Comparison of DC-10 and MD-11 Designs

A derivative aircraft can be designed using a baseline airframe, but incorporating significant innovations necessitated by a change in requirements and technological advances which obsolete some of the original design. While innovations are a necessity dictated by “Progress or Perish” philosophy, they bring with them significant risk and implementation problems which can only be obviated by considerable analysis, good planning and thorough testing. Innovation and success are not synonymous.