Guide Note

The MD-80 is a mid-range series of commercial aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing. Originally designed as a second-generation version of the DC-9 aircraft, the series was later given a separate designation. The plane's first commercial use was in October 1980 by Swissair. Production was discontinued in December of 1999, although many aircraft remain in service with American Airlines and in China. Similar aircraft include the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320.¹

Fast Facts

1. Engines: Twin Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200
2. Length: 147 ft.
3. Height: 29 ft.
4. Wingspan: 107 ft.
5. Cruising Altitude / Speed: 33,000 ft., 500 mph
6. Range: 1,500 to 2,700 miles (depending on model)
7. Max Weight Capacity: 160,000 lbs.
8. Capacity: 131 passengers
9. Produced in Long Beach, California
10. Largest User: American Airlines with a fleet of 275
11. There are four MD-80 Models: MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, and MD-88
12. Estimated cost $41.5 to $48.5 million²
13. Design was replaced by the MD-90

Life of the MD-80

When the MD-80 was first released, sales on the craft were slow until 1984 when American Airlines ordered 67 MD-82s. By 1992, 1,000 MD-80s were ordered. A merger between Boeing and McDonnell Douglas stopped production of the MD-80, and while there are still some MD-80s in operation, production of the aircraft halted in January 2000.³