The Airbus A380 had several potential competitors in the years leading up its launch. Towards the end of the 20th century, there was a craze to see who could produce the next jumbo. As a result, McDonnell Douglas was planning a stretched version of the MD-11 that could have gone up against the European behemoth. Let’s take a look at the proposals.
Initial plans
The MD-12 was first conceived as a trijet larger than the MD-11, then stretched to a quadjet aircraft. According to AV Geekery, McDonnell Douglas surprisingly revealed the MD-12 project in 1992. The plane would have looked similar to the A380 with a more streamlined body.
Here is a look at how the two jumbos compare when it comes to key specifications:
MD-12
- Cockpit crew: 2
- Passengers: 430 Passengers (3 class) / 511 (1 class).
- Engines: 4x General Electric
- Range: 7,170 NM / 14,825 km
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.85
- Length: 208 ft 0 in (63.40 m)
- Wingspan: 213 ft 0 in (64.92 m)
- Height: 74 ft 0 in (22.55 m)
A380
- Cockpit crew: 2
- Passengers: 400-550 (4 class)
- Engines: 4x Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General Electric-Pratt & Whitney) GP-7200 turbofans.
- Range: 8,000 NM / 14,800 km
- Maximum speed: 0.89 Mach
- Length: 238 ft 6 in (72.7 m)
- Wingspan: 261 ft 10 in (79.8 m)
- Height: 79 ft (24.1 m)
A change of heart
Altogether, even though some factors are close calls, the A380 edges the MD-12 in every key aspect. Had the MD-12 been introduced, Airbus would have bragging rights with its specifications.
Nonetheless, the MD-12 would not come into fruition. Remnants of the MD-12 went on to exist across the aviation industry. For instance, Boeing has been placing traces of the plane design into the wing of its other projects. Moreover, the aircraft’s proposed General Electric’s CF6-80C2 engines, later supported variants of the 747, 767 and A330.
Several potential competitors
After the failure to introduce the MD-12 McDonnell Douglas went on to work on 300 to 400–seat MD-11 variants. In 1996,, the manufacturer shared plans for a new trijet with high-seating and long-range at the Farnborough International Air Show. The plane was at the time named the MD-XX and it was offered in two models. These were the MD-XX Stretch with a longer fuselage and MD-XX LR for longer range.
Both designs had 213 ft (64.9 m) wingspan, which was the same as the MD-12. However, the MD-XX Stretch was lengthened 32 ft (9.8 m) over the MD-11. Moreover, it had capacity for 375 passengers in a typical 3-class configuration and 515 travelers in all-economy setup. The range for this stretch was planned to be 7,020 NM / 13,000 km. However, the board of directors at McDonnell Douglas chose to end the whole program later that year.
McDonnell Douglas would soon get scooped up by Boeing amid a $13 billion stock swap in the middle of 1997. Notably, many of the carriers keen in the MD-12 went on to purchase the A380 instead.
What are your thoughts about the proposed McDonnell Douglas MD-12 aircraft? Would you have liked to fly on the plane if it was introduced? Let us know what you think of the type in the comment section.
