N974VV
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 (40)
McDonnell Douglas (Douglas Aircraft Company)
10 Hours
Duration of Flight
5100 NM
Range
530 MPH
Max Speed
Gallery
Basic Information
Airframe
Data valid as of 2023-07-22| Date | From | To | Flight Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-26 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
| 2024-09-23 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
| 2023-11-20 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
| 2018-05-10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
AI Summary
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 (40)
Overview
US-registered N-number (N974VV). Model: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40, MSN 46974. Registered to AIRCRAFT ENDEAVORS LLC (San Antonio, TX). Airworthiness class listed as Experimental/airworthiness record on public registries.
Specifications
- Engines: 3× Pratt & Whitney JT9D-59A (51720 lbf each)
- Range: 5100 nm
- Cruise: 490 kts
- Seats: 345
- Ceiling: 42000 ft
Operations & Cabin
Converted to tanker/mission-config (no standard passenger executive cabin) Tanker conversion fitted with aerial-refuelling equipment; original passenger seating removed/reconfigured for mission equipment and crew.
Model & Market Context
This airframe, registered as N974VV, is a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 built in 1979 with manufacturer serial number 46974. The airframe was produced by McDonnell Douglas (Douglas Aircraft Company) and is currently owned by AIRCRAFT ENDEAVORS LLC (an LLC based in San Antonio, TX, US). The registration is held in the US, and the aircraft has been documented as converted from a standard passenger configuration to a tanker/mission-config role, reflecting a significant change from its original transport layout. Condition highlights emphasize that this specific airframe no longer retains a standard passenger or executive cabin, having been adapted for dedicated mission or tanker tasks.
The cabin of N974VV has been converted to tanker/mission-config and does not retain a standard passenger or executive layout; internal arrangements are therefore mission-specific rather than oriented around routine passenger service. Typical operations for this airframe center on longer-range, high-capacity missions consistent with its 5,100 nm range and robust payload capability tied to its three JT9D-59A powerplants. The owner/operator based in San Antonio, TX would deploy the airframe from that home base for specialized tanker or mission roles, with maintenance considerations focused on aging widebody systems, airframe conversion equipment, and three-engine JT9D engine support. Avionics and interior fitment details are determined by the conversion and operator configuration rather than the original passenger specification.
The DC-10-40 family occupies a niche as a long-range tri-jet widebody originating from the late-1970s, offering high seating capacity and transoceanic capability for its era. Competition in similar mission roles has historically come from other widebodies adapted for tanker and cargo conversion; the DC-10’s value proposition for specialized operators is influenced by operational range, payload, and the availability of JT9D spares and maintenance expertise. Resale and maintenance considerations for this airframe specifically are shaped by its conversion away from passenger service, three-engine logistics, and the 1979 build year, all factors that impact market demand among niche mission operators.