McDonnell Douglas DC-9
Encyclopedia
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (initially known as the Douglas DC-9) is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner
. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.
The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by the MD-80, MD-90
and Boeing 717
. With the final two deliveries of the 717 in 2006, production of the DC-9/MD-80/90/717 aircraft family ceased after 41 years and nearly 2,500 units built.
began studying a short-medium range airliner to complement its higher capacity, long range DC-8
. A medium range, four-engine designwas studied as the Model 2067, but it did not receive enough interest from airlines and was abandoned. Then in 1960, Douglas signed a two-year contract with Sud Aviation
for technical cooperation. As part of the agreement Douglas would help market and support the Sud Aviation Caravelle
along with license-production of an American version if orders were high enough. However, no orders were received and Douglas returned to its design studies after the two years.
In 1962, early design studies were underway. The first version seated 63 passengers and had a gross weight of 69,000 lb (31,300 kg). This design was changed into what would be initial DC-9 variant. Douglas officially gave approval to produce the DC-9 on April 8, 1963. Unlike the competing but slightly larger Boeing 727
trijet
, which used as many 707
components as possible, the DC-9 was an all-new design. The DC-9 features two rear fuselage-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan
engines, relatively small, efficient wings, and a T-tail
. The DC-9's maximum takeoff weight was limited to 80,000 lb (36,300 kg) for a two-person flight crew by Federal Aviation Agency
regulations at the time. DC-9 aircraft have 5 seats across for economy seating. The airplane seats 80 to 135 passengers depending on version and seating arrangement. (Note: DC stands for Douglas Commercial.)
The DC-9 was designed for short to medium routes, often to smaller airports with shorter runways and less ground infrastructure than the major airports being served by larger designs like the 707 and DC-8. Consequently, accessibility and short field characteristics were called for. The tail mounted engine design facilitated a clean wing designs without engine pods, which had numerous advantages. First, flap
s could run the entire span of the wing, unimpeded by pods on the leading edge and engine blast concerns on the trailing edge. This simplified the design, improved airflow at low speeds and enabled lower takeoff and approach speeds, thus lowering field length requirements and keeping wing structures light. The second advantage of the tail-mounted engines was the reduction in foreign object damage from ingested debris from runways and aprons. Third, the absence of engines in underslung pods provided a reduction in ground clearance, making the aircraft more accessible to baggage handlers and passengers. Turnarounds were simplified by built-in airstairs, including one in the tail, which shortened boarding and deplaning times. The problem of deep stalling, revealed by the loss of the BAC One-Eleven
prototype in 1963, was overcome through various changes, including the introduction of vortilon
s, small surfaces beneath the wing's leading edge used to control airflow and increase low speed lift.
The first DC-9, a production ship, flew in February 1965. The second DC-9 flew a few weeks later and entered service with Delta Air Lines
in late 1965. The initial Series 10 would be followed by the improved -20, -30, and -40 variants. The final DC-9 series was the -50, which first flew in 1974.
The DC-9 was a commercial success with 976 built when the production ended in 1982. The DC-9 is one of the longest lasting aircraft in operation. Its reputation for reliability and efficiency drove strong sales of its successors well into the 21st century. The DC-9 family is one of the most successful jet airliners with a total of over 2,400 units produced; it ranks third behind the second place Airbus A320 family
with over 4,000 produced, and the first place Boeing 737
with over 6,000 produced.
Studies aimed at further improving DC-9 fuel efficiency, by means of retrofitted wingtips of various types, were undertaken by McDonnell Douglas. However these did not succeed in demonstrating significant benefits, especially with existing fleets shrinking. The wing design makes retrofitting difficult.
, new main landing gear
, and higher fuel capacity. The MD-80 series features a number of variants of the Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engine
having higher thrust ratings than those available on the DC-9.
The MD-80 series was further developed into the McDonnell Douglas MD-90
in the early 1990s. It has yet another fuselage stretch, a glass cockpit (first introduced on the MD-88) and completely new International Aero V2500
high-bypass turbofan engines. In comparison to the very successful MD-80, relatively few MD-90 examples were built.
The final variant of the DC-9 family was the MD-95, which was renamed the Boeing 717-200
after McDonnell Douglas's merger with Boeing in 1997 and before aircraft deliveries began. The fuselage length and wing are highly similar to those found on DC-9-30 aircraft, but much use was made of lighter, modern materials. Power is supplied by two BMW/Rolls-Royce BR715
high bypass turbofan engines.
China's Comac ARJ21 is derived from the DC-9 family. The ARJ21 is built with manufacturing tooling from the MD-90 Trunkliner program. Consequently it has the same fuselage cross section, nose profile, and tail.
and featured a T-tail and rear mounted engines. Power was a pair of 12500 lbf (55.6 kN) Pratt & Whitney JT8D-5 or 14000 lbf (62.3 kN) JT8D-7 engines. A total of 137 were built. Delta Air Lines
was the initial operator.
The Series 10 was produced in two main subvariants, the Series 14 and 15, although of the first four aircraft, three were built as Series 11s and one as Series 12. These were later converted to Series 14 standard. No Series 13 was produced.
A passenger/cargo version of the aircraft with a 136 x 81 in side cargo door forward of the wing and a reinforced cabin floor, was certificated on March 1, 1967. Cargo versions included the Series 15MC (Minimum Change) with folding seats which can be carried at the rear of the aircraft, and the Series 15RC (Rapid Change) with seats removable on pallets. These differences disappeared over the years as new interiors have been installed.
The Series 10 was unique in the DC-9 family in not having leading edge slats. The Series 10 was designed to have short takeoff and landing
distances without the use of leading edge high-lift devices. Therefore, the wing design of the Series 10 featured airfoils with extremely high maximum lift capability in order to obtain the stalling speeds necessary for short field performance.
The Series 10 was offered with the 14000 lbf (62.3 kN) thrust JT8D-1 and JT8D-7.
All versions of the DC-9 are equipped with an AlliedSignal (Garrett) GTCP85 APU as standard which is located in the aft fuselage.
The Series 14 was originally certificated at an MTOW of 85700 lb (38,872.9 kg) but subsequent options offer increases to 86,300 and 90700 lb (41,140.8 kg). The aircraft's MLW in all cases is 81700 lb (37,058.5 kg). The Series 14 has a fuel capacity of 3,693 US gallons (with the 907 US gal centre section fuel). The Series 15, certificated on January 21, 1966, is physically identical to the Series 14 but has the increased MTOW of 90700 lb (41,140.8 kg). Typical range with 50 passengers and baggage is 950 nmi (1,759.4 km), increasing to 1278 nmi (2,366.9 km) at long range cruise. Range with maximum payload is 600 nmi (1,111.2 km), increasing to 1450 nmi (2,685.4 km) with full fuel.
