NW DC-10?'s

b764 · Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:39 pm

As the days of NW DC-10 service appear numbered, I was wondering what routes an enthusiast can catch for one last ride on this beauty?

DTW-AMS; DTW-SEA; etc?

Does anyone know when will her last flight take place? Also, what route will that be?

9V-SPF · Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:43 pm

As far as I know, MEM-AMS and MSP-AMS are still operated by DC-10s. KLM is currently offering some good deals here in Europe for transatlantic flights on KLM and NWA and I´m considering taking one of those flights in October in order to finally get on the DC-10 and/or KL´s MD-11.

jasepl · Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:56 pm

The MSP-AMS flights continue on to BOM and they are indeed DC 10 flights. Also, over the winter, you could do the second MSP-AMS flight that also continues on to BOM and is also a DC 10 op.

isitsafenow · Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:58 pm

According to the NW in-flight mag, August edition, they still have 22 in service.
They should still be flying for a couple of years.
safe

electraBob · Sun Aug 08, 2004 11:12 pm

NW flight 32 - Detroit-Gatwick- is still a DC-10 and will remain so until the seasonal DTW-Rome flight ends (DTW-FCO is using the 333...the flight ends in mid to late Oct)....then flight 32 will switch over to a 333. Northwests' seasonal winter/spring nonstop from DTW-Honolulu will use a D10.

Saw flight 31 from Gatwick on final for 22L at DTW the other day...funny, but after seeing NWA DC-10's for so many years going into DTW from my home, that lone DC-10 seems so out of place now. I have become so used to seeing the beautiful A330-300's.....I find it hard to even look at the DC-10 .... I know it's days are numbered and I realize that I will really miss that aircraft someday soon.

SafetyDude · Sun Aug 08, 2004 11:23 pm

I remember reading that NW had plans to continue using the DC-10 to LGW.

Smile

-Will

nwafflyer · Sun Aug 08, 2004 11:29 pm

The DC-10 is a beautiful plane to look at, and very very comfortable - plenty of seat room, first class is more comfortable for sleeping than the flat seats on the A330, DC-10 is probably my favorite plane (sure it's hold, but all the douglas planes are tanks -- will fly forever)

lat41 · Sun Aug 08, 2004 11:38 pm

Have the 10's been painted in the new livery? I understand that NW has some ships that are relatively new and quite viable on the routes on which they are placed.

transswede · Mon Aug 09, 2004 12:00 am

Yes indeed.

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Photo © WEIMENG

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Photo © Daniel & Robert Fall

It looks quite good, IMO!

jetjack74 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 12:41 am

SEA-HNL will return to a DC10 in October. As more A332's make there way into the fleet, more DC10's will probably appear on more domestic routes.

lat41 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 12:49 am

I never thought they were that nice to look at although the MD-11s have nicer proportions. In the NW livery, however the 10 never looked so good. Aesthetically, I have always liked any DC-8, 9's 727-200, 757-200 and the Vickers VC-10s with the supers even more graceful. This NW paintjob on the 10 however, is very smart, & make the aircraft look contemporary.

SafetyDude · Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:10 am

more DC10's will probably appear on more domestic routes.
Will the domestic routes be to Hawaii, or what?

Smile

-Will

premobrimo · Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:47 am

MSP sees one of the highest concentrations of DC-10s.

2x Daily MSP - HNL
2x Daily MSP - AMS
1x Daily MSP - LGW

All of these flights are operated by DC-10s.

I have yet to see the new A333 fly over. I am still so used to seeing the good ol' DC-10s fly over. The third MSP-AMS flight currently operated by KLM will be switched back in October to NW. This third daily non-stop will then be operated by a new A333.

[Edited 2004-08-08 18:48:06]

S12PPL · Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:02 am

You can catch the DC-10 on the PDX-NRT run for a coupple more months yet..

That route, however, moves to the A330-200 in the fall...I think around October.

KDTWflyer · Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:10 am

What will replace the D10s on the DTW-HNL sector eventually, A332 or A333? Will MSP ever see the B742 "Beach Market" planes to HNL during the winter or is that screwed too?

NWA757 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:21 am

According to the latest in-flight magazine, the August edition, Northwest Airlines still have 22 in service.
They should still be flying for a couple of years, however they are slowly being retired as the Airbus A330-300's and A330-200's join the fleet. The DC-10 40 series were replaced by the stretched Boeing 757-300.

nwcoflyer · Mon Aug 09, 2004 3:02 am

NW will keep a handful of DC-10s through the end of the decade, mainly on the HNL-Japan/MSP and DTW routes. MSP will be the last airport to operate DC-10 flights to Europe. Some of NWA's DC-10s are only about 15 years old, comparable to the ages of DL, UA, and AA's 767 fleets.

