Commercial

McDonnell Douglas MD-81

Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas

The McDonnell Douglas MD-81 was the first production version of the MD-80 family, originally designated DC-9-81. It is a long-body, five-abreast airliner with two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
mcdonnell-douglas-md-81
Class
Commercial
Registry Count
N/A

Specifications

Wingspan
32.873 m / 107.85 ft
Length
45.06 m / 147.83 ft
Range
2898.38 km / 1565 nmi
First Flight
1979-10-18

Aircraft Overview

History

The MD-81 first flew on 18 October 1979. Swissair received the first aircraft in September 1980 and began passenger service on 10 October 1980.

Design

The MD-81 uses the enlarged MD-80 wing and stretched DC-9-derived fuselage. Initial aircraft used JT8D-209 engines; later deliveries could have more powerful JT8D-217 or -219 engines.

Variants

The MD-82 and MD-83 share the MD-81’s basic long-body dimensions but have different performance, fuel and weight provisions. The MD-87 is shorter.

Operations

Swissair introduced the MD-81, and Continental and Midwest also operated the type. The range shown is the MD-81’s stated typical range with 155 passengers.

Notable Facts

  • First production MD-80 model.
  • Certification designation DC-9-81.
  • First flight on 18 October 1979.
  • Swissair introduced it into passenger service.
  • Long-body MD-80 fuselage.

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources