In the above photo we see prototype MD-87 (N87MD) touching down on Rwy 30 at Long Beach on its return from a test flight.
(Photo by Michael J. Carter)
The MD-87 was the most recognizable MD-80 varient to be produced. It was identical to the other MD-80 family members, retaining the engines, systems, and flight deck, but was 17 feet, 4 inches shorter measuring in at 130 feet. In December 1984, long time Douglas customers Austrian and Finnair placed orders for the MD-87 allowing McDonnell Douglas to officially launch the MD-87 program in January 1985. The first
MD-87 (LN 1326) rolled out of Building 80 at Long Beach on October 23, 1986, with the first flight occurring on December 4. The flight test and certification program lasted longer with the MD-87 due to design changes that DAC incorporated into the aircraft. The shorter fuselage required that the fin cap above the "T" in the tail be made taller to compensate for the reduced moment arm. Additionally a new low-drag tail cone, resembling a "Beaver tail" was developed for the MD-87, which resulted in a
0.5-percent improvement in the fuel burn. The results of this new design were so good that the "Beaver tail" was incorporated into all MD80 varients produced from 1987 on and retrofitted to earlier models. The first aircraft was delivered to Finnair (OH-LMA) on November 1, 1987. Only 76 MD-87's were built between 1986 and 1992 with the last aircaft being delivered to Scandinavian (SAS) (OY-KHW) on March 27, 1992. The prototype MD-87 (N87MD) was flown to Kingman, Arizona in 1997 and sadly broken-up.
MD-87 Production List **Updated** (04/24/2004)
MD-87 Photo Gallery One
MD-87 Photo Gallery Two
MD-87 Photo Gallery Three
MD-87 Photo Gallery Four