I doubt that we will see the DC-10-30's fly on any domestic routes within the lower 48. They are configured in the J/Y international configuration. Of course it would be nice to see MSP-LAX again using the DC-10, but that is what the -40 series were for.

lat41 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 3:13 am

And thus, there will be a few jobs for flight engineers around.

jetjack74 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:19 am

At the point the there is enough A330's to coverthe TATL, and TPAC routes, you mos likely see the DC10's flying the high-density routes both Mainland-Hawaii, and Domestic US, as well as Alaska. They'll be circulated through the system the same way the 40's were and the 757-300's are at the moment. our fleet spends more time in the air than any of the of the other Big 6 airlines. I doubt they'll be confined to one market.

707437 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:31 am

Will the DC-10-30 service SEA-AMS continue? Or will it be replaced by the A333 sooner rather than later?

AA B777-200 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:36 am

B764,

Hop on to Amsterdam and you'll see plenty of NWA DC10s! They still have daily flights into Boston (NW#37), Seattle (#33), Memphis (#57), Bombay (#42) (extension of the MSP-AMS flight) and two MSPs (#41 and #55).
All Amsterdam-DTW flights are now A330.
There is a third flight into MSP, but currently served by a KLM MD11. Starting in November this will be a NW DC10. However, sometimes the DC10 is replaced by a classic 747.
I think, somewhere in January or February, we'll see the first A330 doing MSP.

Nwafflyer,

Yes, The DC10s still kick ass! But, let's be honest, 2-5-2 configurations are ancient matters! Once you've been on NW's A330, you DO NOT want to be on the DC10!

trickijedi · Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:40 am

I've flown SFO-MSP on NW before. I'm sure it was a connecting flight from NRT.

jerion · Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:52 am

Just had a friend fly BOS-AMS and AMS-BOS on a NW DC-10.

Jerion

premobrimo · Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:55 am

They used to fly the '10 on MSP - MCO routes. This is a very large route for MSP in the winter when all of the cold families want to get out of the snow and head to Disney World.

Thrust · Mon Aug 09, 2004 6:24 am

THe DC-10-30 will be used on domestic routes primarily after the A332s take over NW's routes to Asia, but Safety Dude could be correct in saying NW DC-10's will continue being used on LGW (although I thought NW said the A333 would take over that route Confused

). But the DC-10-30 probably will not be domestic for very long...its days are well-numbered, and NW needs to concentrate on reducing their average fleet age. Currently, it operates a batch of DC-9s, many of which are nearing or are 40 years old, Boeing 742s that are almost 35 years old, and the DC-10-30s are also over 30 years old as well (I think.) Reducing their fleet age should increase profitably, make them more immune to fuel prices, and save them lots of money. However, it certainly will pain me to see these old birds leave the skies, as NW is the one of the only airlines left to use the DC-9, 742, and DC-10 as passenger versions, and in such great quantities Crying

Ilovenz · Mon Aug 09, 2004 6:26 am

Ok everyone, now on to the weekly (or is that daily) discussion of NW DC-9's!!!! (just kidding Wink/being sarcastic

)

Those birds look incredible in the new livery. Hopefully someone will put one on display somewhere when they are finally retired.

NWA757 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:07 am

Indeed, it will be sad to see the DC-10 gone from Northwest's fleet. However, she is still 22 strong in the fleet. The Airbus A330 series both -200 and -300's will start to take the Dc-10's place in the fleet.

bobnwa · Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:18 am

Thrust,
"742's that are almost 35 years old" "DC-10-30's that are over 30 years old"

I don't think so

N243NW · Mon Aug 09, 2004 8:37 am

The newest DC-10 that NW operates (Coincidentally, I think it's Ship 1243) was manufactured in 1988, and I doubt NW owns -30s that are much older than that. Not exactly 30+ years old.
-N243NW Big thumbs up

burnsie28 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 8:49 am

NW will operate DTW-LGW starting I believe October 30. The DC-10 will continue to fly MSP-LGW.

XFSUgimpLB41X · Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:36 pm

They are going to be around for a while... they are paid for and great airplanes in perfect shape. You'll be good to catch a ride for at least a few more years.

RayChuang · Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:19 pm

I think you'll see a slow retirement of DC-10-30's up until 2012, when they're all replaced by a combination of A330-200's and A330-300's.

baw716 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 4:09 pm

Hi all,
I've looked at the schedule for SEA-AMS through the rest of the year and for the moment, it will be operated by the DC-10-30.

