The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a series of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle
The End of an Era: American Airlines Says Farewell to the Super 80 |
Delta Air Lines News Release about the retirement of its MD-88s and MD-90s Delta Air Lines - 06/02/2020 |
commercial jet airliners. The engines are mounted on the rear of the fuselage of the "T-Tail" aircraft.
It was lengthened and updated from the Douglas DC-9. This series can seat from 130 to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.
The MD-80 Series later evolved into the MD-90, and the Boeing 717.
Known early as the "DC-9 Series 80" or the "DC-9 Super 80", it would ultimately include the:
All models include two exit doors over the wing.
All models have forward cabin doors on both sides of the fuselage. All models, except the MD-87, have an additional door on the right, aft side of the fuselage in front of the engine.
The MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, and MD-88 all have the same fuselage length of 147' 8" (45m), as seen in the table below comparing the lengths of the MD series.
Aircraft | Length |
MD-81 | 147' 8" |
MD-82 | 147' 8" |
MD-83 | 147' 8" |
MD-88 | 147' 8" |
MD-87 | 130' 4" |
MD-90-30 | 152' 7" |
MD-95 / B717-200 | 124' 0" |
See spotting chart below showing a side-by-side comparison of a MD-83 and a MD-87.
A total of 1,191 of the MD-80 series were produced.
Later introductions were the MD-90 and MD-95/Boeing 717.
One of the last MD-83s in service with American Airlines, on final approach at the DFW International Airport in Texas (Staff Photo, June 16, 2019) |
Shown below is a McDonnell-Douglas MD-90-30 of British Jet, 5 feet longer than the MD-88. A total of 116 MD-90 airliners were built. The engines of the MD-90 are larger than the thinner engines found on the MD-80 series. |
The DC-9 series features a "pointed" tail cone, while the MD-80 series aircraft have what appears to be a "flat" tail cone. The MD-90 has larger engines than the MD-80 Series. The Boeing 717 has engines which are longer in length than the MD-90. |