The DC-9 Series 10, as with all later versions of the DC-9 is equipped with a two crew analog flightdeck.
The aircraft is fitted with a passenger door in the port forward fuselage, and a service door/emergency exit is installed opposite. An airstair installed below the front passenger door was available as an option as was an airstair in the tailcone. This also doubled as an emergency exit. Available with either two or four overwing exits, the DC-9-10 can seat up to a maximum certified exit limit of 109 passengers. Typical all economy layout is 90 passengers, and 72 passengers in a more typical mixed-class layout with 12 first and 60 economy-class passengers.
All versions of the DC-9 are equipped with a tricycle undercarriage, featuring a twin nose unit and twin main units.
request for improved short field performance by using the more powerful engines and improved wings of the -30 combined with the shorter fuselage used in the -10. Ten Series 20 aircraft were produced, all of them Model -21.
In 1969 a DC-9 Series 20 at Long Beach was fitted with an Elliott Flight Automation
Head-up display
by McDonnell Douglas and used for successful three month-long trials with pilots from various airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration
, and the US Air Force
.
The DC-9 Series 20 is powered by the 15000 lbf (66.7 kN) thrust JT8D-11 engine.
The Series 20 was originally certificated at an MTOW of 94500 lb (42,864.5 kg) but this has been increased to 98000 lb (44,452.1 kg), some 8% up on the higher weight Series 14s and 15s. The aircraft's MLW is 95300 lb (43,227.4 kg) and MZFW is 84000 lb (38,101.8 kg). Typical range with maximum payload is 1000 nmi (1,852 km), increasing to 1450 nmi (2,685.4 km) with maximum fuel. The Series 20, using the same wing as the Series 30 and indeed the Series 40 and 50, has a slightly lower basic fuel capacity than the Series 10 (3,679 US gallons).
The -30 was the definitive series, produced to counter Boeing's 737 twinjet, with 662 produced, accounting for about 60% of production. The -30 entered service with Eastern Airlines in February 1967 with a 14 inch fuselage stretch, wingspan increased by just over 3 ft (0.9144 m) and full-span leading edge slats
, improving takeoff and landing performance. Gross take-off weight was typically 110000 lb (49,895.2 kg). Engine options for Models -31, -32, -33 and -34 included the P&W JT8D-7 and JT8D-9 rated at 14500 lbf (64.5 kN) of thrust, or JT8D-11 rated at 15000 lbf (66.7 kN) of thrust.
The Series 30 was designed to incorporate extremely effective leading edge devices in order to reduce the landing approach speeds exhibited by the Series 10, at substantially higher maximum landing weights. The addition of full-span leading edge slats reduced approach speeds by 6 knots, despite the gross weight being 5000 lbs greater. The full span slats offered a significant weight advantage over slotted Kreuger flaps, since the wing leading edge structure associated with the slat is a more efficient torque box than the structure associated with the slotted Kreuger. The wing also had a 6% increase in wing chord, all ahead of the front spar. This increase in wing chord allowed the 15% chord slat to be incorporated.
This further lengthened version entered service with SAS
in March 1968. With a 6 inch longer fuselage, accommodation was up to 125 passengers. The -40 was fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines of between 14500 and 16000 lbf (64.5 and 71.2 kN). A total of 71 were produced.
C-9: Several -30 series with side cargo door were purchased by the US armed forces. The C-9A Nightingale medical evacuation configuration was for the U.S Air Force. The C-9B Skytrain II was for the U.S Navy and Marines, used for fleet logistics support moving both personnel and light cargo. The VC-9C is a VIP transport version for the US Air Force, used to transport Cabinet
members and other high-ranking officials.
Versions of the DC-9 are also used by the Kuwait Air Force
.
A total of 158 DC-9 aircraft (all variants) were in commercial service as of November 2011, including operators Delta Air Lines
(27), ABX Air
(28), Aserca Airlines
(24), USA Jet Airlines
(7), Aeropostal-LAV
(5), Laser Airlines
(7), Wimbi Dira Airways
(4), and other operators with fewer aircraft.
Delta Air Lines has, since acquiring Northwest Airlines
, operated a fleet of DC-9 aircraft, most of which are over 30 years old. With severe increases in fuel prices in the summer of 2008, Northwest Airlines finally began retiring its DC-9s, switching to Airbus A319s that are 27% more fuel efficient.
Because of the usage of the aging JT8D engines, as of late 2000s DC-9s are considered gas guzzlers when compared to other more recent airliner designs. Studies aimed at improving DC-9 fuel efficiency, by means of retrofit
ted wingtip extensions of various types, have not succeeded in demonstrating significant benefits.
With the existing DC-9 fleet shrinking, modifications do not appear to be likely to occur, especially since the wing design makes retrofitting difficult. Thus, DC-9s are likely to be further replaced in service by new Boeing 737
, Airbus A320
, Embraer E-Jets
aircraft, or the new, emerging Bombardier CSeries
airliner. However, it is probable that a modest number of DC-9s will continue to productively fly for many years to come. As the Northwest/Delta merger progresses, Delta has pulled several stored DC-9s back into service.
One ex-SAS DC-9-21 is operated as a skydiving jump platform at Perris Valley Airport in Perris, California
. With the steps on the ventral stairs removed, it is the only airline transport class jet certified to date by the FAA
for skydiving operations as of 2008.
, with 2,135 fatalities.
Sources: McDonnell Douglas DC-9 data.
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.
The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by the MD-80, MD-90
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 is a twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet aircraft. The MD-90 was developed from the MD-80 series. Differences from the MD-80 include more fuel efficient International Aero Engines V2500 engines and a longer fuselage...
and Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
. With the final two deliveries of the 717 in 2006, production of the DC-9/MD-80/90/717 aircraft family ceased after 41 years and nearly 2,500 units built.
Design and development
During the 1950s, Douglas AircraftDouglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
began studying a short-medium range airliner to complement its higher capacity, long range DC-8
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
. A medium range, four-engine designwas studied as the Model 2067, but it did not receive enough interest from airlines and was abandoned. Then in 1960, Douglas signed a two-year contract with Sud Aviation
Sud Aviation
Sud-Aviation was a French state-owned aircraft manufacturer, originating from the merger of Sud-Est and Sud-Ouest on March 1, 1957...
for technical cooperation. As part of the agreement Douglas would help market and support the Sud Aviation Caravelle
Sud Aviation Caravelle
The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
along with license-production of an American version if orders were high enough. However, no orders were received and Douglas returned to its design studies after the two years.
