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N610TF Douglas DC-10-40(F) CAC Challenge Air Cargo MIA 29JAN99

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 18-Sep-21 (DeNoise AI).

 

Although still registered N610TF, it already has the fleet number 141 on the nosewheel doors.

 

First flown with the McDonnell Douglas test registration N19B, it was re-registered N54652 the following week for further test flights. The aircraft was delivered to JAL Japan Air Lines (as a 'domestic' DC-10-40D - see note below) as JA8533 in May-76.

 

It served with JAL for 22 years before being sold to Ten Forty Inc as Apr-98 as N610TF. The aircraft was converted to freighter configuration as a DC-10-40(F) in Oct/Nov-98, with main deck cargo door. On completion it was leased to CAC Challenge Air Cargo. It was re-registered N141WE in Apr-99. By late 2000 Challenge Air Cargo had financial problems and the aircraft was stored at Greenwood, MS, USA in Jan-01.

 

In Aug-01 it was transferred to a new company, Centurion Air Cargo. It was returned to the lessor in Aug-03. It was leased to Aeroflot Russian Airlines as VP-BDG the following month. In Mar-07 the aircraft was transferred to their new cargo division, Aeroflot Cargo. It was returned to the lessor in Apr-08 as N141WE and stored at Miami.

 

In Jul-08 the aircraft was leased to Arrow Air Cargo. At the age 0f 33 it was retired and stored at Orlando-Sanford, FL, USA in Aug-09. It was ferried to Marana, AZ, USA in Aug-12 for further storage and was last noted still stored there in Apr-16, complete and with everything 'taped up'.

 

The aircraft was sold to Omega Aerial Refuelling Services in Nov-23 for spares use, Permanently retired at Marana.

 

Note: Japan Air Lines operated two types of DC-10-40, the DC-10-40D used on Japanese domestic services and the DC-10-40I which was used mainly on international services. They were basically the same aircraft, however the DC-10-40D had the centre main undercarriage leg and the centre fuel tank locked out and could be operated at the lower maximum take-off and landing weights of the DC-10-10.

 

Aircraft landing charges are based on the maximum take-off weight of the aircraft (I know that sounds weird, having the landing charge based on the MTOW but that's how it works world-wide!) and using the aircraft as a DC-10-10 gave JAL a considerable saving on landing fees. Some of JAL's DC-10-40D's were converted to 'I' standard during their time with the company and all of the aircraft which were later converted to freighters became DC-10-40(F)'s.

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Uploaded on May 11, 2025
Taken on January 29, 1999