not done initially in order to reduce downtime of the M11 fleet, as this initial refit took place during a time the long-haul fleet of KLM was really stretched beyond its limits in terms of fleet utilization.
Now during the winter schedule there is a lot more room in the schedule to have one or two M11's on the ground, and I expect the utilization rate will even go down further once KLM quits HYD on Feb 1st (as announced last month). As a result the M11 will now go through the second phase of cabin retrofitting, in which AVOD supposedly will be installed in the Y cabin. The progress of this refit is totally unknown to me, as I have to rely on what information is publicly available.
And yes, in the end this will be done for PH-KCA up untill PH-KCK, hence 10 frames in total (PH-KCJ does not exists as PH-xxJ is reserved by KLM for airplane scale models only).
PHKLM From Northern Mariana Islands, joined Dec 2005, 1198 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 5662 times:
Quoting Bmacleod (Reply 19): Speaking of KLM MD-11s are they still flying into YUL? They were for the past 4 years or so.
They are. YUL is served daily with the M11 during the 08/09 winter season. Hence, YUL will also see the introduction of AVOD in Economy class on KLM soon.
EDIT: On a side note, the KLM World Time table, available for free download let's you browse the entire KLM network and includes all flight information such as destinations, frequencies, departure- and arrival times and -most important for us A.nutters- equipment
Malaysia From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 3185 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 5543 times:
I think I flew one of the most exotic MD-11s
2 times on Mandarin Airlines
I have seen the KLM MD-11s up close at IAD and SFO. but only KL I flew was the 747-400M
There Are Those Who Believe That There May Yet Be Other Airlines Who Even Now Fight To Survive Beyond The Heavens
Stratosphere From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 1614 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 5536 times:
Looks like on that second pic that the #2 reverser is open. One thing you can count on in MX if you had a DC-10 or MD-11 if a reverser was going to have a problem it was going to be the #2. Murphy's law without a doubt.
N593HA From Germany, joined Oct 2004, 152 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5396 times:
Quoting PHKLM (Reply 18): Yes and no. All M11's have been refitted with new interiors and seats in a 3-3-3 seating config in the Y cabin. However, the original plan was to fit the Y cabin with AVOD too. Hence, the new seats that were installed during the refit were prepared for later installation of an AVOD system. It was not done initially in order to reduce downtime of the M11 fleet, as this initial refit took place during a time the long-haul fleet of KLM was really stretched beyond its limits in terms of fleet utilization.
Now during the winter schedule there is a lot more room in the schedule to have one or two M11's on the ground, and I expect the utilization rate will even go down further once KLM quits HYD on Feb 1st (as announced last month). As a result the M11 will now go through the second phase of cabin retrofitting, in which AVOD supposedly will be installed in the Y cabin. The progress of this refit is totally unknown to me, as I have to rely on what information is publicly available.
Thank you. That is really useful information. Great to hear that all frames have been fitted with the new interior already. I can live without AVOD & PTVs. But off course it is a nice bonus to have and it makes flying even more fun (especially the map function).
Altough I will not be disappointed (ok, may be a little ) when I end up on an aircraft without AVOD when flying KL605 AMS-SFO on Dec. 18th.
DesertAir From Mexico, joined Jan 2006, 1389 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 5180 times:
I have enjoyed reading this thread. I have flown twice on KLM MD-11s to AMS...then a 737 to Rome and for the second trip a 767 to Nairobi. The best seats in coach are on the sides where there are only two seats. I would love to fly them again.
25 Anonms: I saw the MD-11 today when I was at SFO! I haven't seen one of those since CI/AE stopped flying them.
26 Norcal773: Any idea what seat numbers on the MD-11 are only two? I am flying a 777 to NBO actually.
28 TrijetsRMissed: I think he is referring to the cabin prior to the refits. The refitted cabins now are 3/3/3 abreast in preparation for the AVOD. Before, the KL MD-11
29 Norcal773: I throughly enjoyed my flight on the MD-11 from SFO on the 5th. I flew PH-KCH which has PTV's in it (not that it matters much to me) and that was the
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