In 1962, early design studies were underway. The first version seated 63 passengers and had a gross weight of 69,000 lb (31,300 kg). This design was changed into what would be initial DC-9 variant. Douglas officially gave approval to produce the DC-9 on April 8, 1963. Unlike the competing but slightly larger Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
trijet
Trijet
A Trijet is an aircraft powered by three jet engines. Early twin-jet designs were limited by the FAA's "60-minute rule", whereby the flight path of twin-engined jetliners was restricted to within 60 minutes' flying time from a suitable airport, in case of engine failure. In 1964 this rule was...
, which used as many 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
components as possible, the DC-9 was an all-new design. The DC-9 features two rear fuselage-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
engines, relatively small, efficient wings, and a T-tail
T-tail
thumb|right|Grob motor gliderA T-tail is an aircraft tail stabilizer configuration in which the horizontal surfaces are mounted to the top of the vertical stabilizer. Traditionally, the horizontal control surfaces are mounted to the fuselage at the base of the vertical stabilizer...
. The DC-9's maximum takeoff weight was limited to 80,000 lb (36,300 kg) for a two-person flight crew by Federal Aviation Agency
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
regulations at the time. DC-9 aircraft have 5 seats across for economy seating. The airplane seats 80 to 135 passengers depending on version and seating arrangement. (Note: DC stands for Douglas Commercial.)
Flap (aircraft)
Flaps are normally hinged surfaces mounted on the trailing edges of the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft to reduce the speed an aircraft can be safely flown at and to increase the angle of descent for landing without increasing air speed. They shorten takeoff and landing distances as well as...
s could run the entire span of the wing, unimpeded by pods on the leading edge and engine blast concerns on the trailing edge. This simplified the design, improved airflow at low speeds and enabled lower takeoff and approach speeds, thus lowering field length requirements and keeping wing structures light. The second advantage of the tail-mounted engines was the reduction in foreign object damage from ingested debris from runways and aprons. Third, the absence of engines in underslung pods provided a reduction in ground clearance, making the aircraft more accessible to baggage handlers and passengers. Turnarounds were simplified by built-in airstairs, including one in the tail, which shortened boarding and deplaning times. The problem of deep stalling, revealed by the loss of the BAC One-Eleven
BAC One-Eleven
The British Aircraft Corporation One-Eleven, also known as the BAC-111, BAC-1-11 or BAC 1-11, was a British short-range jet airliner of the 1960s and 1970s...
prototype in 1963, was overcome through various changes, including the introduction of vortilon
Vortilon
Vortilons are fixed aerodynamic devices used to increase lift and reduce stalling at low speeds. They consist of one or more flat plates attached to the underside of the wing near its leading edge, roughly parallel to normal airflow. They function as vortex generators, and these vortices restrict...
s, small surfaces beneath the wing's leading edge used to control airflow and increase low speed lift.
The first DC-9, a production ship, flew in February 1965. The second DC-9 flew a few weeks later and entered service with Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
in late 1965. The initial Series 10 would be followed by the improved -20, -30, and -40 variants. The final DC-9 series was the -50, which first flew in 1974.
The DC-9 was a commercial success with 976 built when the production ended in 1982. The DC-9 is one of the longest lasting aircraft in operation. Its reputation for reliability and efficiency drove strong sales of its successors well into the 21st century. The DC-9 family is one of the most successful jet airliners with a total of over 2,400 units produced; it ranks third behind the second place Airbus A320 family
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
with over 4,000 produced, and the first place Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
with over 6,000 produced.
Legacy
The DC-9 was followed by the introduction of the MD-80 series in 1980. The MD-80 series was originally called DC-9-80 series. It was a lengthened DC-9-50 with a higher maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), a larger wingWing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
, new main landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
, and higher fuel capacity. The MD-80 series features a number of variants of the Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engine
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
having higher thrust ratings than those available on the DC-9.
The MD-80 series was further developed into the McDonnell Douglas MD-90
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 is a twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet aircraft. The MD-90 was developed from the MD-80 series. Differences from the MD-80 include more fuel efficient International Aero Engines V2500 engines and a longer fuselage...
in the early 1990s. It has yet another fuselage stretch, a glass cockpit (first introduced on the MD-88) and completely new International Aero V2500
International Aero Engines V2500
The IAE V2500 is a two-shaft high-bypass turbofan engine which powers the Airbus A320 family , and the McDonnell Douglas MD-90. International Aero Engines is a consortium backed by four aero-engine manufacturers, formed in 1983 to produce the engine...
high-bypass turbofan engines. In comparison to the very successful MD-80, relatively few MD-90 examples were built.
The final variant of the DC-9 family was the MD-95, which was renamed the Boeing 717-200
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
after McDonnell Douglas's merger with Boeing in 1997 and before aircraft deliveries began. The fuselage length and wing are highly similar to those found on DC-9-30 aircraft, but much use was made of lighter, modern materials. Power is supplied by two BMW/Rolls-Royce BR715
Rolls-Royce BR700
-External links:* * *...
high bypass turbofan engines.
China's Comac ARJ21 is derived from the DC-9 family. The ARJ21 is built with manufacturing tooling from the MD-90 Trunkliner program. Consequently it has the same fuselage cross section, nose profile, and tail.
Variants
Series 10
The original DC-9 (later designated the Series 10) was the smallest DC-9 series. The -10 was 104.4 ft (31.8 m) long and had a maximum weight of 82000 lb (37,194.6 kg). The Series 10 was similar in size and configuration to the BAC One-ElevenBAC One-Eleven
The British Aircraft Corporation One-Eleven, also known as the BAC-111, BAC-1-11 or BAC 1-11, was a British short-range jet airliner of the 1960s and 1970s...
and featured a T-tail and rear mounted engines. Power was a pair of 12500 lbf (55.6 kN) Pratt & Whitney JT8D-5 or 14000 lbf (62.3 kN) JT8D-7 engines. A total of 137 were built. Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
was the initial operator.
The Series 10 was produced in two main subvariants, the Series 14 and 15, although of the first four aircraft, three were built as Series 11s and one as Series 12. These were later converted to Series 14 standard. No Series 13 was produced.
A passenger/cargo version of the aircraft with a 136 x 81 in side cargo door forward of the wing and a reinforced cabin floor, was certificated on March 1, 1967. Cargo versions included the Series 15MC (Minimum Change) with folding seats which can be carried at the rear of the aircraft, and the Series 15RC (Rapid Change) with seats removable on pallets. These differences disappeared over the years as new interiors have been installed.
The Series 10 was unique in the DC-9 family in not having leading edge slats. The Series 10 was designed to have short takeoff and landing
distances without the use of leading edge high-lift devices. Therefore, the wing design of the Series 10 featured airfoils with extremely high maximum lift capability in order to obtain the stalling speeds necessary for short field performance.
