Douglas DC-9-30
Douglas · United States · first flew 1965 · airliner
The DC-9-30 is the first major stretch of the DC-9 family, extending the fuselage by 4.5m over the -10 series to seat up to 115 passengers, and became the most-produced variant of the original DC-9.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fuselage stretched to 36.4m by a 4.5m plug over the DC-9-10 (31.8m), making it the first significantly stretched DC-9 and the baseline for all subsequent variants |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fuselage stretched to 36.4m by a 4.5m plug over the DC-9-10 (31.8m), making it the first significantly stretched DC-9 and the baseline for all subsequent variants
- T-tail with twin JT8D engines buried at the rear fuselage; low-wing configuration with no wing-mounted engines — uncluttered wing leading edge distinguishes it from contemporary jets
- Extended wing with leading-edge slats added to handle higher weights; longer fuselage than DC-9-10 clearly visible as a greater cabin window count
Longer fuselage than DC-9-10 (36.4m vs 31.8m); shorter than DC-9-50 (40.7m); all DC-9 variants share the distinctive T-tail and rear-engine arrangement; the -30 has a more balanced fuselage proportion than the compact -10.
Specifications
- The Douglas DC-9-30 has a length of 36.4 m (119 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.5 m (94 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 907 km/h (564 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The DC-9-30 first flew in August 1965 and entered service with Eastern Air Lines in 1966. Douglas achieved the stretch rapidly by adding plugs fore and aft of the wing, simultaneously extending the wing span and adding leading-edge slats for improved performance. Over 620 were built, cementing the DC-9's commercial success.
Variants
Several sub-series existed including the -31, -32, -33 and -34, differing in fuel capacity and weight; the -30 series formed the structural basis for the later DC-9-40 and -50 as well.
Where you'll see it
Operated by virtually every US trunk airline; later examples flew with regional carriers and cargo operators; many were inherited by Northwest Airlines and eventually absorbed into the Delta fleet.
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