My guess is that the D10 will be on SEA-AMS as long as possible. Twins from Seattle (except the 777 with 180min ETOPS) going to Europe have 138min ETOPS limitations. That makes the more northern routings outside the scope of the ETOPS range for the 332. SAS had the problem with the 763; when they operated it from SEA-CPH, it had to go further east over Hudson Bay rather than north of it via Baffin and central Greenland.

Don't knock the DC10; it may be an older bird, but its a good bird; I've logged over 250,000 miles just on Seattle-Copenhagen on the DC10; the 767 was nice, but it wasn't First Class on the 10.

From what I've seen of the NW configuration in J class, it looks pretty comfortable. Yes, five in the middle in the back is bad news, so book early and get a window seat. During this time of year, its a daylight flight all the way; with a bit of twilight going over the north of Canada. Sunrise over Greenland is a sight to behold.

You won't get that in the 332.

NWFltAttendant · Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:35 pm

The training of the flight attendants is whats slowing the application of the A330 to the system. MSP FAs will not be A330 qualified until 2006, when MSP international service will transfer to the A333. The DC10 will still be around however. LONG LIVE THE DC10 !!!! nothing like working in the galley with the gigantic engine mounted right above your head...its a nice turbine grind all the way to AMS Smokin cool

DouglasDC10 · Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:41 pm

N243NW, ship 1240 (N240NW) and 1244 (N244NW) are a couple of days younger, but also built in 1988. Northwest owns DC-10s of all ages with ship 1229 (N229NW) being the oldest. Indeed, it is over 30 years old - manufactured in 1972. Anyway, I think that their age will be no problem as DC-10s are well known for their long life. A slow retirement until 2012, as stated by RayChuang, is realistic.

DouglasDC10

JGPH1A · Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:45 pm

I'm flying AMS-BOS-AMS on NW D10's in September - thought I'd better get one last ride on a DC-10 before they're all gone.

b764 · Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:24 pm

Besides HNL trips, anyone care to guess where these 10s will be flown domestically once removed from international service? Any chance of DTW-MSP;LAX;SFO;SEA.

gopal · Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:46 pm

I have to warn you, NW DC10s are very noisy. I flew in one of them from Amsterdam to Bomday. NW crew are very curt and civil, very unlike KLM crew who are very friendly and helpful. They are not very helpful either. A NW FA refused to pour a cup of coffee for me unless I held up the cup despite the fact that I had my infant daughter in my arms. She did not even tell me to lift it up but signalled me to do it. I know that in economy one cannot expect great service but that FA could have been little more helpful.

So don't expect a very pleasurable flight experience.

SafetyDude · Tue Aug 10, 2004 11:11 pm

but Safety Dude could be correct in saying NW DC-10's will continue being used on LGW (although I thought NW said the A333 would take over that route ).
"ElectraBob" actually beat me to that statement. Here is a quote from ElectraBob's post about LGW and the 330: "NW flight 32 - Detroit-Gatwick- is still a DC-10 and will remain so until the seasonal DTW-Rome flight ends (DTW-FCO is using the 333...the flight ends in mid to late Oct)....then flight 32 will switch over to a 333."

"B764", to answer your question, here are two earlier replies:
"NW will keep a handful of DC-10s through the end of the decade, mainly on the HNL-Japan/MSP and DTW routes. [...]

I doubt that we will see the DC-10-30's fly on any domestic routes within the lower 48. They are configured in the J/Y international configuration. Of course it would be nice to see MSP-LAX again using the DC-10, but that is what the -40 series were for. "

"At the point the there is enough A330's to coverthe TATL, and TPAC routes, you mos likely see the DC10's flying the high-density routes both Mainland-Hawaii, and Domestic US, as well as Alaska. They'll be circulated through the system the same way the 40's were and the 757-300's are at the moment. our fleet spends more time in the air than any of the of the other Big 6 airlines. I doubt they'll be confined to one market."

Smile

-Will

flydc10 · Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:31 am

How old are northwest DC 10s because if I am not wrong northwest got then from another operated that they bought in the early 80s. And some others were used by swissair and pluna. So my question is how old are this airplanes.

BUFjets · Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:26 am

5 of them were made in 1987-1988.
3 others were 1980-1981.
The rest were made in the '70s.

jetjack74 · Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:35 am

Gopal, What does any of what you said in your post, have to do with the DC10? If you have a complaint to make about the service, you might want write a letter to Consumer Relations, but stay on-topic.

DIA · Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:48 am

Thought I'd color this topic a bit with some pics of my favorite type of DC-10, the DC-10-40, that NWA flew for many years. Caution: these pictures might be disturbing to some viewers. . .
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Click here for bigger photo!

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