Trijet Tuesday is back! This particular one is with 1 of 2 U.S. passenger operators of the MD-11, American Airlines. Back in the 1990s, American had a sizeable operation in Seattle, albeit primarily focused on the continental United States. It did, however, have one transpacific destinations, Tokyo’s Narita Airport, which was served with the McDonnell-Douglas MD-11. The big trijets had a short career with American, serving for only 10 years from 1991 to 2001. Even before the MD-11 was retired, it had been replaced on transpacific routes by its Boeing rival, the 777-200ER. Nevertheless, the MD-11, due to its association with American’s high-water mark under Robert Crandall in the 1990s, is looked on with nostalgia as an embodiment of AA’s forward-looking, optimistic image before the turmoil of the early 2000s.
Server: Solo
Airline: American Airlines
Aircraft: McDonnell-Douglas MD-11
Origin: Narita International Airport, Narita, Japan (NRT)
Destination: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, SeaTac, Washington (SEA)
Flight Number: AA26
Route: RJAA-KSEA
Seat: 8H (Business)
Time En Route: 8 Hours 43 Minutes
Boarding at Terminal 1 at Narita. Back when these were flying across the Pacific from Seattle and Dallas, Terminal 1 at NRT was a trijet and 747 lover’s paradise, with 747s and MD-11s as far as the eye could see.
Starting our pushback as Engine No. 1 spools up on the left wing. A light breeze is windmilling No. 3.
Taxiing to Runway 34L behind a trio of 747-400s of Japan Airlines, United Airlines, and Malaysian Airline System, and ahead of a Northwest Airlines 747-100. The business class seat we’re in is spacious and comfy, even if the built-in headrests on the side give it the appearance of wearing horse blinders.
Takeoff from Tokyo by the iconic Marroad International Hotel Narita, located by the end of Runway 34L/16R
Reaching our initial cruising altitude of 35,000 feet just off the coast of Japan. Business class meals on American back in the day were something else, with this evening’s fare being a filet mignon with port wine demi-glace.
Waking up briefly south of the Aleutians. These old seats didn’t have the amenities of today’s, but they felt like you were flying in an armchair.
Initial descent along the southern shore of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and final descent over Boeing Field
Smoking the mains on Runway 16C in Seattle. The flight crew held the nose up for a bit longer than usual, using the fuselage and wings to act as massive airbrake. Guess we now know whose background is in fast jets.
Parked at the South Satellite Terminal on an uncharacteristically sunny day for October in Seattle. Flying on the American Airlines Mega Dog was a unique and memorable experience in all the best ways, and though she may long since be retired from passenger service IRL, the last McDonnell-Douglas trijet continues to connect the world in Infinite Flight.