#dc10

McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 JAT Jugoslovenski Aerotransport

Registration: YU-AMB Named: Edvard Rusjan Type: DC-10-30 Engines: 3 × GE CF6-50C2 Serial Number: 46988 First flight: Mar 5, 1979

The first DC-10 acquired by JAT, the national carrier of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, landed in Belgrade on December 12, 1979. This moment was a milestone for both the airline and Yugoslavia as a whole. Named after the renowned scientist Nikola Tesla, the aircraft was greeted with a ceremonial event. Instead of the traditional champagne, water from Tesla’s native village of Smiljan was used to “christen” the plane, emphasizing national pride and the symbolism of the occasion. This DC-10, registered as YU-AMA, became the first wide-body aircraft in JAT’s fleet, opening a new chapter in its history. The second DC-10 (YU-AMB) was named after Edvard Rusjan, a Slovenian aviation pioneer whose early 20th-century flights marked a significant milestone in Yugoslav aviation history.

The DC-10 enabled JAT to significantly expand its flight network. The aircraft was used on key long-haul routes to destinations such as New York, Chicago, Singapore, Beirut, and Cairo. Configured for 270 passengers in a two-class layout, the DC-10 offered comfort and capacity, making it ideal for long flights. Its operation bolstered JAT’s competitiveness among leading global carriers.

After the prosperous 1980s, the 1990s brought significant challenges. The breakup of Yugoslavia and subsequent wars led to economic difficulties and international sanctions. In 1992, a UN embargo halted JAT’s international flights, limiting its operations to domestic routes between Belgrade, Podgorica, Tivat, and other cities. The DC-10, designed for long-haul flights, became underutilized, and its operations were temporarily suspended.

Following the partial lifting of sanctions in 1994, JAT resumed international flights, and the DC-10 once again became a vital part of its fleet. However, financial difficulties and the aging of the aircraft, coupled with the emergence of more fuel-efficient models like the Boeing 767 and Airbus A330, led to the gradual phasing out of the DC-10. By the early 2000s, JAT began replacing the DC-10 with more modern aircraft, and the final flight of this type in JAT’s fleet took place in 2004. The planes were either sold or converted for cargo operations by other carriers.

Continental DC-10 Postcard