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McDonnell Douglas / Boeing MD-80

1980 COLD WAR MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of McDonnell Douglas/Boeing MD-80

The twin-engine MD-80 is a short- and medium-range jet airliner developed by aerospace company McDonnell Douglas. It entered service in 1980 and consisted of six main models of the 1,191 aircraft produced.

The aircraft's frame was built from an early 1965 DC-9 (976 produced), also by McDonnell Douglas, and the MD-80 became a longer and more modern version. The model was introduced globally in the 1980s, although today (2018) the number in service has dropped to around 400.

The MD-80 was produced by McDonnell Douglas from its introduction (with the Swissair launch vehicle) to its merger with Boeing Commercial Airplanes in 1997. Since then, the series has operated under the Boeing brand label.

Production time span from 1979 to 1999.

Development of the MD-80 began in the 1970s as the successor to the successful DC-9 series. Lengthening the existing hull (over 14 feet) allows more fuel to be added, and new technology allows more powerful engines to be installed. This affects the expected short to medium range and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). Pratt & Whitney JT8D series turbofan engines were selected to power the new aircraft.

In this modified form, the aircraft was originally called the DC-9 "Series 80" because of its ancestors from the DC-9 series.

The first flight of the 80 series aircraft took place on October 19, 1979. Swissair started service on October 10, 1980. During the testing phase, two prototypes suffered considerable damage, which delayed the plan somewhat.

Certified on October 21, 1987, the line is considered an extension of the existing DC-9 family of aircraft.

The MD-80 is designed in a typical configuration, with the exception of the engine nacelles, which are mounted aft of the fuselage, just forward of the tail. The cockpit provides side-by-side seating for the two crew members, sitting on the nose as usual. Passenger and luggage areas form the main interior part of the tubular fuselage with tapered ends. The aircraft has a T-shaped multi-hop tail with the horizontal plane on a single vertical tail. The wing main aircraft is located amidships and is mounted low with a swept leading edge.

With conventional tricycle landing gear, all legs have dual wheels.

Early builds were powered by the 18,500 lb thrust PW JT8D-209 engine, while later builds switched to the PW JT8D-217 and -219 models for higher power, better fuel economy and Lower operating noise.

The MD-80 series consists of several variants within the series. The first is the MD-81, which is the original production mold. MTOW is 140,000 lbs with 155 seats??. The first flight took place in October 1979, followed by delivery in September 1980. The last delivery was in June 1994 to JAL Domestic.

Production totaled 132, peaking in 1981 (48 produced).

The MD-82 was released in April 1979 and received an upgraded engine for more power. An increase in range and MTOW followed, making this series entry a good candidate for "hot and high" operations and certain airports around the world. The original JT8D-217 engine provided 20,000 pounds per unit of thrust. They were then switched to -217A series engines by the end of 1982.

MTOW increased to 147,000 lbs. The seating capacity is 155 people. Production was 539, peaking in 1986 (64). Another 30 were built to the MD-82T standard.

The MD-83, introduced with Alaska Airlines in 1985, was more or less a range extension of the previous MD-81 and MD-82 models. The upgraded engine is again used, which in turn affects the MTOW and range. MTOW is now 160,000 lbs.

It can carry up to 155 passengers, and the structure and landing gear must be reinforced. Also fixed wing skinning issues. Final delivery to TWA Airlines in December 1999. Total production was 265 units, peaking in 1987 (31 units).

The short-fuselage MD-87 was released in January 1985, offering mixed seating for 109 to 130 passengers. PW JT8D-217C or -219 series turbofan engines have been supplied to customers. The range on internal fuel is 2,370 nautical miles. Type approval took place in October 1987 and first deliveries (via Austrian Airlines) took place in November of the same year.

Total production ended with 75 units completed and peaked in 1990 with 25 units delivered.

The last variant of the MD-80 series became the MD-88, introduced in January 1986. This model is based on the MD-82 and MD-83 series and represents a new standard for the series - so much so that the previous MD-82 and MD-83 brands were updated to the MD-88 specification.

Deliveries of this new type began in December 1987, and the service was launched by Delta Air Lines in January 1988. Final delivery was recorded in June 1997 (with airline Onur Air).

150 MD-88 aircraft completed, peak production (32) in 1991.

The MD-80SF is used as a modified air cargo aircraft. These were modified from 2010 by Florida Aeronautical Engineers. After a recorded maiden flight in September 2012, type approval took place in early 2013. Everts Air Cargo became the first customer for the model in February 2013.

1989 MD-90 is a direct descendant of MD-80, mostly MD-88 variant. It features five feet of fuselage extension and a fully digital avionics and cockpit suite. It is powered by two IAE (International Aero Engines) V2500 turbofan engines. The aircraft first flew in 1993 and entered service in 1995.

The MD-90-30 is available as an "extended" model with an upgraded V2500 series engine. The MD-90ER is a proposed "extended range" variant. The MD-95 was proposed as a successor, but became the Boeing 717 after the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing in 1997.

The MD-94X is a demonstration aircraft for testing "unguided" fan engines. It was exhibited during Farnborough in 1988.