Aircraft / McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Series
JStream Original Aircraft Template
The Douglas DC-9 - after August 1967 called the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 - is a five-abreast, twin-engine, medium range narrow-body jet airliner manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, which was originally headquartered in Santa Monica, California USA, then relocated to Long Beach, California USA. In 1967 the Douglas Aircraft Company merged with St Louis-based McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to become McDonnell Douglas Corporation.
After the successful introduction of its first jetliner, the Douglas DC-8 Series, in 1959, Douglas became interested in producing a suitable aircraft to be used on shorter and thinner routes. Design studies were conducted from around 1958, and approval for the Douglas DC-9, a smaller clean-sheet jetliner, came in April 1963. The first variant, the DC-9-10, entered service in December 1965 with Delta Air Lines. The type’s most popular variant, the Douglas DC-9-30, entered service in February 1967.
Five variants of the Douglas DC-9 were built from 1965 to 1982, as follows:
The Douglas DC-9-10, the base version of the type introduced in 1965, which seated up to 109 passengers.
Douglas DC-9-10 in livery of UTA France (fka Union de Transports Aériens), shown in side view while in midflight (L) and while parked on a tarmac (R).
The Douglas DC-9-20, introduced in 1968, which was visually identical to the DC-9-10 and seated the same number of passengers, but featured more powerful engines and slightly modified wings to improve short-field performance at the request of a European carrier. It was also the first version to include stairs at the rear of the aircraft.
Douglas DC-9-20 in 1960s era livery of Scandia Airlines, shown in side view while in midflight (L) and while parked on a tarmac (R). The Douglas DC-9-30, a stretch version of the DC-9-10 introduced in 1967, which seated up to 127 passengers and was the most popular variant of the type, selling over 600 units.
Douglas DC-9-10 in the 1970-1985 "Sundance Red" jellybean livery of AirWest, shown in side view while in midflight (L) and while parked on a tarmac (R). The Douglas DC-9-40, a stretch version of the DC-9-30 that could seat up to 128 passengers.
Douglas DC-9-40 in 1960s era livery of Scandia Airlines, shown in side view while in midflight (L) and while parked on a tarmac (R). The Douglas DC-9-50, a stretch version of the DC-9-40 that could seat up to 139 passengers.
Douglas DC-9-50 in the original livery of BoraJet Airlines, shown in side view while in midflight (L) and while parked on a tarmac (R).
McDonnell Douglas ultimately ceased production of the original DC-9 series of aircraft in 1982 after producing 976 units - of which 662 were DC-9-30s - and switched production over to the newer generation McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series of airliners. Later generation models were also developed in succeeding years, including the McDonnell Douglas MD-90 and Boeing 717.
The last known passenger flight operated by a DC-9 took place on 6 January 2014. About 30 DC-9 freighters remain in service - including 20 with the Mexican cargo airline Aeronaves TSM - while the last known passenger version was an African Express Airways DC-9-30 recently placed into storage.
Reference: Wikipedia.
Stats
Douglas DC-9-10 (aka McDonnell Douglas DC-9-10)
Origin: Long Beach, California USA
Role: Two Engine Narrow-body Jet Airliner
First Introduction: 8 December 1965
Status: Out of Production; Out of Service
Cockpit Crew: Two
Seating: 90-109
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D
Cruise Speed: 484 knots (897 km/h; 557 mph)
Range: 1300 nmi (2400 km; 1500 mi)
# Aircraft Produced: 137
Douglas DC-9-20 (aka McDonnell Douglas DC-9-20)
Origin: Long Beach, California USA
Role: Two Engine Narrow-body Jet Airliner
First Introduction: 27 January 1969
Status: Out of Production; Out of Service
Cockpit Crew: Two
Seating: 90-109
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D
Cruise Speed: 484 knots (897 km/h; 557 mph)
Range: 1500 nmi (2800 km; 1700 mi)
# Aircraft Produced: 10
Douglas DC-9-30 (aka McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30)
Origin: Long Beach, California USA
Role: Two Engine Narrow-body Jet Airliner
First Introduction: 27 February 1967
Status: Out of Production; In Limited Service
Cockpit Crew: Two
Seating: 115-127
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D
Cruise Speed: 484 knots (897 km/h; 557 mph)
Range: 1500 nmi (2800 km; 1700 mi)
# Aircraft Produced: 662
Douglas DC-9-40 (aka McDonnell Douglas DC-9-40)
Origin: Long Beach, California USA
Role: Two Engine Narrow-body Jet Airliner
First Introduction: 16 July 1968
Status: Out of Production; Out of Service
Cockpit Crew: Two
Seating: 125-128
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D
Cruise Speed: 484 knots (897 km/h; 557 mph)
Range: 1200 nmi (2200 km; 1400 mi)
# Aircraft Produced: 71
Douglas DC-9-50 (aka McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50)
Origin: Long Beach, California USA
Role: Two Engine Narrow-body Jet Airliner
First Introduction: 7 June 1975
Status: Out of Production; Out of Service
Cockpit Crew: Two
Seating: 135-139
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D
Cruise Speed: 484 knots (897 km/h; 557 mph)
Range: 1300 nmi (2400 km; 1500 mi)
# Aircraft Produced: 96