Series 10 features
The Series 10 has an overall length of 104.4 feet (31.82 m), a fuselage length of 92.1 feet (28.07 m), a passenger cabin length of 60 feet (18.29 m), and a wingspan of 89.4 feet (27.25 m).The Series 10 was offered with the 14000 lbf (62.3 kN) thrust JT8D-1 and JT8D-7.
All versions of the DC-9 are equipped with an AlliedSignal (Garrett) GTCP85 APU as standard which is located in the aft fuselage.
The Series 14 was originally certificated at an MTOW of 85700 lb (38,872.9 kg) but subsequent options offer increases to 86,300 and 90700 lb (41,140.8 kg). The aircraft's MLW in all cases is 81700 lb (37,058.5 kg). The Series 14 has a fuel capacity of 3,693 US gallons (with the 907 US gal centre section fuel). The Series 15, certificated on January 21, 1966, is physically identical to the Series 14 but has the increased MTOW of 90700 lb (41,140.8 kg). Typical range with 50 passengers and baggage is 950 nmi (1,759.4 km), increasing to 1278 nmi (2,366.9 km) at long range cruise. Range with maximum payload is 600 nmi (1,111.2 km), increasing to 1450 nmi (2,685.4 km) with full fuel.
The DC-9 Series 10, as with all later versions of the DC-9 is equipped with a two crew analog flightdeck.
The aircraft is fitted with a passenger door in the port forward fuselage, and a service door/emergency exit is installed opposite. An airstair installed below the front passenger door was available as an option as was an airstair in the tailcone. This also doubled as an emergency exit. Available with either two or four overwing exits, the DC-9-10 can seat up to a maximum certified exit limit of 109 passengers. Typical all economy layout is 90 passengers, and 72 passengers in a more typical mixed-class layout with 12 first and 60 economy-class passengers.
All versions of the DC-9 are equipped with a tricycle undercarriage, featuring a twin nose unit and twin main units.
Series 20
This was designed to satisfy a Scandinavian AirlinesScandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
request for improved short field performance by using the more powerful engines and improved wings of the -30 combined with the shorter fuselage used in the -10. Ten Series 20 aircraft were produced, all of them Model -21.
In 1969 a DC-9 Series 20 at Long Beach was fitted with an Elliott Flight Automation
Elliott Brothers (computer company)
-Elliott Brothers Ltd:Elliott Brothers Ltd was an early computer company of the 1950s–60s in the United Kingdom, tracing its descent from a firm of instrument makers founded by William Elliott in London around 1804. The research laboratories were based at Borehamwood, originally set up in...
Head-up display
Head-Up Display
A head-up display or heads-up display is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints...
by McDonnell Douglas and used for successful three month-long trials with pilots from various airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, and the US Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Series 20 features
The Series 20 has an overall length of 104.4 feet (31.82 m), a fuselage length of 92.1 feet (28.07 m), a passenger cabin length of 60 feet (18.29 m), and a wingspan of 93.3 feet (28.44 m).The DC-9 Series 20 is powered by the 15000 lbf (66.7 kN) thrust JT8D-11 engine.
The Series 20 was originally certificated at an MTOW of 94500 lb (42,864.5 kg) but this has been increased to 98000 lb (44,452.1 kg), some 8% up on the higher weight Series 14s and 15s. The aircraft's MLW is 95300 lb (43,227.4 kg) and MZFW is 84000 lb (38,101.8 kg). Typical range with maximum payload is 1000 nmi (1,852 km), increasing to 1450 nmi (2,685.4 km) with maximum fuel. The Series 20, using the same wing as the Series 30 and indeed the Series 40 and 50, has a slightly lower basic fuel capacity than the Series 10 (3,679 US gallons).
Series 20 milestones
- First flight: September 18, 1968.
- FAA certification: November 25, 1968.
- First delivery: December 11, 1968 to SASScandinavian Airlines SystemScandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
- Entry into service: January 27, 1969 with SAS.
- Last delivery: May 1, 1969 to SAS.
Series 30
Leading edge slats
Slats are aerodynamic surfaces on the leading edge of the wings of fixed-wing aircraft which, when deployed, allow the wing to operate at a higher angle of attack. A higher coefficient of lift is produced as a result of angle of attack and speed, so by deploying slats an aircraft can fly at slower...
, improving takeoff and landing performance. Gross take-off weight was typically 110000 lb (49,895.2 kg). Engine options for Models -31, -32, -33 and -34 included the P&W JT8D-7 and JT8D-9 rated at 14500 lbf (64.5 kN) of thrust, or JT8D-11 rated at 15000 lbf (66.7 kN) of thrust.
The Series 30 was designed to incorporate extremely effective leading edge devices in order to reduce the landing approach speeds exhibited by the Series 10, at substantially higher maximum landing weights. The addition of full-span leading edge slats reduced approach speeds by 6 knots, despite the gross weight being 5000 lbs greater. The full span slats offered a significant weight advantage over slotted Kreuger flaps, since the wing leading edge structure associated with the slat is a more efficient torque box than the structure associated with the slotted Kreuger. The wing also had a 6% increase in wing chord, all ahead of the front spar. This increase in wing chord allowed the 15% chord slat to be incorporated.
Series 30 subvariants
The Series 30 was produced in four main sub-variants.- DC-9-31: Produced in passenger version only. The first DC-9 Series 30 flew on August 1, 1966, and the first delivery was made to Eastern Airlines on February 27, 1967 following certification on December 19, 1966. Basic MTOW of 98000 lb (44,452.1 kg) and subsequently certificated at various increased weights up to 108000 lb (48,988 kg).
- DC-9-32: Introduced in the first year of production (1967). Certificated March 1, 1967. Basic MTOW of 108000 lb (48,988 kg) and subsequently increased to 110000 lb (49,895.2 kg). A number of cargo versions of the Series 32 were also produced including:
- 32LWF (Light Weight Freight) with modified cabin but no cargo door or reinforced floor, intended for package freighter use.
- 32CF (Convertible Freighter), with a reinforced floor but retaining passenger facilities
- 32AF (All Freight), a windowless all-cargo aircraft.
- DC-9-33: Following the Series 31 and 32 came the Series 33, intended for passenger/cargo or all-cargo use. Certificated on April 15, 1968, the aircraft's MTOW was increased to 114000 lb (51,709.5 kg), MLW to 102000 lb (46,266.4 kg) and MZFW to 95500 lb (43,318.1 kg). JT8D-9 or -11 (15000 lbf (66.7 kN) thrust) engines were used. In addition, the wing incidence was increased 1.25 degrees, to reduce cruise drag. Only 22 were built, as All Freight (AF), Convertible Freight (CF) and Rapid Change (RC) aircraft.
