Is The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 The Same As The Boeing 717?

Summary The Boeing 717, derived from the DC-9, features a stretched fuselage and new engines for enhanced performance. The 717's Rolls-Royce BR715 engines use EEC for digital fault tolerance and trend monitoring. The Boeing 717 includes a modern cabin interior, advanced flight instruments, and avionics system.

The Douglas Aircraft Corporation DC-9 and Boeing 717 are part of the same aircraft family, sharing many design and performance features. The Boeing 717, being part of a much later generation, features distinct design and technology improvements. This article provides salient similarities and differences between the two commercially successful aircraft types, as highlighted by Boeing .

Background The Douglas DC-9 was developed in the early 1960s by Douglas Aircraft Company. The aircraft first flew in February 1965 and entered the commercial market with Delta Air Lines in December of that year. In 1967, the company merged with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to form McDonnell Douglas (MD).

The DC-9 was developed into MD-80 in 1979 , with a larger wing and a higher Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW). The commercially successful MD-80 was developed into MD-90 in 1993, with a stretched fuselage, new engines, and an updated flight deck. McDonnell Douglas was acquired by Boeing in 1997.

The shorter (and final) variant of the family, MD-95, was renamed and marketed as Boeing 717. The Douglas DC-9 entered service with Delta Air Lines in 1965. Douglas DC-9 vs Boeing 717 The Boeing 717 .