The Yugoslav fat plane

In the late 1970s, Jugoslovenski Aerotransport (JAT), the national carrier of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was at the peak of its development. By the 1980s, JAT was one of Europe’s largest airlines, operating an extensive network of international and domestic routes. To strengthen its position in the long-haul market, JAT decided to add the wide-body McDonnell Douglas DC-10 to its fleet—a plane that combined high capacity with reliability and impressive range. This is the story of how the DC-10 became part of JAT’s fleet and left its mark on the airline’s history.

Arrival of the DC-10 at JAT

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10, which first took to the skies on August 29, 1970, was designed as a modern replacement for the Douglas DC-8 for long-haul flights. Aiming to expand its international network to North America, the Middle East, and Asia, JAT selected the DC-10-30 model, capable of covering up to 9,600 km with an increased takeoff weight, partly due to an additional landing gear bogie.

The first DC-10 acquired by JAT landed in Belgrade on December 12, 1979. This moment was a milestone for both the airline and Yugoslavia as a whole. Named after the renowned scientist Nikola Tesla, the aircraft was greeted with a ceremonial event. Instead of the traditional champagne, water from Tesla’s native village of Smiljan was used to “christen” the plane, emphasizing national pride and the symbolism of the occasion. This DC-10, registered as YU-AMA, became the first wide-body aircraft in JAT’s fleet, opening a new chapter in its history.

Operations and Role in International Flights

The DC-10 enabled JAT to significantly expand its flight network. The aircraft was used on key long-haul routes to destinations such as New York, Chicago, Singapore, Beirut, and Cairo. Configured for 270 passengers in a two-class layout, the DC-10 offered comfort and capacity, making it ideal for long flights. Its operation bolstered JAT’s competitiveness among leading global carriers.

However, operating the DC-10 was not without challenges for JAT. In its early years, the aircraft faced reputational issues due to design flaws, particularly with the cargo door locking mechanism, which led to several serious incidents worldwide, including the 1974 Turkish Airlines crash near Paris. While JAT recorded no such accidents with its DC-10s, the airline closely followed McDonnell Douglas’s directives for upgrades and safety enhancements. Regular maintenance and updates minimized risks, and JAT’s DC-10s demonstrated consistent reliability.

Challenges of the 1990s and the End of the DC-10 at JAT

After the prosperous 1980s, the 1990s brought significant challenges. The breakup of Yugoslavia and subsequent wars led to economic difficulties and international sanctions. In 1992, a UN embargo halted JAT’s international flights, limiting its operations to domestic routes between Belgrade, Podgorica, Tivat, and other cities. The DC-10, designed for long-haul flights, became underutilized, and its operations were temporarily suspended.

Following the partial lifting of sanctions in 1994, JAT resumed international flights, and the DC-10 once again became a vital part of its fleet. However, financial difficulties and the aging of the aircraft, coupled with the emergence of more fuel-efficient models like the Boeing 767 and Airbus A330, led to the gradual phasing out of the DC-10. By the early 2000s, JAT began replacing the DC-10 with more modern aircraft, and the final flight of this type in JAT’s fleet took place in 2004. The planes were either sold or converted for cargo operations by other carriers.

Legacy of the DC-10 at JAT

The DC-10 left a lasting mark on the history of JAT Yugoslav Airlines. It symbolized the airline’s ambitions to establish a global presence during its peak. Named after Nikola Tesla and Edvard Rusjan, the aircraft embodied national pride, connecting Yugoslavia to the world. Despite challenges related to the plane’s design and geopolitical constraints, the DC-10 proved its value as a reliable and spacious airliner.

After JAT’s rebranding as Air Serbia in 2013, the era of the DC-10 became a thing of the past, but its memory endures in Serbian aviation history. The aircraft reflects both the successes and challenges JAT faced during the turbulent years of the late 20th century. The DC-10 remains a significant chapter in the chronicles of Yugoslav and Serbian aviation.