KLM
Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij
Among the pioneer airlines, one of the best known names is KLM, the airline of The Netherlands. This airline, which was founded in 1919, has the destinction being the oldest still existing. Since ever, KLM was ahead of its time in introducing modern aircraft types being launch costumer or European launch costumer for many aircraft types and variants, including the DC-2, DC-3, DC-8, 747-200, 747-400 Combi, F100 and many more.
The long relationship between Douglas and began with the DC-2, one of the first full metal aircraft to be built. This was even fortified after the success of a KLM DC-2, the "Uiver" won the transport section in the famous McRobertson aircraft race from England to Australia. In fact, KLM was the only airline to operate all DC-aircraft from the DC-2 to the DC-10.
As a logical step, KLM was also among the first airlines to order the TriJet from Mc Donnell-Douglas. The joint order from the KSSU group (KLM, SAS, Swissair, UTA) for 23 aircraft (+12 options) was placed on June 7th 1969 and was not only the first order from an overseas carrier, but also the first for the passenger version of the DC-10-30, which became the most successful DC-10 variant.
The KLM part of this order was for 6 aircraft and 6 options of which the first (#60) was delivered in a joint ceremony with Swissair's #57 on November 21st 1972. The order included also the DC-10-30 prototype, #46, which was delivered after some flight tests in 1974. On December 3rd 1972, this aircraft arrived in Amsterdam for crew and technical training. Only short after Swissair, on December 19th, (#60) made the first KLM DC-10 service on the route between Amsterdam and Jakarta. Like many other airlines, KLM used the DC-10 on long range routes where the 747 was far too large, but also on some high density routes like Amsterdam - New York. From the six options, all but one were taken up, although most of them were often leased out to airlines in which KLM had close affiliations, like VIASA and Philippine Airlines.
KLM built up a strong overseas network in the 1980s which resulted in a need for more capacity. More 747s were needed on the routes and for many of the new low-density routes, only the range of the 747 was adequate. New 747-300 aircraft were ordered and the -200s were upgraded with a stretched upper deck. Many DC-10s left the fleet and the fleet shrinked to four aircraft in 1990. The last three served well until 1994, when the first MD-11 arrived. This ended also the 60-year-old era of DC-aircraft which made KLM what it is now: One of the most respected airlines over the world.
Photos:
Upper right: KLM DC-10-30 PH-DTA, early 1990s in Frankfurt - BY FRANK SCHAEFER
Left: KLM DC-10 stickers, around 1980
Lower right: KLM DC-10-30 PH-DTL, early 1990s in Amsterdam - BY FRANK SCHAEFER
Following aircraft were operated by or for KLM:
Registration Aircraft Fleetnr./Name Operated from - to Where is it now? PH-DTA 46550/ 46 Johann S. Bach 15.03.1974 - 12.06.1994 and
19.06.1994 - 15.07.1994SCRAPPED PH-DTB 46551/ 60 Ludwig v. Beethoven 03.12.1972 - 06.12.1994 -stored- PH-DTC 46552/ 71 Frederik Chopin 06.02.1973 - 10.1973,
21.03.1975 - 03.05.1975 and
16.11.1975 - 17.12.1994SCRAPPED PH-DTD 46553/ 82 Maurice Ravel 28.02.1973 - 31.07.1994 -stored- PH-DTE 46554/ 84 W. Amadeus Mozart 19.02.1973 - 21.12.1984 SCRAPPED PH-DTF 46555/ 91 13.04.1973 - 01.04.1977 SCRAPPED PH-DTG 46556/ 146 03.04.1974 only
(Immediately leased to VIASA)-stored- PH-DTH 46557/ 197 15.04.1975 - 25.04.1975 and
01.04.1979 - 26.07.1980SCRAPPED PH-DTI 46933/ 159 27.06.1974 - 11.04.1974 SCRAPPED PH-DTK 46914/ 195 27.03.1975 - 04.1975 and
02.1985 - 02.04.1985SCRAPPED PH-DTL 46952/ 185 26.02.1975 - 03.03.1975,
02.04.1976 - 18.04.1976,
13.03.1977 - 17.04.1991 and
15.11.1992 - 28.12.1992SCRAPPED PH-MBT 46985/ 264 17.10.1989 - 03.10.1992 Royal Netherlands
Air Force
Previous airline: JAT - Yugoslav Airlines
Next airline: Korean Air Lines