Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
Type: Large Wide-body Freighter

Overview

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F is a long-range widebody trijet freighter developed from the DC-10. Once the pride of long-haul cargo fleets, it’s now in its twilight years. All MD-11Fs were either factory-built or converted from passenger variants (primarily the MD-11 and MD-11ER). The freighter variant offered impressive range and payload for its time and was a backbone of long-haul cargo fleets from the late 1990s into the 2010s.While most operators have retired the type, FedEx Express and UPS Airlines continue to fly MD-11Fs as a bridge aircraft for hub-to-hub trunk routes, though both are actively retiring or replacing them in favor of more modern aircraft like the 767 and 777.

Despite its quirks (notably its underwhelming climb performance and early automation issues), the MD-11F offered solid range and payload for its time. A handful of aircraft remain in service as of 2025, but retirement plans are underway, and production ended in 2000. Notable operators included FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo (retired), Martinair, and Centurion Air Cargo. As of 2025, only FedEx and UPS retain them in significant numbers. UPS increasingly uses the MD-11F as a high-volume domestic or intra-regional hauler, rather than assigning it to long-haul transoceanic routes as it is less competitive against more modern twin-jets.

Key Specifications