JAL - JAPAN AIR LINES
Since ever, JAL operated large numbers of Douglas aircraft, including the DC-4 and DC-6 in early years and later the DC-8 and, of course, the DC-10. As traffic in Asia grew at the end of the 1960s, JAL became one of the first costumer for the 747 which replaced the DC-8 as flagship on the international and the high density national routes. But there were still some routes which had too much traffic for a DC-8 but not enough for the 747 and so JAL, as long-time Douglas-costumer, ordered six DC-10s on December 28th 1974. As JALs 747 had Pratt & Whitney engines, JAL chose the DC-10-40 and became, beside Northwest, the only costumer for this Pratt & Whitney - powered variant. But there was still a difference between JALs and Northwest’s DC-10-40 as JAL chose the more powerful JT9D-59A - engine, which offered higher thrust and higher range. Half of the fleet were DC-10-40D for use on domestic routes while the heavier DC-10-40I is used on intercontinental routes. Further orders followed, bringing the fleet to . Later, some domestic aircraft were converted to heavier DC-10-40I and were used by one of the subsidiaries. As special fact, it could be mentioned, that Beijing’s first regular widebody flight was made by a JAL DC-10. Compared to other carriers, JAL began very late with the withdrawal of the DC-10 (JALs DC-10 were also very young compared to other aircraft), and the first aircraft left the fleet in 1997. JAL still operates DC-10, but also MD-11 and 777-200/300 which are replacing her on its routes. 767-200/300, 747 (in all series but SP) are also fleet-members. Japan Air Lines' subsidiaries operate charter services, for example JAA (Japan Asia Airways) and Jalways (formerly JAZ, Japan Air Charter) with DC-10. In 2002, JAL took over JAS (Japan Air System), a former DC-10-operator.
Photos:
Right: JAL - Japan Air Lines DC-10-40 - FROM TAXIWAYS COLLECTION
Registration | Aircraft | Fleetnr./Name | Operated from - to | Where is it now? |
JA8530 | 46920/ 212 | 09.04.1976 - 15.11.1997 | Arrow Air | |
JA8531 | 46923/ 216 | 12.04.1976 - 21.12.1987, 21.07.1990 - 02.1993 and ???? - 23.07.2004 | -stored- | |
JA8532 | 46660/ 220 | 16.04.1976 - 16.10.1986 and 31.07.1997 - now | -stored- | |
JA8533 | 46661/ 224 | 25.05.1976 - 11.03.1998 | Aeroflot | |
JA8534 | 46913/ 206 | 23.11.1976 - 27.11.1986, 01.04.1991 - 04.04.1992, 19.07.1993 - 28.05.1994 and 18.07.1997 - 2004 | -stored- | |
JA8535 | 46662/ 230 | 13.08.1976 - 01.09.1994, 14.09.1994 - 16.02.1995, 26.02.1995 - 10.05.1995, 18.05.1995 - 01.08.1995, 16.08.1995 - 08.04.2005 | -stored- | |
JA8536 | 46966/ 262 | 20.11.1978 - 26.02.1999 | Aeroflot | |
JA8537 | 46967/ 265 | 18.01.1979 - 28.11.1988, 02.04.1991 - ???? and ???? - 19.09.2005 | -stored- | |
JA8538 | 46974/ 274 | 04.04.1979 - 01.09.1992, 15.09.1992 - 02.06.1994 13.06.1994 - 11.09.1994 and 22.09.1994 - 19.09.2005 | -stored- | |
JA8539 | 47822/ 304 | 07.01.1980 - ???? and ???? - 23.01.1992 | -stored- | |
JA8540 | 47823/ 306 | 24.12.1979 - 30.01.2000 | Aeroflot | |
JA8541 | 47824/ 308 | 20.03.1980 - 31.10.2005 | -stored- | |
JA8542 | 47825/ 310 | 17.04.1980 - 15.11.1995, 19.11.1995 - 10.1999 and ???? - 30.10.2005 | -stored- | |
JA8543 | 47826/ 313 | 22.05.1980 - 30.10.2005 | -stored- | |
JA8544 | 47852/ 340 | 19.12.1980 - 07.1989 and 12.1990 - 20.08.1993 | Global Airtanker Service | |
JA8545 | 47853/ 343 | 19.12.1980 - 16.08.1992, 17.08.1992 - 27.10.1995, 08.11.1995 - 06.02.1996 and 18.02.1996 - 12.08.2005 | -stored- | |
JA8546 | 47854/ 349 | 26.03.1981 - 12.03.2001 | Aeroflot | |
JA8547 | 47856/ 366 | 19.12.1980 - 24.04.1995 | -stored- | |
JA8548 | 47857/ 367 | 27.01.1981 - 25.07.2003 | -stored- | |
JA8549 | 48301/ 381 | 15.03.1983 - 31.08.2003 | -stored- |
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