Aircraft

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McDonnell Douglas MD-11
1991-2006

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VARIG was the first airline in Latin America to operate MD-11 aircraft on November 1991. Its cabin is totally computerized, with digital panels systems. Navigation system is made through a laser gyroscopic. MD-11 has winglets in wing tips, thus reducing the aerodynamic friction and saving about 15% of fuel. The two first MD-11, PP-VOP and PP-VOQ, were officially delivered to VARIG on November 12, 1991 and started flying São Paulo - Rio - Paris - Amsterdam route. Since then MD-11 became VARIG's main aircraft for international long-haul flights. The MD-11 offered a high level of comfort and safety for its passengers. In addition to operating in North America, Europe and Asia, the MD-11 has also operated on some high demand South America and domestic routes.

In December 1992, VARIG received more two units, PP-VPJ and PP-VPK, and other two in December 1993, PP-VPL and PP-VPM, totaling six aircraft received directly from the factory. The MD-11s are the natural substitute for DC-10 and the first two were deactivated in 1992. In 1993, VARIG's MD-11 fleet flew to Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich and Rome.

In 1996 VARIG acquired a MD-11 from the Indonesian airline Garuda (PP-VPN). In 1997 VARIG received more two units previously operated by Garuda (PP-VPO and PP-VPP) and other two in 1998 (PP-VQH and PP-VQI). The PP-VQI was the first MD-11ER (with more range) received by VARIG. In 1998 VARIG's MD-11 fleet flew to Buenos Aires, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Rome, Johannesburg, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

In 1999 VARIG received more four units from Garuda (PP-VQF, PP-VQG, PP-VQJ and PP-VQK), totaling 15 MD-11s in the fleet (PP-VQJ and PP-VQK being MD-11ER). In 1999, almost all DC-10s had already been deactivated, and with the end of Boeing 747 operations, MD-11 was reigning alongside Boeing 767 on VARIG's intercontinental routes. In 2000 VARIG's MD-11 began serving Miami, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Nagoya.

In 2000 VARIG received two MD-11 previously operated by Vasp, PP-VQL and PP-VQM, which replaced the first two PP-VOP and PP-VOQ. In 2001 VARIG received another MD-11 from Vasp, PP-VQX. However, in 2002, PP-VPL and PP-VPM were returned.

With financial difficulty, VARIG started looking for cheaper used MD-11s. But this has led the company to acquire aircraft with other type of engines. All VARIG's MD-11s were equipped with General Electric GE CF6-80C2 D1F turbines. However the company began to acquire aircraft previously operated by Swissair equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW 4460 engines. In 2003 VARIG acquired three former MD-11 Swissair (PP-VTF, PP-VTG and PP-VTH) and five in 2004 (PP-VTI, PP-VTJ, PP-VTK, PP-VTP, PP-VTU). Also in 2004 VARIG returned PP-VTG. Even though VARIG acquire more units from Swissair, it kept an active fleet of 15 aircraft. In 2005 a total of eight units were returned, PP-VPJ, PP-VPK, PP-VQL, PP-VQM, PP-VTF, PP-VPN, PP-VPP and PP-VQI.

In 2005, VARIG LOG, a cargo subsidiary, became the first airline in Latin America to operate all cargo version MD-11F (PP-LGD and PP-LGE). The two units operated by VARIG LOG came from Korean Air. PP-LGE stopped operating in 2008 and was returned in 2010, and PP-LGD was returned in 2009.
VARIG had selected Boeing 777-200 as a replacement for MD-11 and received the first two units in 2001. The company's intention was to gradually replace its MD-11 fleet with Boeing 777. However, the company's financial crisis prevented this replacement and the MD-11 was part of VARIG's fleet until the end of its operations in 2006.

Destination of the VARIG MD-11:
- Converted to freighter for Gemini Cargo: PP-VOP and PP-VOQ.
- Converted to freighter for UPS: PP-VPJ, PP-VPK, PP-VPL, PP-VPM, PP-VTI, PP-VTJ, PP-VTK, PP-VTP, PP-VTU
- Converted to freighter for FedEx: PP-VPN, PP-VPO, PP-VPP, PP-VTG
- Converted to freighter for Aeroflot: PP-VQF, PP-VQG, PP-VQH
- Converted to freighter for Finnair: PP-VQI
- To Tam: PP-VQJ, PP-VQK, PP-VQX
- Converted to freighter for Lufthansa: PP-VQL, PP-VQM
- Returned and stocked: PP-VTF, PP-VTH

VARIG's MD-11 internal configuration:

293 seats
First Class:
16 seats
Business Class:
56 seats
Economy Class:
221 seats

271 seats
First Class: 18 seats
Business Class:
35 seats
Economy Class:
218 seats

285 seats
First Class:
6 seats (2+2+2 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
230 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

289 seats
First Class:
6 seats (2+2+2 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
234 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

 

282 seats
First Class:
12 seats (2+2+2 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
221 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

285 seats
First Class:
12 seats (2+2+2 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
223 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

 

282 seats
First Class:
4 seats (2+2+2 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
229 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

264 seats
First Class:
4 seats (1+2+1 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
211 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)}

284 seats
First Class:
4 seats (1+2+1 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
231 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

241 seats
First Class:
12 seats (1+2+1 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
180 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

287 seats
First Class:
6 seats (1+2+1 seats per row)
Business Class:
49 seats (2+3+2 seats per row)
Economy Class:
232 seats (2+4+3 seats per row)

 

 

Operated units

26

Constructor

MCDONNEL DOUGLAS Aircraft Company, United States

Engine

Three GE CF6-80C2 D1F with 61,500 pounds of thrust each

Wingspread

169,82 feet

Length

201,35 feet

Height

57,74 feet

Cruising speed

577,90 miles/hr.

Flight reach

7,980 miles

Maximum flight altitude

43,177 feet

Cruising radius

14h.

Empty aircraft weight

281,898 pounds

Maximum take-off weight

618,105 pounds

Maximum landing weight

440,076 pounds

Technical crew

02(2 pilots)

Maximum number of passengers

380

Maximum number of passengers (VARIG’s configuration)

285

Maximum capacity of fuel tank

31,999 gallons

Normal consumption

2,120 gallons/hr.

Maximum cargo capacity

115,039 pounds

Minimum runway length

9,186 feet

Minimum landing strip length

5,905 feet

 

 

 

 

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