The first Mc Donnell Douglas DC-10 on the compass rose on August 5, 1971.

The DC-10 was the first commercial transport to be certified under the stringent FAA Stage 3 regulations governing sound levels for new aircraft, and it also complied with international noise standards.

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was produced in three basic models, the Series 10 for domestic routes to 3,500 miles and the series 30 and 40 for extended range and intercontinental travel.