Mid Size Passenger Jets
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
ICAO: MD90
Overview
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9-40 was a lengthened variant of the DC-9 family. Introduced in the late 1960s, it offered increased seating for short- and medium-haul routes. The aircraft became widely used by regional and mainline carriers.
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Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 2 × JT8D-17
- Engine type
- Turbofan
- Thrust
- 2 × 16,000 lbf · 71 kN
- Avionics
- —
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 125
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- 10 ft 3 in · 3.12 m
- Cabin height
- 6 ft 9 in · 2.05 m
- Cabin length
- 80 ft 9 in · 24.60 m
- Exterior length
- 125 ft 7 in · 38.28 m
- Tail height
- 28 ft 7 in · 8.70 m
- Fuselage diameter
- 11 ft 0 in · 3.35 m
- Wing span
- 93 ft 4 in · 28.44 m
- Baggage volume
- 1,021 ft³ · 28.9 m³
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 114,000 lb · 51,500 kg
- Max landing weight
- 102,000 lb · 46,300 kg
- Max payload
- 31,700 lb · 14,400 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 3,700 gal · 13,900 L · 11,100 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 485 kt · 558 mph · 898 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- 131 kt · 151 mph · 243 km/h
- Range
- 1,200 nm · 1,380 mi · 2,220 km
- Fuel burn
- —
- Ceiling
- 35,000 ft · 10,700 m
- Rate of climb
- 3,000 ft/min · 15 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 6,550 ft · 2,000 m
- Landing distance
- 4,900 ft · 1,500 m
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Operational Context
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-40 — stretched narrow-body twinjet
The DC-9-40 first flew in 1967 and entered service in 1968. It retained the rear-mounted engine configuration and T-tail of earlier DC-9 models. The fuselage stretch allowed additional passenger capacity without major aerodynamic changes.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engines producing approximately 14,500 pounds of thrust (64 kN) each, the DC-9-40 cruised at around 450 knots (833 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight exceeded 110,000 pounds (49,895 kg). Seating typically ranged from 110 to 125 passengers.
The DC-9-40 served airlines globally for decades. Many aircraft were later converted for cargo or charter use. The model contributed to the success of the DC-9 family.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.