Though it may be hard to believe, but it has been a half a century since the majestic McDonnell Douglas DC-10 took to the sky. The DC-10 was easily recognizable by its three-engine configuration, with one on each of its wings and one situated on its vertical stabilizer. Although famous, many are unaware of the DC-10’s connection to San Diego and its importance to the area’s economy.

DC-10 Lindbergh Field: An early DC-10 visits the Conviar factory at Lindbergh Field to greet some of the workers that built her fuselage.

The DC-10 was designed as a wide body replacement for the DC-8, and first flew on August 29, 1970. It was conceived during a time when airline traffic was booming, and a solution to overcrowded airports was to utilize airplanes that could carry more passengers. The Boeing 747 was one proposed solution, but it was too large to operate at airports like La Guardia in New York, so this left a hole in the market that the DC-10 was eager to fill. American Airlines placed an initial order for 25 of the type, and others quickly followed. Eventually, almost 450 of the type would be built and would be put into service all around the world. After a few decades of service, the DC-10 was replaced by the MD-11, which was of similar design, but was larger, had more efficient engines and included a “glass cockpit,” meaning that the instruments were all digital. DC-10s and MD-11s are still in use today, in cargo and refueling roles, and even as firefighting aircraft.

Inside the Convair factory where DC-10 fuselage components are nearing completion.

McDonnell Douglas designed and assembled the DC-10 and MD-11 in Long Beach, California. But major components were designed and built here in San Diego at the Convair Division of General Dynamics. Exactly 614 fuselage sets of the DC-10/MD-11 were built at the Lindbergh Field factory. Robert “Bob” Johnston, a volunteer in the Museum’s Library & Archives knows all about this topic, because he worked on it. Well, he didn’t just work on it, he was one of the head honchos! Eventually he was responsible for all DC-10/MD-11 contracts, and retired as Director, Contracts and Cost Estimating, Aircraft Programs at the Convair Division of GD. Bob explains, “After a many decades-long history of successfully designing and manufacturing commercial airliners, the Convair Division of General Dynamics transitioned into the design and manufacture of major structural components for other prime manufacturers in the 1960s, including, among others, C-141 and C-5 empennages for Lockheed, and DC-10 and MD-11 fuselage sections for McDonnell Douglas. This strategy allowed the company to retain its nationally recognized structural design and analysis engineering team.”

A fuselage section arrives in Long Beach for final assembly, while completed DC-10s show off their color liveries.

Convair (previously Consolidated Aircraft) had been extremely important to the growth and economy of San Diego; producing such aircraft as the PBY Catalina, B-24 Liberator, the 240/340/440 series of airliners, and the F-102 and F-106 Air Force interceptors. If you think that subcontracting couldn’t make an equally important impact on the region, think again! Bob explains: “One of the largest of these subcontracts in value was that of the DC-10 fuselage, executed in 1968, and continuing until 1996. Over a billion and a half dollars in contract value, each ship-set included over 50,000 pounds of structure.” Yep, you read that right, billion with a “B”. It was programs like this that allowed Convair to be a driving economic force in San Diego well into the 90s.So as we mark the 50^th Anniversary of the DC-10, we are reminded how important aerospace was to the region, and how important San Diego was to all aspects of aerospace.

The fuselage sections were transported from San Diego to Los Angeles on board an Aero Spacelines “Super Guppy”.  However, most sections were delivered by barge.