As the wide-body age began, Northwest was one of the first airlines to order 747-100s, 
but also a second aircraft type was chosen, the Mc Donnell - Douglas DC-10. Northwest was the first airline to operate both aircraft types in large numbers and also the first to order a long-range DC-10: The DC-10-20, later known as DC-10-40. The designation was changed upon Northwest’s request to mark the superiority over the -30 series, although the CF6-powered -30 series was also a true long-range aircraft. On November 11th 1972, the first of 25 ordered aircraft joined a fleet consisting of Boeing jets. To standardize the fleet, the long-range DC-10-40 got the same engines as their Boeing 747, the JT9D-engine 
from Pratt & Whitney and the DC-10 was used on domestic services as well as on the trans-pacific routes where it supplemented the jumbo jet. It is said that Northwest's DC-10-40s had a bad performance compared to the later added series 30 aircraft. But Northwest's then-CEO insisted on Pratt & Whitney engines for fleet commonality ("if I want aircraft engines, I’ll buy from PW; if I want a light bulb, I’ll buy from GE")Although Northwest announced a program to modernize its fleet at the end of the 1980s, none of the ordered A330s/340s arrived so that the DC-10 is still the first choice in Northwest’s European network. More DC-10s were added, including large parts of
Korean Air Lines' and Swissair’s fleet, to fill the gap until the ordered Airbus jets arrive - like Continental was also boosting its fleet with used DC-10s until the 777s arrived. These were all DC-10-30s and today, Northwest still operates large numbers of both long-range DC-10s. So the total fleet increased to 46 aircraft, giving Northwest the honor to be the fifth largest DC-10 operator of all times. Since Northwest introduced the DC-10 in 1972 none of them was involved in a mayor accident! The DC-10 is still in service, together with the largest DC-9 - fleet of the world, 747, A319/320, A330 and 757. In late 2001, the first aircraft (series 40 and old series 30 aircraft) were phased out and replaced by 757-300s. Northwest announced that they will retire the DC-10 from intercontinental routes by October 2006, leaving the DC-10 only on US mainland - Honolulu routes. The last DC-10 service took place on January 8th 2007. It was a flight from Honolulu to Minneapolis/St. Paul starting the day before, operated by 47844/ 336. In the following weeks, the last two DC-10s served as standby aircraft and operated a couple of flights - but finally, also this era came to an end after 34 years.
Photos
Upper right: Say cheese! One of Northwests DC-10 posing for a photo on August 25th 1998 in Amsterdam - BY MIGUEL SNOEP
Left: Two Northwest DC-10s in Amsterdam - BY JEROEN WESTRAM
Upper right: Very good shot of N227NW at Anchorage - BY OLAV RHENSIUS
Following aircraft were operated by or for Northwest Airlines:
