In the above photo, the first DC-9 Super 80 N980DC (48000/909) is seen at Mojave Airport (MHV)
still wearing McDonnell Douglas MD-UHB Demo titles. Sadly the aircraft was scrapped in 1994.
(Photo By Bob Shane/Michael J. Carter Collection)
Known as the DC-9 Super 80 when it first took to the skies on October 19, 1979, the MD80 series of DAC airlners which include the -81, -82, -83, -87, -88 and continued into the MD-90-30 and yes even the MD-95 (717-200) have proven themselves to be one of the most popular and safest airliners ever produced.
DAC began studying the possibilty of stretching the DC-9-50 in 1977 when Swissair indicated that they wanted a larger aircraft for it's heavy European routes. The MD80 program had early concept designations such as the Series 55, Series 50RSS(Re-Fanned Super Stretch) and the Series 60. The study of the stretch was due to the availability of the new Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine which had a larger bypass ratio than the engines utilized on the DC-9 known as the "Straight Eights".
In October 1977, the Super 80 was offically lauched when Swissair announced it had placed an order for 20 aircraft (15) firm and (5) options, which was followed by an order from Austrian Airlines for (8) firm aircraft. The Super 80 had an overall length of 147 feet 10 inches (12 feet, 8 inches fwd of the wing and 1 foot, 7 inches aft of the wing) were added. The longer length fwd was to insure to the center of gravity (CG) with the heavier JT8D-200 engines. Changes were also made to the wing, though it was not completely redesigned, the wing did receive a makeover with the addition of a new section at the root and making the wing tip larger. The new additions added, the wing became 28 percent larger than the DC-9 with an overall size of 1,209 square feet and also making more room for fuel increasing capacity to 5,480 gallons. The wing retained its 24.5 degree sweep, but with the 5 foot, 3 inch root addition and the 2 foot wing tip extension the wing span increased to 107 feet 10 inches. The new power plant for the Super 80 the PW JT8D-209 performed its first flight test on March 4, 1977. Interestingly the engine was flight tested on the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 transport the predecessor to the McDonnell Douglas C-17. The FAA certified the engine in June 1979 with an intial rating of 18,500 pounds of thrust. Later varients of the JT8D-200 were developed (217 at 20,000 pounds and the 219 at 21,000 pounds).
The Super 80 flight test program involved three aircraft performing a total of 795 test flights with total flight hours numbering 1,085. The first DC-9 Super 80 was delivered to Swissair on September 13, 1980 and entered service a month later operating a flight from Zurich to London and the rest as they say is history.
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Production List **Updated (11/20/2004)**
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Photo Gallery One
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Photo Gallery Two
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Photo Gallery Three
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Photo Gallery Four
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Photo Gallery Five
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Photo Gallery Six
DC-9 Super 80 (MD-81) Photo Gallery Seven
