I remember the early 1990's when I first saw a MD-11... it was love at first sight... I can hardly explain why I love this particular aircraft, being a machine made of metal and plastic... Is it her looks, the graciousness she exhibits when she taxi around airports over the world, the iconic third engine, the rocket-style climb characteristics, the large winglets that always travel with you like a good travel companion, the sleek nose pointing forward with a certain curious attitude, the (exotic) destinations the MD-11 flew me to including my native island Aruba, the CF6-80C2D1F sound described by a fellow MD-11 friend (Lieneke) as a harmony of singing tea kettles... there are so many reasons to really love this aircraft.
A few years ago KLM started to retire it's MD-11 fleet, in first instance this went by unnoticed by me. However, this changed when on 1 May, 2014, I saw a petition ongoing on the Internet to save 1 passenger MD-11 for the Netherlands. I signed immediately; as no. 2120... and became a member of the "Save The Last PAX McDonnell Douglas MD-11" Facebook group as well founded by Barry Schuuring who did an excellent job of initiating the farewell community.
Until then, I was not a big fan of social media, however this Facebook group changed my opinion regarding the power of social media. Although it soon became apparent that we would not be able to save one of the ladies (all 10 KLM MD-11 were named after important women in history) the vibe and power of such a movement could not be ignored by KLM. The 'Elfjes' (Dutch for Fairy) were absolutely popular and loved; something that became clear when quite a few people manifested the wish to save one of these exceptional 10 KLM ladies. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, it was announced that all 10 would be sold to the USA to be scraped.
To ease the pain, KLM agreed on giving the MD-11 a well deserved farewell. I still remember the moment I first read about the farewell flights. It was the evening before the booking was opened. I was having a drink with a buddy in Amsterdam and walking to the loo I had a quick peek on Facebook and there was the news: KLM to operate farewell flights with the MD-11... When I got back my buddy could not understand why I was so hyper and excited... A quick explanation was enough to make it clear that from that moment I had only one goal: to get on the flight!
So the next morning I had the computer up-and-running and laid both my passport and credit card next to my key board. While waiting anxiously for the clock to mark 11:11 hrs I could barely drink my coffee... actually I was feeling so nauseous I missed the 'moment supreme'... 8 minutes late at 11:20 I jumped out of my chair and literally dived on my keyboard frantically clicking on the ENTER button, only to see I was not successful in making the reservation. I neurotically kept hitting the keyboard until out of the blue I got through the first screen... I was so nervous, my hands were shaking violently, I could hardly read and type my credit card number... I had to wait as the system were processing my payment... a few seconds seemed an eternity... and then, there it was on my screen: reservation successful! I screamed of joy like a hyperactive little kid going ballistic; even my neighbour came by to check if I was OK.
In the weeks following, I was counting the days, everyday, day by day. The last regular scheduled passenger flights were also quickly approaching. Saturday 25 October; I set course to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to salute the last outbound scheduled commercial passenger flight ever operated with an MD-11. See my blog Bye Bye My Dearest... Last Scheduled Commercial Passenger KLM MD-11 Flight from Amsterdam. The next morning, I simply could not get enough courage to go back to Schiphol for the last arrival ever of a scheduled commercial flight of a KLM MD-11. In the meantime, we were all documenting every single move of the "Elfjes". Also the last A-check on the MD-11 by KLM did no go by unnoticed: KLM-technici voltooien laatste A-check aan MD-11.
A few years ago KLM started to retire it's MD-11 fleet, in first instance this went by unnoticed by me. However, this changed when on 1 May, 2014, I saw a petition ongoing on the Internet to save 1 passenger MD-11 for the Netherlands. I signed immediately; as no. 2120... and became a member of the "Save The Last PAX McDonnell Douglas MD-11" Facebook group as well founded by Barry Schuuring who did an excellent job of initiating the farewell community.
Until then, I was not a big fan of social media, however this Facebook group changed my opinion regarding the power of social media. Although it soon became apparent that we would not be able to save one of the ladies (all 10 KLM MD-11 were named after important women in history) the vibe and power of such a movement could not be ignored by KLM. The 'Elfjes' (Dutch for Fairy) were absolutely popular and loved; something that became clear when quite a few people manifested the wish to save one of these exceptional 10 KLM ladies. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, it was announced that all 10 would be sold to the USA to be scraped.
To ease the pain, KLM agreed on giving the MD-11 a well deserved farewell. I still remember the moment I first read about the farewell flights. It was the evening before the booking was opened. I was having a drink with a buddy in Amsterdam and walking to the loo I had a quick peek on Facebook and there was the news: KLM to operate farewell flights with the MD-11... When I got back my buddy could not understand why I was so hyper and excited... A quick explanation was enough to make it clear that from that moment I had only one goal: to get on the flight!
