In the above photo, Boeing 717-200 prototype N717XA is caught performing taxi tests two days before its first flight.
(Photo By Michael J. Carter)
I have elected to stay with the MD95 designation for this website, as it is not and never will be a Boeing aircraft in my opinion.
The MD95 was offically launched in October 1995 though it can trace its history back to 1983 when DAC outlined a study named the DC-9-90. This aircraft aimed at the newly deregulated U.S. market would have seated 117 passengers, basically a shortened MD81. The aircraft would wear another designation (for a short time) when it was known as the MD87-105.
In the early stages of the program the MD95 was closely related to the MD90 and the Chinese Truunkliner program. It was even considered for a short time to build the MD95 in China, but quickly rejected.
DAC offered two engine types for the MD95 in these early stages (Pratt & Whitney JT8D-218 and Rolls Royce Tay).
The Gulf War in 1991 brought the program to a screetching halt, and the program langished for several years, but this also resulted in a major benifit for the MD95 as well, the developement of the BMW Rolls Royce BR715 engine. This engine was an upgraded BR700 engine which first went into service on Gulfstream GVs and Bombardier Global Express Bizjets and had proven itself to be a very reliable and fuel effeciant engine.
In July 1994 the Douglas Board of Directors approved the official launch of the program and announced that the aircraft would be built at Dalfort Aviation in Dallas, Texas. This however was later reversed and back to Long Beach came the MD95. Hard bargining with the unions and consessions being made by the state of California and the City of Long Beach made this possible.
October 19, 1995 was a historical day for the program when Valujet Airlines (now Airtran Airlines) became the launch customer by placing an order for 50 firm aircraft and 50 options (with several having already been converted to firm orders).
The future of the MD95 once again looked bleek in August 1997 with the takeover of McDonnell Douglas by arch rival Boeing, but the MD95 being like a cat with 9 lives survived. In January 1998, Boeing made the decision to rename the MD95 and designate it the
717-200. The reasoning behind this move was the 1 in 717 reflected the 100 seat capacity of the aircraft, it also ended the 65 year product line history of Douglas going back to the DC-1. The designation was also questioned by military aviation buffs because Techially Boeing already had an aircraft that carried the 717 designation, that being the KC-135,
the
Air Force tanker based on the 707 airframe.
(Stay tuned, more info to follow)
MD95 Production List **Updated** 02/11/2005
MD95 Photo Gallery 1
MD95 Photo Gallery 2
MD95 Photo Gallery 3 (Bangkok Air 'Samui')
MD95 Photo Gallery 4 (Bangkok Air 'Angkor')
MD95 Photo Gallery 5 (Impulse/QantasLink)
MD95 Photo Gallery 6 (The varied looks of TWA)
MD95 Photo Gallery 7 (Bangkok Air/Siem Reap Air 'Laung Prabang')
MD95 Photo Gallery 8 (TWA/QantasLink)