- DC-9-34: The last version of the aircraft to be developed was the Series 34, intended for use on longer range routes with an MTOW of 121000 lb (54,884.7 kg), an MLW of 110000 lb (49,895.2 kg) and an MZFW of 98000 lb (44,452.1 kg). The DC-9-34CF (Convertible Freighter) was certificated April 20, 1976, while the passenger followed on November 3, 1976. The aircraft is equipped with the more powerful JT8D-9s with the -15 and -17 engines as an option. It also included the wing incidence change introduced on teh DC-9-33. Twelve were built, five as convertible freighters.
Series 30 features
The DC-9-30 was offered with a selection of variants of JT8D including the -1, -7, -9, -11, -15 and -17. The most common on the Series 31 is the JT8D-7 (14,0 lbf (0 kN) thrust), although it was also available with the -9 and -17 engines. On the Series 32 the JT8D-9 (14500 lbf (64.5 kN) thrust) was standard, with the -11 also offered. The Series 33 was offered with the JT8D-9 or -11 (15000 lbf (66.7 kN) thrust) engines and the heavyweight -34 with the JT8D-9, -15 (15000 lbf (66.7 kN) thrust) or -17 (16000 lbf (71.2 kN) thrust) engines.Series 40
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
in March 1968. With a 6 inch longer fuselage, accommodation was up to 125 passengers. The -40 was fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines of between 14500 and 16000 lbf (64.5 and 71.2 kN). A total of 71 were produced.
Series 50
The -50 was the largest DC-9 to fly. It features an 8 inch fuselage stretch and seats up to 139 passengers. It started revenue service in August 1975 with Eastern Airlines and included a number of detail improvements, a new cabin interior, and more powerful JT8D-15 or -17 engines in the 16000 and 16500 lbf (71.2 and 73.4 kN) class. McDonnell Douglas delivered 96, all as Model -51. Some visual cues to distinguish this version from other DC-9 variants include side strakes (fins) below the side cockpit windows and thrust reversers rotated about 22 degrees on the original configuration. However various maintenance replacements have seen the thrust reversers in the same position as the -30 and -40.Military and government
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
members and other high-ranking officials.
Versions of the DC-9 are also used by the Kuwait Air Force
Kuwait Air Force
The Kuwait Air Force is the air arm of the State of Kuwait. The Air Force headquarters is located at Al Mubarak Air Base, with the remaining forces stationed at Air Defence Brigade, Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base...
.
Operators
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
(27), ABX Air
ABX Air
ABX Air, Inc., formerly Airborne Express, is a cargo airline headquartered at Wilmington Air Park in unincorporated Clinton County, Ohio, United States, near the City of Wilmington. ABX Air operates scheduled, ad hoc charter and ACMI freight services. It also provides flight support services and...
(28), Aserca Airlines
Aserca Airlines
Aserca Airlines is an airline based in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. It operates domestic and regional scheduled services to destinations in the Caribbean, Central America and the USA...
(24), USA Jet Airlines
USA Jet Airlines
USA Jet Airlines is an American air carrier with its headquarters on the grounds of Willow Run Airport and in Van Buren Township, Michigan. USA Jet operates on-demand air charter passenger and freight flights out of Willow Run Airport as well as aircraft on a government contract out of Kirtland...
(7), Aeropostal-LAV
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela, normally referred to as just Aeropostal, is a flag carrier and the national airline of Venezuela also an airline based in Torre Polar Oeste in Caracas, Venezuela. It operates domestic services and international services in the Caribbean...
(5), Laser Airlines
LASER Airlines
LASER is an airline based in Caracas, Venezuela. It operates scheduled and passenger charter services within Venezuela. Its main base is Simón Bolívar International Airport, Caracas.-History:...
(7), Wimbi Dira Airways
Wimbi Dira Airways
Wimbi Dira Airways is a scheduled and charter, passenger and cargo airline based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It serves the country's main cities.-History:The airline was established in 2003 and operations started on 13 August 2003...
(4), and other operators with fewer aircraft.
Delta Air Lines has, since acquiring Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
, operated a fleet of DC-9 aircraft, most of which are over 30 years old. With severe increases in fuel prices in the summer of 2008, Northwest Airlines finally began retiring its DC-9s, switching to Airbus A319s that are 27% more fuel efficient.
Because of the usage of the aging JT8D engines, as of late 2000s DC-9s are considered gas guzzlers when compared to other more recent airliner designs. Studies aimed at improving DC-9 fuel efficiency, by means of retrofit
Retrofit
Retrofitting refers to the addition of new technology or features to older systems.* power plant retrofit, improving power plant efficiency / increasing output / reducing emissions...
ted wingtip extensions of various types, have not succeeded in demonstrating significant benefits.
With the existing DC-9 fleet shrinking, modifications do not appear to be likely to occur, especially since the wing design makes retrofitting difficult. Thus, DC-9s are likely to be further replaced in service by new Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
, Airbus A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
, Embraer E-Jets
Embraer E-Jets
The Embraer E-Jets are a series of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range, jet airliners produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and corporate aircraft. Announced at the Paris Air Show in 1999, and entering production in 2002, the aircraft series...
aircraft, or the new, emerging Bombardier CSeries
Bombardier CSeries
The Bombardier CSeries is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range jet airliners being developed by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace. Models are the 110-seat CS100, and the 130-seat CS300...
airliner. However, it is probable that a modest number of DC-9s will continue to productively fly for many years to come. As the Northwest/Delta merger progresses, Delta has pulled several stored DC-9s back into service.
One ex-SAS DC-9-21 is operated as a skydiving jump platform at Perris Valley Airport in Perris, California
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
. With the steps on the ventral stairs removed, it is the only airline transport class jet certified to date by the FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
for skydiving operations as of 2008.
Accidents and incidents
As of March 2009, the DC-9 has been involved in 117 incidents, including 101 hull-loss accidentsAviation accidents and incidents
An aviation accident is defined in the Convention on International Civil Aviation Annex 13 as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, in which a...
, with 2,135 fatalities.
Notable accidents
- On October 1, 1966, West Coast Airlines Flight 956West Coast Airlines Flight 956West Coast Airlines Flight 956 was a scheduled commercial flight which crashed on October 1, 1966, approximately south of Wemme, Oregon, United States. Thirteen passengers and five crew members were aboard, and there were no survivors. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire...
crashed with eighteen fatalities and no survivors. This accident marks the first loss of a DC-9. - On March 9, 1967, TWA Flight 553TWA Flight 553Flight 553, registration N1063T, was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 jet airliner operated by Trans World Airlines en route from Pittsburgh to Dayton that collided in mid-air with a Beechcraft Baron near Urbana, Ohio on March 9, 1967...
fell to earth in a field in Concord TownshipConcord Township, Champaign County, OhioConcord Township is one of the twelve townships of Champaign County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,408 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:*Harrison Township - north...
