Salt water medical uses and warm properties cured egg yolk lamp

MD 11 fuel capacity — exact specs, variations & operational notes

Short intro:
The MD-11’s fuel capacity determines its range and payload trade-offs for passenger and freighter roles.
This article breaks down official specs, operator variations (UPS, Boeing conversions), and what those numbers mean in operations and markets.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

  • Core MD-11 fuel specification and common unit conversions.
  • Differences between passenger, ER, and freighter configurations.
  • How operators (notably UPS) configure and use MD-11 tanks.
  • Real-world implications for range, payload and safety/operational planning.

KEY STATISTICS (OUTPUT, RESERVES, VACANCIES)

  • Typical fuel capacity: 38,615 US gallons / 146,174 L (standard). Boeing+1
  • Approx. fuel mass at max: ~117,000–260,000 lb depending on unit and optional tanks/metrics (values vary by reference). Wikipedia+1
  • Common freighter range (with full tanks): ≈3,900–4,000 nm depending on payload and MTOW. Boeing

1) INTRODUCTION
SEO snippet: Quick primer on why MD-11 fuel capacity matters for range, payload and airline/cargo economics.
The MD-11 is a long-range trijet originally produced by McDonnell Douglas and later managed by Boeing. Fuel capacity is a defining specification: it controls maximum range, payload trade-offs and determines operational payload planning for both passenger and freighter missions. The canonical capacity widely used in technical data and converted-freighter brochures is 38,615 US gallons (≈146,174 L). Boeing+1

External links (authoritative reference):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_MD-11 (use rel="nofollow" unless you deem otherwise). Wikipedia

2) MD 11 FUEL CAPACITY
SEO snippet: The standard MD-11 fuel capacity is 38,615 US gal (≈146,174 L); optional tanks may change that figure in specific conversions.
Most production MD-11s list 38,615 US gallons as the baseline fuel capacity—this appears consistently in Boeing technical data for MD-11 freighter/conversion publications and technical guides. That figure is the industry standard used when calculating range and fuel planning. Some older or specially modified airframes may carry different usable quantities due to auxiliary tanks or de-fueling arrangements. Boeing+1

External link:
https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/company/about_bca/startup/pdf/freighters/MD11BCF.pdf

3) MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD 11 FUEL CAPACITY
SEO snippet: Original McDonnell Douglas specs and early MD-11 variants used the same main tank baseline; ER variants focused on MTOW and range changes.
McDonnell Douglas published the MD-11’s baseline configuration during certification and flight-test programs; while later MTOW and aerodynamic changes (and ER variants) adjusted range performance and weights, the physical baseline tank volume remained effectively 38,615 US gal for the majority of production aircraft. Some ER (extended-range) program options emphasize higher MTOW rather than dramatically larger tanks. Wikipedia+1

External link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_MD-11

4) UPS MD 11 FUEL CAPACITY
SEO snippet: UPS MD-11 freighters normally use the standard 38,615 US gal capacity; operator load and routes influence fuel uplift decisions.
UPS operates many MD-11 freighters. Their planning uses the standard tank geometry (38,615 US gal) but real-loaded fuel uplift varies with route, payload and reserve rules. Media coverage of recent incidents has sometimes misstated gallons vs. pounds — use manufacturer data for technical planning rather than press figures. UPS and other cargo operators choose fuel loads to balance range and revenue payload; freighter conversions and airline ops can alter usable fuel slightly due to structural modifications. Simple Flying+1

External link:
https://simpleflying.com/why-ups-hanging-on-aged-mcdonnell-douglas-md-11s/ Simple Flying

5) BOEING MD 11 FUEL CAPACITY
SEO snippet: Boeing’s MD-11 freighter conversion materials list the fuel capacity as 38,615 US gal (146,174 L) and present the freighter performance tables.
When Boeing produced freighter information and MD-11 conversion brochures (post-acquisition), the published fuel capacity for freighter specifications remains 38,615 US gal (146,174 L). Boeing’s MD-11B/BCF technical sheets present payload and range trade-offs that let operators compute mission fuel, reserves and contingency fuel needed for ETOPS-like planning in three-engine operations. Boeing+1

External link:
https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/company/about_bca/startup/pdf/freighters/MD11BCF.pdf

6) FUEL CAPACITY VARIATIONS & OPTIONAL TANKS
SEO snippet: Auxiliary tanks and certain conversions can increase usable fuel, but most in-service MD-11s retain the baseline tanks.
A minority of MD-11s were fitted with optional auxiliary tanks (installation choices or customer options). Documents and operator notes show some variants keep the baseline tanks while others install additional tanks that increase maximum usable fuel and therefore range—this is not the norm, and many converted freighters retain the standard tanking. Always check the aircraft’s config and AFM for planning. aircraft-commerce.com

