Boeing MD-90

The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 is an American single-aisle narrow-body jet airliner developed as a stretched derivative of the successful MD-80. Initially produced by McDonnell Douglas until 1997, it was later manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The MD-90 is part of the DC-9 family, having evolved from the MD-80. Delta Air Lines became the launch customer on November 14, 1989, after selecting the more fuel-efficient IAE V2500 high-bypass turbofan. The first flight took place on February 22, 1993, with Delta receiving the first delivery in February 1995.

Competing with the Airbus A320ceo family and the Boeing 737 Next Generation, the MD-90 features a 5 ft (1.4 m) longer fuselage, accommodating 153 passengers in a mixed configuration over a range of up to 2,455 nautical miles (4,547 km; 2,825 mi). It retained the MD-88’s electronic flight instrument system (EFIS). Initially marketed as the MD-95, the shrunken derivative or shorter variant of the MD-90 was later renamed the Boeing 717 following the 1997 merger of McDonnell Douglas with Boeing. Production concluded in 2000 after 116 deliveries. Delta Air Lines operated the final MD-90 passenger flight on June 2, 2020. While briefly retired, it underwent testing with Boeing Commercial Airplanes for the X-66A program. The MD-90 was involved in three hull-loss accidents, with only one fatality attributed to a fire-related or non-aeronautical incident.

Development of the MD-90 stemmed from the success of the DC-9 series, the first generation of the DC-9 family. Consisting of five members or variants (DC-9-10 / DC-9 Series 10, Series 20, Series 30, Series 40, and Series 50) and ten production versions (Series 11, Series 12, Series 14, Series 15, Series 21, Series 31, Series 32, Series 33, Series 34, Series 41, and Series 51), the DC-9 achieved commercial success, with 976 units built before production ceased in 1982.

This first-generation DC-9 family featured a new design, incorporating two rear fuselage-mounted turbofan engines, a T-tail configuration, and a narrow-body fuselage design with five-abreast seating for 80 to 135 passengers. The success of the DC-9 prompted the development of the second-generation DC-9 family, leading to the creation of the MD-90.