So the next morning I had the computer up-and-running and laid both my passport and credit card next to my key board. While waiting anxiously for the clock to mark 11:11 hrs I could barely drink my coffee... actually I was feeling so nauseous I missed the 'moment supreme'... 8 minutes late at 11:20 I jumped out of my chair and literally dived on my keyboard frantically clicking on the ENTER button, only to see I was not successful in making the reservation. I neurotically kept hitting the keyboard until out of the blue I got through the first screen... I was so nervous, my hands were shaking violently, I could hardly read and type my credit card number... I had to wait as the system were processing my payment... a few seconds seemed an eternity... and then, there it was on my screen: reservation successful! I screamed of joy like a hyperactive little kid going ballistic; even my neighbour came by to check if I was OK.
In the weeks following, I was counting the days, everyday, day by day. The last regular scheduled passenger flights were also quickly approaching. Saturday 25 October; I set course to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to salute the last outbound scheduled commercial passenger flight ever operated with an MD-11. See my blog Bye Bye My Dearest... Last Scheduled Commercial Passenger KLM MD-11 Flight from Amsterdam. The next morning, I simply could not get enough courage to go back to Schiphol for the last arrival ever of a scheduled commercial flight of a KLM MD-11. In the meantime, we were all documenting every single move of the "Elfjes". Also the last A-check on the MD-11 by KLM did no go by unnoticed: KLM-technici voltooien laatste A-check aan MD-11.
I could hardly sleep the night before the farewell flight. I felt like a little kid on the night before Christmas, anxious to open the presents under the Christmas tree he has been watching every single day... I set all alarms I could find at 06:45 in the morning. At 05:30 I was awake at 05:30; alive and kicking and overly exited! After a quick shower, I skipped the usual morning coffee and speeded to Amsterdam CS to catch the train to Schiphol.
Even the check in - which sometimes can be a stressful part of flying - was great; cueing was never so relaxed together with other passionate MD-11 fans; people you knew would understand you. The Dutch aviation site Luchtvaartnieuws provided us with a special issue of their printed magazine with the MD-11 on the cover. As check in started, they published their first news item about the farewell flights.
I got my boarding pass and seat: 33E. Middle row...
Standing in the door and saying good bye to the crew, I realised it was the last time ever I was on board a MD-11. That was a real sad moment...
Fortunately, to ease the pain, KLM arranged a fantastic static display on the cargo platform with the Douglas DC-3 PH-PBA 'Princes Amalia' and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 PH-KCB 'Maria Montessori'... We could walk around, see, feel and live the special history of Douglas Aviation at KLM... By this moment I was overwhelmed by mixed emotions and yes... it is a very rare occurrence to me: I was speechless... I have no further comments...
Photo above by Andre Ran
After enjoying the static display on the platform for nearly an hour, we had to proceed back to the terminal while the second farewell flight started boarding.
The goodies bag we got from KLM with many collectors items to keep the memory alive.
The goodies bag we got from KLM with many collectors items to keep the memory alive.
The goodies bag we got from KLM with many collectors items to keep the memory alive.
A Big Thank You!
I want to say thank you... thank you MD-11s for having flown me so often to my native island Aruba... thank you all MD-11 crew for making all these flights so special... thank you KLM, KLM Catering, Schiphol, LVNL, and all other dedicated people who made this day possible and even more, unforgetable!... thank you Barry, Charlie, Edwin, Tom, Valentin, Lieneke and all other who initiated and contributed to the whole MD-11 experience and for giving us a most precious present: the farewell book... thank you all fellow MD-11 friends for being so kind to me, for sharing the affection for the most beautiful aircraft ever, for sharing your photos, videos and and ATC recordings, for saying bye bye together to our 'elfjes' on their last departure to the USA, for being a source of inspiration and allowing me to be part of the community...
Bye Bye MD-11
See here for part two: A day full of Spotting and Celebration after our Flight
Special KLM Site: Bye Bye MD-11 (http://byebyemd11.klm.com)
Facebook Group "Save the Last Passenger McDonnell Douglas MD-11"
KLM MD-11 Fleet details on planespotters.net
Facebook Group "Save the Last Passenger McDonnell Douglas MD-11"
KLM MD-11 Fleet details on planespotters.net
I highly recommend the following articles and blogs published by fellow MD-11 friends:
Travelblog by Cherish Hersbach (stewardess @ KLM): reizendoordewolken.nl
Bye Bye MD-11
Call it closure; mijn definitieve afscheid van de MD-11. About her very special trip to the Mojave dessert
Blog by Lieneke Koornstra de Doelder (Editor MD-11 Farewell Book)
De MD-11 vliegt eruit
MD-11 Farewell Flight
Farewell PH-KCB 'Maria Montessori'
Farewell PH-KCD 'Florance Nightingale'
NOS news item: MD-11, het einden van een tijdperk in de luchtvaart
Luchtvaartnieuws.nl: Gemengde gevoelens bij afscheidsvluchten MD-11
