The McDonnell Douglas DC10 is a medium to long range wide body airliner which began development in 1967. In consultation with launch customer American Airlines, the DC10 was originally conceived as a twinjet, but a third engine was added to the design to enable the aircraft to use existing runways. The DC10 program was launched with firm orders from American and United in February 1968. The first DC10 took to the air on August 29 1970 and entered commercial service with American and United in mid August 1971, nearly a year earlier than the Lockheed L1011 which was built to similar specifications.
The DC10-10 was the initial version which was designed for domestic routes with a maximum seating capacity of 380. Power was supplied by 3 GE CF6-6D high bypass turbofan engines each delivering 40,000 lbs of thrust. Also produced was the DC10-15 which was designed to be used at hot high-altitude airports. This series was fitted with higher thrust GE CF6-50C2F turbofans each producing 46,500 lbs of thrust. A total of 7 DC10-15s were built and delivered to Mexicana and Aeromexico.
In mid 1983 CP Air cross-leased three DC10-30s with United Air Lines for three DC10-10s. All 10 Series aircraft were painted in the CP Air livery but retained their US registrations. The aircraft were mainly used on domestic routes within Canada. A fourth DC10-10 was leased for a short time from United in 1985 while two of CP Air's DC10-30s were being fitted with long range fuel tanks. The 3 cross-leased DC10s continued on into the merger with Canadian Airlines.
Thanks to Carl Vetter
Development of the DC10 continued with the introduction of the series 30 and 40. The DC10-40 was the first long range version of the DC10. Originally designated as the DC10-20, it was later changed to the DC10-40 at the request of Northwest Orient the launch customer. The series 40 was fitted with PW JT9D turbofan engines the same power plant found on the early 747s. All 42 DC10-40s built were delivered to Northwest Orient and Japan Air Lines.
The DC10-30 was the most successful variant of the DC10 series. The aircraft is very similar to the series 40, but came equipped with GE CF6-50 engines. It entered service with launch customers KLM and Swissair late in 1972. With typical payload the aircraft can carry 250 to 270 passengers over 4500 miles. Additional variants of the DC10-30 included the 30CF (Convertible Passenger/Freighter), the 30ER (Extended Range) and the 30F (Freighter). Due to its greater fuel capacity and therefore higher takeoff weight than the series 10, both the DC10-30 and 40 sport a 3rd main landing gear. The extra main, consisting of 2 wheels, extends from the centre of the fuselage. In all 206 DC10-30s were built.
The final DC10 rolled of the production line in 1989 with a total of 386 being delivered. In addition to civil versions of the DC10 a military variant known as the KC-10A Extender was produced. Based on the DC10-30 platform these aircraft were used as tankers by the US Air Force to perform midair refueling. They entered service in 1981 with a total of 60 units being produced. CP Air took delivery of its first DC10-30 in March of 1979 with two more being added in July and November of the same year. By March 1982 the DC10-30 fleet had increased to eight examples. 
CP Air utilized these aircraft on their international routes to Europe, South America and the Pacific. All eight DC10-30s were carried over into the merger with Canadian Airlines.
Fleet Info (Click to Enlarge):
