Classic Corner

MD-11F MSN 48410 / 495 Global Aviation Africa Z-GAA

This MD-11 started life as a passenger aircraft with Korean Air registered HL7374, delivered May 20th 1992, seen here landing at Hong Kong Kai Tak. A classic aircraft at a classic (now closed) airport.

After a mere 5 years of passenger service, the aircraft was converted to a freighter, and served Korean Air Cargo until February 2005.

The aircraft was next operated (by now defunct) VarigLog as PR-LGE between June 2005 and July 2009

There has since followed operations with three Zimbabwean registered operators: firstly Avient as Z-BVT between January 2010 and February 2013. Sister ship Z-BAV (with the same historical operators) was destroyed November 28th 2009, crashing on take off from Shanghai, just eight days after delivery (at the time the 7th of 10 MD-11s now written off). The airline never recovered from this blow, and re-emerged as AV Cargo Airlines, operating the aircraft between November 2013 and April 2014, also registered Z-BVT.

Global Africa Cargo has operated Z-GAA since June 2015, seen above at Liege, Belgium. The airline currently has two MD-11Fs (a third was returned to Boeing Capital in January this year).

MD-11 Current Fleet Status

McDonnell Douglas delivered 200 MD-11s

5 x MD-11C (Combi)
6 x MD-11CF (Convertible passenger / freighter)
53 x MD-11F (pure freighter)
136 x MD-11P (Passenger)

As of now, 125 MD-11Fs remain in service, 60 of which are operated by FedEx. The majority of the passenger configured aircraft were subsequently converted to freighters. The last passenger service was by KLM between Toronto and Amsterdam on October 26th 2014.