, near UrbanaUrbanaUrbana can refer to:In geography:United States*Urbana, Illinois**Urbana , a Christian convention formerly held in Urbana, Illinois*Urbana, Indiana*Urbana, Iowa*Urbana, Maryland*Urbana, Missouri*Urbana, New York*Urbana, Ohio...
, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, following a mid-air collisionMid-air collisionA mid-air collision is an aviation accident in which two or more aircraft come into contact during flight. Owing to the relatively high velocities involved and any subsequent impact on the ground or sea, very severe damage or the total destruction of at least one of the aircraft involved usually...
with a Beechcraft BaronBeechcraft Baron|-See also:- Further reading :*Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK:Airlife Publishing, 1990. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.*Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994-95. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7.*Taylor, John W. R....
, an accident which triggered substantial changes in air traffic controlAir traffic controlAir traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
procedures. - On March 17, 1969, Viasa Flight 742Viasa Flight 742Viasa Flight 742 was an international, scheduled passenger flight from Maracaibo, Venezuela to Miami, Florida that crashed on 16 March 1969. Faulty temperature sensors along the runway resulted in an incorrect takeoff configuration, and the aircraft was unable to gain altitude quickly enough...
crashed into the La Trinidad neighborhood of MaracaiboMaracaiboMaracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
during a failed take-off. All 84 people on board the aircraft as well as 71 people on the ground were killed. At that time Viasa Flight 742 was the worst disaster in aviation history. - On June 27, 1969, Douglas DC-9-31 N906H of Hawaiian AirlinesHawaiian AirlinesHawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International...
collided on the ground with Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
N7410 of Aloha AirlinesAloha AirlinesAloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
at Honolulu International AirportHonolulu International AirportHonolulu International Airport is the principal aviation gateway of the City & County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii and is identified as one of the busiest airports in the United States, with traffic now exceeding 21 million passengers a year and rising.It is located in the Honolulu...
. The Viscount was damaged beyond repair. - On September 9, 1969, Allegheny Airlines Flight 853Allegheny Airlines Flight 853Allegheny Airlines Flight 853, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30, collided in mid-air with a Piper PA-28 at approximately 3,550 feet on September 9, 1969, near Fairland, Indiana. The DC-9 carried 78 passengers and 4 crew members. The Piper was leased to a student pilot making a solo cross-country flight...
, a DC-9-30, collided in mid-air with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee near Fairland, IndianaFairland, IndianaFairland is a town in Shelby County, Indiana, United States. The population was 315 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Fairland is located at ....
. The DC-9 carried 78 passengers and 4 crew members, the Piper one pilot. The occupants of both aircraft were killed in the accident and the aircraft were destroyed. - On February 15, 1970, a Dominicana de AviaciónDominicana de AviaciónCompañía Dominicana de Aviación, usually shortened to Dominicana, was an airline from the Dominican Republic, serving as flag carrier of the country.-History:...
DC-9 crashedDominicana DC-9 air disasterThe Dominicana de Aviación Santo Domingo DC-9 air disaster occurred on February 15, 1970 when a Dominicana de Aviación McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 twin-engine jet airliner crashed on takeoff from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico.The aircraft used for the Dominicana...
after taking off from Santo DomingoSanto DomingoSanto Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. The crash, possibly caused by contaminated fuel, killed all 102 passengers and crew, including champion boxer Teo Cruz. - On May 2, 1970, an Overseas National AirwaysOverseas National AirwaysThe original Overseas National Airways was an American airline, formed in June 1950 as a supplemental carrier. It ceased operations on September 14, 1978. A second related company, took the name in 1978, later renaming to National Airlines, going bankrupt in 1986.- History - First ONA :ONA was...
DC-9, wet-leased to ALMAir ALMALM Antillean Airlines was the main airline of the Netherlands Antilles between its foundation in 1964 and its shut-down in 2001, operating out of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao....
Dutch Antilles Airlines and operating as ALM Flight 980ALM Flight 980ALM Flight 980 was a flight scheduled to fly from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, New York to Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, on 2 May 1970. After several unsuccessful landing attempts, the aircraft's fuel was exhausted and it made a...
, ditchedWater landingA water landing is, in the broadest sense, any landing on a body of water. All waterfowl, those seabirds capable of flight, and some human-built vehicles are capable of landing in water as a matter of course....
in the Caribbean Sea on a flight from New York'sNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
John F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
to Princess Juliana International AirportPrincess Juliana International AirportPrincess Juliana International Airport serves the Dutch part of the island of Sint Maarten. In 2007, the airport handled 1,647,824 passengers and 103,650 aircraft movements. The airport serves as a hub for Windward Islands Airways and is the major gateway for the smaller Leeward Islands,...
on Sint Maarten. After three landing attempts in poor weather at Sint Maarten, the pilots began to divert to their alternate of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin IslandsSaint Croix, U.S. Virgin IslandsSaint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Formerly the Danish West Indies, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of...
but ran out of fuel 30 mi (48 km) short of the island. After about 10 minutes, the aircraft sank in 5,000 ft (1524 m) of water and was never recovered. 40 people survived the ditching, 23 perished. - On November 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight 932, a DC-9, crashed into a hill near Tri-State AirportTri-State AirportTri-State Airport , also known as Milton J. Ferguson Field, is a public-use airport in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. The airport is located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Huntington, West Virginia, near the cities of Ceredo and Kenova...
in Huntington, West Virginia. All 75 on board were killed (including 37 members of the Marshall UniversityMarshall UniversityMarshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
Thundering Herd football team, eight members of the coaching staff, 25 boosters, and others). - On January 26, 1972, Jugoslovenski Aero Transport Flight 367, DC-9-32 registration YU-AHT, was destroyed in flight by a bomb placed on-board the aircraft. The sole survivor was a flight attendant, Vesna VulovićVesna VulovicVesna Vulović is a Serbian former flight attendant. She holds the world record, according to the Guinness Book of Records, for surviving the highest fall without a parachute: .-Plane explosion:...
, who holds the record for the world's longest fall without a parachute when she fell some 33000 ft (10,058.4 m) inside the tail section of the airplane and survived. - On December 20, 1972, North Central AirlinesNorth Central AirlinesNorth Central Airlines was founded as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1944 in Clintonville, Wisconsin. It was headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Early history:...
