DHAKA: Some 43 years ago, the legendary workhorse logged its maiden voyage for passengers on 05 August, 1971, the year of Bangladesh Liberation, on an American Airlines round trip between Los Angeles and Chicago.
Now the final-flight honour goes to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, operator of the world’s last passenger DC-10, making it on 20 February on Dhaka-Kuwait-Birmingham route.
The legendary workhorse will make some fanfare flights in the skies of Birmingham for the following three days too as it flies nine scenic tour flights. The aircraft, after its last flight on the afternoon of Feb 24th will then get prepped for its delivery to a museum.
The first DC-10 joined Biman fleet in August 1983 and the last one (S2-ACR) was purchased new in 1989. DC-10s have been the backbone of the Biman fleet for nearly a quarter century and at one time the fleet numbered 6 aircraft.
With the advent of 4th generation Boeing 777s, the DC-10s began phasing out gradually from the fleet and the last one, S2-ACR makes the final passenger flight on 20 February.
Special arrangements have been made to bid farewell to this faithful friend. Aviation enthusiasts from all over the world are showing much interest in flying this vintage machine and on 22, 23, 24 February, Biman will operate 3 scenic tours every day in the skies of in and around Birmingham.
Every scenic tour flight will make rooms for 144 flyers (Window 72, Aisle 72). The last passenger flight on Dhaka-Kuwait-Birmingham has 314 seats on sale. Passengers are welcomed to book either the last flight from Dhaka or to book the scenic flights online via the Biman website: www.biman-airlines.com
‘Tickets will only be sold via our website, so do not buy tickets elsewhere, we want these tickets to go to genuine aviation enthusiasts ‘ said Kevin Steel, the Managing Director and the CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The first wide-body tri-jet, the Douglas DC-10 had a checkered beginning in the 1970s, but became a mainstay of medium and long-haul routes of many airlines around the world.
McDonnell Douglas made 446 DC-10s during the plane’s manufacturing run, which included six different variations. The penultimate, New Era, was sold to Biman and delivered in 1989.
This historic flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines marks the end of the standard commercial run of passenger flights on the DC-10, Uniquely, by operating the aircraft live to Birmingham, England, on Feb 20th and then operating 9 scenic tour flights the weekend of Feb 22nd, Biman is giving aviation enthusiasts’ a wonderful chance to say a fond farewell to this iconic tri-jet.
BDST: 2004 HRS, JAN 23, 2014
