Varig McDonell Douglas MD-11 PP-VPN.

Real World Aviation
1

This MD-11, serial number 48499, and powered by 3xGeneral Electric CF6-80C2D1F, was delivered to its first operator, Garuda Indonesia, on December 31 of 1991 with registration EI-CDI.
Five years later, the aircraft operated for Varig, of Brazil, with the registration letters having been changed to PP-VPN.
PP-VPN went into storage in June 2004, two years before “Old” Varig ceased its operations.
The aircraft was then bought by Fedex, who converted it into an MD-11F freighter, now with the registration letters N574FE.
With more than 24 years over its back, this MD-11 still soldiers on with Fedex.

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Bibliography:
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md11-48499.htm
Image:

  1. McDonnell Douglas MD-11 - Garuda Indonesia | Aviation Photo #1091141 | Airliners.net
  2. File:McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Varig JP6539399.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
  3. N574FE FedEx Express McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) Photo by Wong Chi-Lam | ID 305675 | Planespotters.net
12 Likes
2

When is FedEx going to lay those MD-11’s to rest???

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3

They´ll squeeze every single penny this plane can make, and then they´ll use the B777 in more quantities.
Wild guessing.

4 Likes
4

Not soon. Don’t count on seeing them leave in droves until at least the DC-10s are out

3 Likes
5

Or at least when they run out of spares for the DC-10s/MD-11s.

6

They are some planes which such a long life. Its amazing how much years can they get.

2 Likes
7

If they are properly mantained, they may last 20 years more.

8

Much more than that. We could be looking at 40-50 years

9

I don’t think so, if lack of spares doesn’t ground them first, the arrival of more profitable aircraft will.

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10

They could go up to that amount. Usually airlines keep them for 15-20 years and theyn they sell them to cargo or charter airlines which keep them for about that time too.

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11

Hope FedEx plane to fly these beasts into Stansted for years to come.

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12

How come the MD-11s and DC-10s continue on as freighters but the L1011 never made it past the 90’s?

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13

I think the L-1011 came after the first two, so it didn’ t have market share.

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14

The MD-10 is also a great aircraft. A DC-10 with an MD-11 cockpit. So those aircraft are even older! ;)

1 Like