N281UP

This airframe, registered as N281UP, is a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F built in 1993 with manufacturer's serial number 48538. The freighter has been operated and owned by UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO, a corporation based in Louisville, KY, US, and carries a United States registration (US). The aircraft is a converted main-deck freighter and is maintained for cargo operations with only crew and jump-seat accommodation remaining; no passenger cabin layout is present. The airframe’s condition is characterized by its role as a workhorse in express freight service, reflecting typical fleet utilization and associated maintenance cycles for late-production MD-11 freighters.

The aircraft operates in a main-deck freighter configuration after conversion, retaining only minimal on-board accommodations for flight crew and jump‑seat occupants; no standard passenger seating or cabin service features are installed. Operated by UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO, the airframe typically flies medium- to long-range cargo legs within global express networks where the MD-11F’s payload-range profile is utilized, operating from UPS’s Louisville, Kentucky hub and other major cargo gateways. Avionics and specific equipment fits are consistent with cargo operators’ retrofit practices for late-model MD-11Fs, emphasizing reliability and maintainability; detailed avionics lists are not published for this specific registration. Maintenance considerations for this type include scheduled heavy checks and aging-airframe inspections typical of tri-jet freighters of this vintage.

The MD-11F family occupies a niche as a high-capacity, medium- to long-range freighter derived from a trijet passenger platform, offering greater payload and deck volume than many twin-engine contemporaries. Competing freighter types include converted widebodies and newer twinjets that offer improved fuel burn, which affects buyer and leasing demand for older tri-jet freighters. For operators like UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO, resale and long-term maintenance planning factor in components commonality, the cost of legacy systems, and the MD-11F’s remaining structural life as indicated by serial 48538.