pilotboy 95 writes:
I saw an air crash investigation program about DC-10s. I think it had a problem with the cargo door that led to several crashes. I have never seen a DC-10 in my life, only pictures, and I don't want to ever go in one. I thought they were not in use any more since the company went bust/ taken over. thats why they have been improved and are now md-10.
Speaking statistically, nearly every transport craft from this era went through a similar evolution. (Speaking of evolution, the MD-10 is now the purvue of Boeing, after McDonnell-Douglas was purchased by them, and Douglas was purchased by McDonnell.)
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One must also remember that frames from that era each had their own handling characteristics, just like cars from that era.
Without faulting the pilots of this flight, I would suggest that perhaps they weren't as familiar at a "gut level" with the aircraft as they would have been, had they been flying it in commercial service 5 - 10 years back.