1971
January 19th | Finnair orders 2 DC-10-30. |
January 27th | FAA issues type inspection authorisation beginning official flight demonstration program. |
January 29th | 4th aircraft makes it maden flight. |
February | National Airlines places an order for 5 DC-10-30s. |
March 19th | Delta Air Lines orders 5 DC-10-10. So, Delta becomes the first and only airline to order all three original widebody-aircraft. The order was made to fill the gaps caused by the delay of the delivery of the Lockheed TriStars and was known as "The insurance order". |
May 5th | 5th aircraft makes a 3 hr flight. |
May 21st | 1000 flight hours exceeded. |
May 24th | Provisional flight certificate issued. |
June | European debut at Paris air show. |
July 29th | Type certification issued. First two aircraft were delivered to American Airlines and United Airlines. |
August 5th | American Airlines inaugurates DC-10 service from Chicago to Los Angeles. |
August 16th | United Airlines inaugurates transcontinental DC-10 service from San Francisco to Washington D.C. |
September 29th | SAS orders 2 DC-10-30, Western Air Lines orders 4 DC-10-10. |
November 1st | National Airlines recieves 1st DC-10-10. |
November | All Nippon Airways cancels the leasing contract for 6 DC-10-10s with Mitsui. The airline switches to the Lockheed TriStar. |
December 15th | National Airlines puts its first DC-10-10 into service. |