The DC-10 was in competition with the L-1011 for the new tri-engine intercontinental jet. Despite some design flaws since corrected in the 70s that caused some crashed (AA in ORD), the DC-10 is said to have "won," judging by the number of L-1011 orders compared with the number of DC-10. The MD-11 is the updated version. It carries two flight crew members rather than three.

The new MD-10 (NOT DC-10) is a freighter version of the DC-10 (I think, sorry for incorrect info above, maybe the MD-11), and FedEx is the launch customer.