Flight 575, DC-9-31 registration N954N, collided1972 Chicago-O'Hare runway collisionOn December 20, 1972, North Central Airlines Flight 575 and Delta Air Lines Flight 954 collided on a runway at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
during its takeoff roll with Delta Air LinesDelta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
Flight 954, a Convair CV-880 that was taxiing across the same runway at O'Hare International AirportO'Hare International AirportChicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
in Chicago, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The DC-9 was destroyed, killing 10 and injuring 15 of the 45 people on board; two people among the 93 aboard the Convair 880 suffered minor injuries. - On July 31, 1973, Delta Air Lines Flight 723Delta Air Lines Flight 723Delta Air Lines Flight 723 was a DC-9-31 twin-engine jetliner, registration N975NE, operating as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Burlington, Vermont to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, with an intermediate stop in Manchester, New Hampshire...
, DC-9-31 registration N975NE, crashed into a seawallSeawallA seawall is a form of coastal defence constructed where the sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservation and leisure activities from the action of tides and waves...
at Logan International AirportLogan International AirportGeneral Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
in Boston, Massachusetts, killing all 83 passengers and 6 crew members on board. One of the passengers initially survived the accident but later died in a hospital. - On September 11, 1974, Eastern Air Lines Flight 212Eastern Air Lines Flight 212Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 was an Eastern Air Lines Douglas DC-9-31, carrying 78 passengers and 4 crew, operating as a scheduled flight from Charleston, South Carolina to Chicago, Illinois, with an intermediate stop in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, a DC-9-30 crashed just short of the runway at Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, killing 71 out of the 82 occupants. - On 30 October 1975, an Inex-Adria Aviopromet DC-9-32 hit high ground during an approach in fog near Prague-SuchdolPraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. 75 people were killed. - On September 10, 1976, an Inex-Adria AvioprometAdria AirwaysAdria Airways d.d. is the Slovenian national airline. Today, the majority of Adria Airways business is in scheduled flights. Adria operates to 16 cities throughout Europe this winter and offers excellent connections to South East Europe. It is a Star Alliance member since 2004 and a Lufthansa...
DC-9 collided1976 Zagreb mid-air collisionThe 1976 Zagreb mid-air collision occurred on 10 September 1976 over Vrbovec, Yugoslavia when British Airways Flight 476, a Hawker Siddeley Trident 3B en route from London Heathrow Airport to Yeşilköy International Airport, Istanbul, collided in mid-air with Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 550, a...
with a British Airways TridentHawker Siddeley TridentThe Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident was a British short/medium-range three-engined jet airliner designed by de Havilland and built by Hawker Siddeley in the 1960s and 1970s...
over the Croatian town of VrbovecVrbovecVrbovec is city in Zagreb county, Croatia, lying to the northeast of the capital Zagreb.-Geography:The town of Vrbovec lies to the north-east of Zagreb, either along the highway A4 , and then B28 expressway Vrbovec is city in Zagreb county, Croatia, lying to the northeast of the capital...
, killing all 176 people aboard both aircraft. - On April 4, 1977, Southern Airways Flight 242Southern Airways Flight 242Southern Airways Flight 242 was a DC-9-31 jet, registered N1335U, that executed a forced landing on a highway in New Hope, Paulding County, Georgia, United States after suffering hail damage and losing thrust on both engines in a severe thunderstorm on April 4, 1977.At the time of the accident, the...
, a DC-9-31, crash landed onto then a highway in New Hope, Georgia, US. The crash and fire resulted in the death of both flight crew and 61 passengers. Nine people on the ground also died. Both flight attendants and 20 passengers survived. - On June 26, 1978, Air Canada Flight 189Air Canada Flight 189Air Canada Flight 189 was an Air Canada flight from Ottawa to Vancouver via Toronto and Winnipeg. On June 26, 1978 it crashed on takeoff in Toronto killing two passengers....
, a DC-9 overran the runway in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
after a blown tire aborted the takeoff. Two of the 107 passengers and crew were killed. - On September 14, 1979, Aero Trasporti Italiani Flight 12, a DC-9-32 crashed in the mountains near CagliariCagliariCagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
, Italy while approaching Cagliari-Elmas AirportCagliari-Elmas AirportCagliari-Elmas Airport is an international airport located in the territory of Elmas, near Cagliari, on the island of Sardinia, Italy. The airport was upgraded in 2003 and the terminal was expanded and provided with 6 loading bridges for passenger boarding, with a capacity of 4 millions...
. All 27 passengers and 4 crew members died in the crash and ensuing fire.
- On June 27, 1980, Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870, also known in the Italian media as the Ustica Massacre , was an Italian flight which crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea while en route from Bologna, Italy, to Palermo, Italy, in 1980. The crash has been attributed to either a terrorist bomb or to an air-to-air missile...
, a DC-9-15 suffered an in-flight explosion and crashed into the sea near the Italian island of UsticaUsticaUstica is the name of a small island, about 9 km across, situated 52 km north of Capo Gallo, Italy in the Tyrrhenian Sea...
. All 81 people on board were killed. The causes of this accident are still unclear.
- On June 2, 1983, Air Canada Flight 797Air Canada Flight 797Air Canada Flight 797 was a scheduled trans-border flight that flew on a Dallas/Fort Worth-Toronto-Montreal route. On , the aircraft developed an in-flight fire behind the washroom that spread between the outer skin and the inner decor panels, filling the plane with toxic smoke...
, a DC-9 experienced an electrical fire in the aft lavatory during flight, resulting in an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International AirportCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International AirportCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport , sometimes called the Greater Cincinnati Airport is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Despite being located in Boone County, the airport operations are...
. During evacuation, the sudden influx of oxygenOxygenOxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
caused a flash fireFlash fireA flash fire is a sudden, intense fire caused by ignition of a mixture of air and a dispersed flammable substance such as a solid , flammable or combustible liquid , or a flammable gas...
throughout the cabin, resulting in the deaths of 23 of the 41 passengers, including CanadianCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk singer Stan RogersStan RogersStanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter.Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely crafted, traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing...
