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Fast Money & Foreign Objects
20 February 2014 Last updated at 08:02 ET
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'End of an era' as DC-10 makes last international trip
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The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight left Dhaka at about 03:00 GMT
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The final international flight of a DC-10 passenger aircraft has taken off from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
It marks the last such journey for the three-engine plane, which first went into service in 1971.
The flight, which departed Dhaka at about 03:00 GMT, is due to land at Birmingham Airport at 16:30 GMT.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines - the last commercial passenger carrier to use DC-10s - said it was retiring the aircraft and replacing it with newer planes.
'Fitting end'
The aircraft stopped to refuel in Kuwait at about 09:45 GMT before embarking on the final leg of its journey to Birmingham.
Plane enthusiast Gordon Stretch, who travelled from Solihull to be on the flight, said the first part of the journey had been smooth.
"Assuming there is no delay with fuelling we are still looking good for an on time-ish arrival into Birmingham," he said.
Gordon Stretch says the plane lacks an in-flight entertainment system
Biman will run a series of one-hour pleasure flights for enthusiasts from Birmingham airport over the weekend, with the last trip scheduled for 15:00 GMT on Monday.
An airline spokesman said: "It's a fitting end for an aircraft that has served Biman loyally and well over many years."
DC-10s have been used as passenger planes for over 40 years, and continue to be employed for cargo and military use.
They have been involved in several high-profile air crashes and were temporarily grounded by the US Federal Aviation Authority in 1979.
But enthusiasts - who lovingly describe the DC-10 as a "workhorse" - say it was one of the planes that paved the way for mass long-haul travel.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-26272607
Share this page
'End of an era' as DC-10 makes last international trip
Continue reading the main story
Continue reading the main story
1/3
The final international flight of a DC-10 passenger aircraft has taken off from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
It marks the last such journey for the three-engine plane, which first went into service in 1971.
The flight, which departed Dhaka at about 03:00 GMT, is due to land at Birmingham Airport at 16:30 GMT.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines - the last commercial passenger carrier to use DC-10s - said it was retiring the aircraft and replacing it with newer planes.
'Fitting end'
The aircraft stopped to refuel in Kuwait at about 09:45 GMT before embarking on the final leg of its journey to Birmingham.
Plane enthusiast Gordon Stretch, who travelled from Solihull to be on the flight, said the first part of the journey had been smooth.
"Assuming there is no delay with fuelling we are still looking good for an on time-ish arrival into Birmingham," he said.
Biman will run a series of one-hour pleasure flights for enthusiasts from Birmingham airport over the weekend, with the last trip scheduled for 15:00 GMT on Monday.
An airline spokesman said: "It's a fitting end for an aircraft that has served Biman loyally and well over many years."
DC-10s have been used as passenger planes for over 40 years, and continue to be employed for cargo and military use.
They have been involved in several high-profile air crashes and were temporarily grounded by the US Federal Aviation Authority in 1979.
But enthusiasts - who lovingly describe the DC-10 as a "workhorse" - say it was one of the planes that paved the way for mass long-haul travel.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-26272607