External link:
https://www.aircraft-commerce.com/wp-content/uploads/aircraft-commerce-docs1/Aircraft%20guides/MD-11/ISSUE%2047-MD-11%20SPECS.pdf

7) OPERATIONAL IMPLICATIONS: RANGE, PAYLOAD & SAFETY
SEO snippet: Fuel capacity interacts directly with MTOW and payload — operators trade payload for fuel to meet route range requirements.
With ~38,615 US gal, a fully fueled MD-11 freighter reaches roughly 3,900–4,000 nautical miles depending on payload and winds. Heavier fuel loads increase takeoff weight requiring MTOW considerations; conversely, payload restrictions may be imposed to meet range or climb performance requirements. Operators use manufacturer performance tables to plan fuel uplift, reserves and alternates. Recent high-profile incidents and fleet groundings have also highlighted how fuel-related repairs and structural changes can affect operations and aircraft availability. Boeing+1

External link:
https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/company/about_bca/startup/pdf/freighters/MD11BCF.pdf

8) NOVINTRADES — INTRODUCTION (BRAND SECTION)
SEO snippet: NovinTrades connects global buyers and sellers for industrial products and publishes SEO-optimized reportage—visit for supplier listings and thought leadership.
NovinTrades builds a B2B marketplace linking buyers and suppliers across oil products, chemicals, minerals, building materials and industrial goods. The platform pairs supplier listings with editorial Reportages and SEO-optimized content to increase discoverability and support procurement decisions. For aviation fuel, logistics and commodity buyers, NovinTrades lists suppliers and publishes market analyses that help plan bulk purchases and contract logistics. Join the Telegram channel for updates and supplier announcements.

SEO snippet (short): NovinTrades B2B marketplace for oil, chemicals, minerals; reportage and supplier listings.
LSI keywords: B2B marketplace, oil products suppliers, aviation fuel suppliers, industrial procurement, NovinTrades reportages.

Links and invites (brand & reportage):
https://www.novintrades.com/products (nofollow)
https://www.novintrades.com/reportages (nofollow)
Telegram channel invite: https://t.me/novintrades

9) NOVIN TRADES MARKET VIEW AND FORECAST
SEO snippet: Market snapshot: jet fuel demand, supply-side constraints and cargo activity influence operator fuel strategies for older freighters like the MD-11.
NovinTrades view: older widebody freighters (MD-11 included) remain valuable for large-volume cargo but face operational headwinds: fuel price volatility, tighter maintenance rules and fleet modernization by major carriers. Forecast: freighter demand will stay steady for heavy, long-haul cargo routes, but operators will increasingly hedge fuel and schedule capacity to avoid single-type dependency. For procurement teams, NovinTrades recommends locking supplier agreements, monitoring maintenance advisories, and using route-specific fuel planning to minimize disruption risk.

External resources (for market context):
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ups-grounds-its-md-11-fleet-after-louisville-crash-2025-11-08/ Reuters

FAQs (expanded)

Q1: What is the MD-11’s fuel capacity in liters and gallons?
A: Standard published capacity is 38,615 US gallons / ~146,174 liters. Boeing+1

Q2: Do MD-11 freighters use different tanks than passenger MD-11s?
A: The tank structure is typically the same; freighter conversions may change usable quantities slightly through AFM limitations or auxiliary tank options. aircraft-commerce.com

Q3: How many hours can an MD-11 fly on full tanks?
A: Flight hours depend on cruise fuel burn (which varies by weight and cruise Mach). Typical long-range cruise yields several hours sufficient for transoceanic flights — operators use performance tables to convert fuel volumes to endurance. Boeing

Q4: Can operator (e.g., UPS) modify fuel capacity?
A: Operators can request auxiliary tanks or limit usable fuel for certification/weight reasons, but the physical tank volume baseline remains constant unless structural modifications are performed. aircraft-commerce.com

More questions to consider :

  • How does MD-11 fuel capacity compare with 747-400?
  • What is MD-11 fuel burn per hour at cruise?
  • Do MD-11 ER variants have larger tanks?

LSI KEYWORDS (for on-page use)

MD-11 fuel volume, MD11 gallons to liters, MD-11 freighter fuel capacity, MD-11 range and payload, Boeing MD-11 specs, UPS MD-11 fuel load, MD-11 auxiliary tanks, MD-11 fuel mass, MD-11 AFM fuel usable, freighter fuel planning.

CONCLUSION

SEO snippet: The MD-11’s standard published fuel capacity—38,615 US gal / 146,174 L—is the baseline used by manufacturers and operators; real-world uplift varies by route, payload and operator-specific modifications.
Fuel capacity is a stable, well-documented spec but its operational implications are dynamic: payload trade-offs, MTOW limits and route planning determine how much fuel is uplifted for any flight. Use manufacturer AFM/FCOM data and operator performance tables for mission planning; treat press figures cautiously and verify with primary technical data. Boeing+1

External references (authoritative sources used above)

 

Jet Fuel