January 19th	Finnair orders 2 DC-10-30.
January 27th	FAA issues type inspection authorisation beginning official flight demonstration program.
January 29th	4th aircraft makes it maden flight.
February	National Airlines places an order for 5 DC-10-30s.
March 19th	Delta Air Lines orders 5 DC-10-10. So, Delta becomes the first and only airline to order all three original widebody-aircraft. The order was made to fill the gaps caused by the delay of the delivery of the Lockheed TriStars and was known as "The insurance order".
May 5th	5th aircraft makes a 3 hr flight.
May 21st	1000 flight hours exceeded.
May 24th	Provisional flight certificate issued.
June	European debut at Paris air show.
July 29th	Type certification issued. First two aircraft were delivered to American Airlines and United Airlines.
August 5th	American Airlines inaugurates DC-10 service from Chicago to Los Angeles.
August 16th	United Airlines inaugurates transcontinental DC-10 service from San Francisco to Washington D.C.
September 29th	SAS orders 2 DC-10-30, Western Air Lines orders 4 DC-10-10.
November 1st	National Airlines recieves 1st DC-10-10.
November	All Nippon Airways cancels the leasing contract for 6 DC-10-10s with Mitsui. The airline switches to the Lockheed TriStar.
December 15th	National Airlines puts its first DC-10-10 into service.