. All five crew members survived. - On August 31, 1986, Aeroméxico Flight 498Aeroméxico Flight 498Aeroméxico Flight 498, registration , was a Douglas DC-9-32 on route from Mexico City, Mexico to Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California, United States on August 31, 1986. N4891F was a privately-operated Piper PA-28-181 Archer owned by the Kramer family en route from Torrance to...
collided in mid-air with a Piper CherokeePiper CherokeeThe Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
over the city of Cerritos, CaliforniaCerritos, CaliforniaCerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
, then crashed into the city, killing all 67 aboard the aircraft, 15 people on the ground, and all 3 in the small plane. - On 4 April 1987, Garuda Indonesia Flight 035, a DC-9-32, hit a pylon and crashed on approach to Polonia International AirportPolonia International AirportPolonia International Airport is located in the city of Medan, Indonesia, about 5 km from the Central Business District. It is the first international airport in Medan, the other being the planned Kuala Namu International Airport...
in bad weather with 24 fatalities. - On December 3, 1990, Northwest AirlinesNorthwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
Flight 1482, a DC-9-14, went on the wrong taxiwayTaxiwayA taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
in dense fogFogFog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
at Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan (DTW). It entered the active runwayRunwayAccording to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
instead of taxiway instructed by air traffic controlAir traffic controlAir traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
lers. It collided with a departingTakeoffTakeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
Northwest Boeing 727Boeing 727The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
. Nine people were killed. - On July 2, 1994, USAir Flight 1016USAir Flight 1016USAir Flight 1016 was a regularly scheduled flight between Columbia, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. On Saturday, July 2, 1994, the plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 registered N954VJ, departed Columbia Metropolitan Airport at 18:15 EST...
crashed in Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
while performing a go-aroundGo-aroundA go-around is an aborted landing of an aircraft that is on final approach.- Origin of the term :The term arises from the traditional use of traffic patterns at airfields. A landing aircraft will first join the circuit pattern and prepare for landing in an orderly fashion...
because of heavy storms and wind shearWind shearWind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
at the approach of runway 18R. There were 37 fatalities and 15 injured among the passengers and crew. Although the airplane came to rest in a residential area with the tail section striking a house, there were no fatalities or injuries on the ground. - On May 11, 1996 ValuJet Flight 592ValuJet Flight 592ValuJet Flight 592 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight between Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, and William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia...
crashed in the Florida Everglades due to a fire caused by the activation of chemical oxygen generators illegally stored in the hold. The fire damaged the plane's electrical system and eventually overcame the crew, resulting in the deaths of 110 people. - On , Austral Flight 2553Austral Líneas Aéreas Flight 2553Austral Líneas Aéreas Flight 2553, better known as Austral 2553, was a domestic scheduled Posadas–Buenos Aires service operated with a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 that crashed on the lands of Estancia Magallanes, Nuevo Berlín, away from Fray Bentos, Uruguay, on . All 74 passengers and crew perished...
, DC-9-32 registration LV-WEG, en route from Posadas to Buenos Aires, crashed near Fray BentosFray BentosFray Bentos, the capital of the Río Negro Department of western Uruguay, is a port on the Uruguay River. It is close to the border with Argentina and about due north of Buenos Aires.-History:...
, UruguayUruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, killing 74 people (69 passengers and 5 crew). - On February 2, 1998, Cebu Pacific Flight 387Cebu Pacific Flight 387Cebu Pacific Flight 387 was a domestic Cebu Pacific Air flight from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on Mindanao Island. On February 2, 1998, the 31-year old McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 crashed on the slopes of Mount Sumagaya in Claveria, Misamis...
crashed on the slopes of Mount SumagayaMount SumagayaMount Sumagaya is a mountain on the northern part of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is under the jurisdictional territory of the municipality of Claveria. It stands at a height of about 2, 248 meters high....
in Misamis OrientalMisamis OrientalMisamis Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital and provincial center is Cagayan de Oro City...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, killing all 104 people on board. Aviation investigators deemed the incident to be caused by pilot error when the plane made a non-regular stopover to Tacloban. - On November 9, 1999, TAESA Flight 725TAESA Flight 725TAESA Flight 725 covered the Tijuana–Mexico City route with a stop in Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico. A McDonnell-Douglas DC-9-31 used to fly this route. On November 9, 1999, flight 725 went down a few minutes after leaving the Uruapan Airport en-route to...
crashed a few minutes after leaving the Uruapan Airport en-route to Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. 18 people were killed in the accident. - On October 6, 2000, Aeroméxico Flight 250 en route from Mexico City to Reynosa, Mexico, could not stop before the runway ended and it crashed into houses and fell into a small canal, killing four people from the houses. None of 83 passengers and 5 crew members were killed, though four people on the ground were. The runway had seen heavy rainfall as a result of Hurricane KeithHurricane KeithHurricane Keith caused extensive damage in Central America, especially in Mexico and Belize. The fifteenth tropical cyclone, eleventh named storm, and seventh hurricane of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season, Keith developed as a tropical depression from a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea...
. - On April 15, 2008, a Hewa Bora AirwaysHewa Bora AirwaysHewa Bora Airways was an airline based in Barumbu, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was one of Congo's largest airlines and operates regional and domestic services. Its main base was N'djili Airport. "Hewa Bora" is Swahili for "Fresh Air". The company was on the European Commission's...
DC-9 crashed into a residential neighborhood, in the GomaGomaGoma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
, Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, resulting in the deaths of at least 44 people. - On July 6, 2008, USA Jet Flight 199, a DC-9-15F, after taking off from Shreveport, LA airport bound for Saltillo, Mexico crashed and burned. The captain was killed and first officer was seriously injured. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Specifications
| DC-9-10 | DC-9-20 | DC-9-30 | DC-9-40 | DC-9-50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers (1 class) |
90 | 115 | 125 | 135 | |
| Max takeoff weight |
90,700 lb Pound (mass) The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement... (41,100 kg) |
98,000 lb (44,500 kg) |
110,000 lb (49,900 kg) |
114,000 lb (51,700 kg) |
121,000 lb (54,900 kg) |
| Max range | 1,265 nmi Nautical mile The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator... (2,340 km) |
1,850 nmi (3,430 km) |
1,635 nmi (3,030 km) |
1,685 nmi (3,120 km) |
1,635 nmi (3,030 km) |
| Cruising speed | 561 mph (903 km/h) |
557 mph (896 km/h) |
570 mph (917 km/h) |
558 mph (898 km/h) |
|
| Length | 104 ft 5 in (31.82 m) | 119 ft 4 in (36.37 m) | 125 ft 7 in (38.28 m) | 133 ft 7 in (40.72 m) | |
| Wingspan | 89 ft 5 in (27.25 m) | 93 ft 5 in (28.47 m) | |||
| >colspan="5"| 27 ft 5 in (8.38 m) | |||||
| Powerplants (2x) | P&W JT8D-5 or -7 | P&W JT8D-11 | P&W JT8D-7, -9, -11 or -15 | P&W JT8D-15 or -17 | |
| Engine thrust | 12,500 to 14,000 lbf Pound-force The pound force is a unit of force in some systems of measurement including English engineering units and British gravitational units.- Definitions :... (62.3 kN) |
15,000 lbf (66.7 kN) | 14,000 to 15,500 lbf (68.9 kN) | 15,500 to 16,000 lbf (71.2 kN) | |
- Cabin cross section:
- External width: 10 ft 11.6 in (3.34 m)
- Internal width: 10 ft 3.7 in (3.14 m)
- External height: 11 ft 8 in (3.6 m)
- Internal height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Sources: McDonnell Douglas DC-9 data.