On Feb 21, 2014, at 5:03 PM (local time), the final commercial (pax) DC-10 (DC-10-30; Reg. "S2-ACR") landed, in Birmingham, UK, ending 26 years of service with the national carrier of Bangladesh, and a 43-years run of scheduled passenger service of the type, around the world. The journey of flight had begun, ~5,000 miles away, at Dhaka International Airport, some 12 hours earlier.

"Biman" in local language means "Sky; Aeroplane", and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, commonly known as "Biman" is the national flag carrier of Bangladesh. In my previous post, I'd shown an image of Biman Bangladesh DC-10-30, and had indicated the significance of this airline, as the holder of the final-flight honor, in the world, to operate a passenger flight of the iconic DC-10. However, I didn't know that the "Biman" DC-10-30, I'd shown (and also featured, below, in this post, see markings in shots below) is exactly of same Registration (S2-ACR) as that of the actual DC-10-30, that had flown the last ever (pax) DC-10 flight...! So, JF/CLS, indeed, have selected their Bangladesh Airlines livery rather thoughtfully...!

It's well-known that the DC-10 had suffered B2B setbacks in its early deployments. In fact, a new entrant a/c would be hardly expected to survive the fallout and stigma caused by the type of knockout blows (e.g., 3 high-profile accidents - American 96, Turkish 981, American 191), as occurred in the early years of DC-10. But DC-10 did survive through these setbacks, flew for more than 20-30 years with many airlines, and is still flying today, as freighters, after more than half-a-century of its first flight, as a testament to its longevity. Today aircraft manufactures are looking for the elusive (and often narrow) "niche" segments for marketing success...Airlines were then looking for a big passenger aircraft; smaller than the 747, but with extensive range. The DC-10 fit the bill perfectly...for its time, and ultimately proved its worth as a reliable workhorse, outpacing the more aesthetic Lockheed Tristar L-1011....

The 22-year veteran Captain of Biman's final DC-10 flight had said, "The DC-10 is a wonderful ... robust aircraft. I love to fly the airplane.” ..."This is the biggest aircraft I've flown in my career ... my first wide-body. It gave me confidence as a captain.” ... “I will miss it.” ...end of an era...as he and the airline were getting ready to move on to the more modern B777s...The (S2-ACR) after landing in Birmingham (UK), for the last time, on the scheduled service, went on flying, for several more days, on "pleasure flights" and "farewell tours", around Birmingham, for DC-10 enthusiasts and aficionados...After all, UK has a long and cherished association with DC10s...besides BCal and BA been long-term (loyal) DC10 operators, (Sir) Freddie Laker had introduced the DC10 into Europe, for the first time, Laker Airways been the first EU operator to deploy DC10 (-10)...

The recognition shown to (S2-ACR) in Birmingham was “a fitting end for an aircraft that has served Biman loyally and well over so many years,” stated the airline...

So, here, below, find a collection of shots of the same Biman DC-10-30 (S2-ACR), symbolically, lifting off Dhaka Intl. Airport, and landing in Birmingham (EGBB) Airport (also see MAP). Please note, for navigation, I've (minimally) tested, here, one unit of CIVA INS integration on this (JF/CLS) DC-10-30 panel. INS navigation does work...! Lifting off north (Rwy 32), you can see, on INS activation, the airplane banking left (westward) and then levelling off, in (3-4) successive shots, below, with (inset) INS CDU showing distances (102nm-101nm-100nm - respectively) to the next (upcoming) INS WPT (1), "RAJ" (LATLONG input = N24° 26.34', E88° 36).

And I also found this excellent ~8 mins video clip of Biman DC-10 takeoffs/landings in Birmingham Airport, along with ATC Chatter. Please search for "Biman Bangladesh DC-10 External View Takeoffs & Landings - Birmingham Airport with ATC". Below, are a few highlight timestamps, you might enjoy...do not forget to raise the audio volume (of course, as permissible per "local" ordinance...🙂...):

0m.00s -> 1m.15s (takeoff)
2m.45s -> 3m.15s (this landing is particularly captivating)
6m.15s -> 7m:00s (landing)

Thanks for your interest...! Good flying...!!

Terrific set of shots !! .

Stunning shots! 🙂 

Great set, thanks for showing !

cheers 😉

johnb, Alaska, pmplayer et al.:

Many thanks for the comments and responses...🙂...!!