Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 81

4 aircraft

The McDonnell Douglas MD-81 was the first variant of the MD-80 family, serving as a stretched and improved successor to the successful DC-9 for short to medium-range commercial routes. First flown on October 18, 1979, it was a low-wing twin-engine aircraft powered by rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217 turbofan engines, capable of carrying 143 passengers in two-class configuration or up to 172 in high-density seating. Measuring 40.9 meters in length with a 32.9-meter wingspan, the aircraft achieved a range of 1,560 to 1,800 nautical miles. McDonnell Douglas manufactured exactly 132 MD-81s between 1980 and 1994 at their Long Beach, California facility.