Boeing's 737 was the answer to Douglas's successful DC-9 series of aircraft, which was launched to complement the long-range DC-8. The jet became hugely popular with airlines all over the world and underwent a series of stretches and modifications. It had a T-tail, rear-mounted engines and five-abreast seating in economy class. The first flight was on February 25, 1965 and the first DC-9-10 entered service in December of that year. The basic airframe was stretched from its original 32 metres to over 46!

• Versions
• Technical specifications
• Production

Versions

DC-9-10: The first aircraft entered service with Delta Air Lines. Douglas soon started to work on modified versions, launching the DC-9-15 with more fuel capacity and higher operational weights and the DC-9-20 with the -10's fuselage and the -30's engines and larger wings.

DC-9-30: The best-selling version featured a stretched fuselage and stronger engines. It entered service with Eastern Airlines in February 1967.

DC-9-40: This stretch of the -30, with more powerful engines, entered service with SAS in March 1968.

DC-9-50: The-50 was a further stretch and also featured a redesigned passenger cabin and quieter engines.

The DC-9 was also offered as convertible or freighter, and engine retrofits lengthened its service life.

MD-81/82/83/88: Officially designated DC-9 Super 80, the MD-80 series comprised further stretch versions with improved engines and avionics. Swissair received the first MD-81 in September 1980. The MD-82 has more powerful engines, the MD-83 extended range, and the MD-88 a more modern cockpit and redesigned cabin interior.

One-Two-Go McDonnell Douglas MD-82 HS-OMD

MD-87: With the MD-87, McDonnell Douglas combined the fuselage length of the DC-9-30 with the modern engines and avionics of the MD-80 series. Flying for the first time in December 1986, this type was the first in the series to feature an EFIS-cockpit.

Iberia McDonnell Douglas MD-87 EC-FHK at Madrid Barajas

MD-90: The MD-90 is the largest member of the DC-9/MD-80 family and is a further stretch featuring a flight deck based on the MD-88's EFIS cockpit and an upgraded passenger cabin. Its main improvement are the engines, more powerful and economical than any used before. With the first flight in February 1993, Delta Air Lines was the launch customer for this version. The aircraft was offered as the basic MD-90-30 model, the -90-30-ER and the -90-50, each of the latter offering a greater range, and the high-capacity MD-90-55 for a high-density, single-class cabin layout.

Following the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in 1997, Boeing completed all outstanding orders for MD-80 and -90 series aircraft and renamed the MD-95 to Boeing 717 (see separate page).

Technical specifications

Dimensions:

• DC-9-10: Length 31.82m (104ft 5in), wing span 27.25m (89ft 5in), height 8.38m (27ft 6in).
• DC-9-30: Length 36.37m (119ft 4in), wing span 28.47m (93ft 5in), height 8.38m (27ft 6in).
• DC-9-40: Length 38.28m (125ft 7in), wing span 28.47m (93ft 5in), height 8.53m (28ft).
• DC-9-50: Length 40.72m (133ft 7in), wing span 28.47m (93ft 5in), height 8.53m (28ft).
• MD-81/82/83/88: Length 45.06m (147ft 10in), wing span 32.87m (107ft 10in), height 9.02m (29ft 7in).
• MD-87: Length 39.75m (130ft 5in), wing span 32.86m (107ft 10in), height 9.30m (30ft 6in).
• MD-90: Length 46.51m (152ft 7in), wing span 32.87m (107ft 10in), height 9.33m (30ft 7in).

• DC-9-10: Typical single class seating 80, max 90 pax.
• DC-9-30: Typical single class seating 105, max 115 pax.
• DC-9-40: 125 pax in single class.
• DC-9-50: 139 pax in single class.
• MD-81/82/83/88: Typical two-class 142, max seating 172 pax.
• MD-87: Typical two-class seating of 109, max seating 139 pax.
• MD-90-30: Typical two-class seating of 153, max seating of 172. 187 pax in the MD-90-55.

Powerplants:

• DC-9-10: 2x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-5 @54.5kN (12,250lb).
• DC-9-30: 2x P&W JT8D-9 @64.5kN (14,500lb), JT8D-11 @66.7kN (15,000lb) or JT8D-17 @71.2kN (16,000lb).
• DC-9-40: 2x P&W JT8D-9 @64.5kN (14,500lb), JT8D-11 @66.7kN (15,000lb), JT8D-15 @69.0kN (15,500lb) or JT8D-17 @71.2kN (16,000lb).
• DC-9-50: 2x P&W JT8D-15 @69.0kN (15,500lb) or two JT8D-17 @71.2kN (16,000lb).
• MD-81: 2x P&W JT8D-209 @82.3kN (18,500lb).
• MD-87: 2x P&W JT8D-217C @88.9kN (20,000lb).
• MD-88: 2x P&W JT8D-219 @93.4kN (21,000lb).
• MD-90-30: 2x International Aero Engines V2525D5 @111.2kN (25,000lb). MD-90-55: V2528D5 @124.5kN (28,000lb).

Range:

• DC-9-10: 1050 km (570 nm)
• DC-9-30: between 2150 and 3100 km (1150 and 1650 nm)
• DC-9-40: between 1725 and 2875 km (930 and 1550 nm)
• DC-9-50: 3325 km (1795 nm)
• MD-81: 2900 km (1560 nm)
• MD-87: 4400 to 5500 km (2400 to 3000nm)
• MD-88: 4850 km (2600 nm)
• MD-90-30: 3800 km (2000 nm)
• MD-90-30ER: 4400 km (2400 nm)
• MD-90-50: 5600 km (3000 nm)

Production

• DC-9-10: 137
• DC-9-20: 10
• DC-9-30: 662
• DC-9-40: 71
• DC-9-50: 96
• MD-81: 132
• MD-82: 569
• MD-83: 265
• MD-87: 75
• MD-88: 150
• MD-90: 120