By late 1991, it was clear that the MD-12 as a trijet evolution of the MD-11 was a dead-end as it would have been too long for airport compatibility and too heavy to meet its range/payload targets. In the spring of 1992, McDonnell Douglas changed course and the MD-12 morphed into a four-engined double deck design that was only 3 feet longer than the MD-11 with a wingspan only 2 feet wider than the Boeing 747-400. The planned engines would be similar to what was already in use on the MD-11 and the 747-400, which offered less risk to prospective customers, particularly if they were already MD-11 or 747 operators. As a larger capacity aircraft with up to 27 first class, 95 business class and 377 coach class seats, the seat-mile costs for the MD-12 redesign were much better than the trijet design and it offered growth potential for possible fuselage stretches. Compared to the typical 870,000 lb weight of the Boeing 747-400, this design iteration of the MD-12 came in at 932,000 lbs with a design range of 7300 nm at maximum takeoff weight. McDD was also considering a long range version of the MD-12 with a partial upper deck which might have looked a bit like the 747 as well as an all-cargo and combi versions of the MD-12. The combi version would have had passengers on the upper deck with cargo on the main deck and lower deck. The proposed MD-12F would have taken LD9s on the top deck, a dual row of M1 containers on the main deck (similar to the 747-400F) and either LD9s on the lower deck or two rows of LD3s. The new MD-12 was departure for McDD which had been focusing on incremental evolution of its DC-10 and DC-9 product lines, resulting in the MD-11 and the MD-80. Had it gone forward, it would have been their first all-new design in 20 years since the launch of the DC-10. (AWST, 13 April 1992) #McDonnellDouglas #MD12 #Boeing #instagramaviation #splendid_transport #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #flight #AvGeeksAero #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge #AvGeekNation https://www.instagram.com/p/CYb2r0_lTWf/?utm_medium=tumblr
