N542KD

The airframe bearing registration N542KD is a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F built in 1994 with manufacturer listed as BOEING CO and manufacturer serial number 48542. The certificate of registration records ownership by ATARES FUNDING LLC, a corporation (LLC) based in Fisher Island, FL, US, and the aircraft is registered in the US. This airframe was converted to a main-deck freighter configuration in October 2003, and the registry currently reflects a minimal crew/passenger seating allocation of 7. Public data supplied focuses on the airframe’s conversion and corporate ownership rather than current operator details or market valuation.

As configured, N542KD operates as a main-deck freighter following its October 2003 conversion, with the lower-complexity cabin reflecting the registry allocation of 7 seats for minimal crew and limited passenger carriage. The cabin layout is therefore cargo-centric, prioritizing main-deck payload over onboard amenities; available seating is limited to flight crew and a small contingent of support personnel. Typical mission profiles for this configuration would emphasize medium- to long-haul cargo sectors commensurate with a 3,945 nm range and a cruise speed near 473 kts, operating from bases consistent with the owner’s US registration and Fisher Island, Florida corporate location. Maintenance considerations for this specific airframe include continued commonality with the GE CF6-80C2D1F engine family and freighter-specific structural and systems checks introduced during and after the 2003 freighter conversion.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F occupies a heavy, long-range freighter niche hinging on tri-jet performance and significant main-deck payload capacity. With three GE CF6-80C2D1F engines and a service ceiling of 43,000 ft, the type competes against twin-engine widebody freighters in long-range freight markets but carries unique maintenance and fuel-cost profiles due to its three-engine design. Buyer and charter demand for converted MD-11 freighters is driven by payload economics and network needs; resale and maintenance considerations for airframes like N542KD typically reflect age, conversion history, and engine-cycle status rather than cabin luxury.