IATA M81ICAO MD81

McDonnell Douglas MD-81

McDonnell Douglas

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Stretched twin-jet successor to the classic DC-9 family.

First flight

1979

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

137–172 passengers

Range

4,635 km

Engines

Two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D-209 turbofans

Status

Retired

The McDonnell Douglas MD-81 is a twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner and the first production variant of the MD-80 series, itself a direct development of the Douglas DC-9. It entered service in 1980, featuring a stretched fuselage compared to the DC-9-50, updated Pratt & Whitney JT8D-209 turbofan engines, and improved fuel efficiency for short- to medium-haul routes. The MD-81 was designed to carry around 155 passengers in a single-class configuration, with its rear-mounted engines contributing to a notably quiet cabin. It incorporated a modernized flight deck and aerodynamic refinements over its DC-9 predecessors, making it competitive in the early 1980s commercial market. Although no longer in widespread service, the MD-81 enjoyed considerable popularity with European and American carriers throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Most airframes have since been retired as airlines transitioned to newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, though a small number remained in service with regional or charter operators into the 2010s.

Notable operators

Major operators included Alitalia, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), American Airlines, Finnair, and Iberia.

Notable facts

›The MD-81 was the launch variant of the MD-80 series, entering service with Swissair in 1980.
›It features a fuselage stretch of approximately 14 feet compared to the DC-9-30.
›Rear-mounted engines give the MD-81 one of the quietest passenger cabin interiors among jets of its era.
›Over 1,191 MD-80 series aircraft of all variants were eventually built before production ended in 1999.
›The MD-81 shares high commonality with other MD-80 variants, simplifying maintenance and crew training.

Read more on Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a series of five-abreast single-aisle airliners developed by McDonnell Douglas. It was produced by the developer company until August 1997 and then by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The MD-80 was the second generation of the DC-9 family, originally designated as the DC-9-80 and later stylized as the DC-9 Super 80 . With a stretched, enlarged wing and powered by higher bypass Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines, the aircraft program was launched in October 1977. The MD-80 made its first flight on October 18, 1979, and was certified on August 25, 1980. The first airliner was delivered to launch customer Swissair on September 13, 1980, which introduced it into service on October 10, 1980.

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