McDonnell Douglas MD-87
McDonnell Douglas · United States · first flew 1986 · airliner
The MD-87 is a shortened derivative of the MD-80 series, trading passenger capacity for improved range and suitability for thinner routes, with the same engines and systems as the longer variants.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Significantly shorter fuselage at 39.1m — 6m shorter than the standard MD-80 variants (45.1m) — giving a distinctly compact body-to-tail proportion with the T-tail appearing larger relative to the fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Significantly shorter fuselage at 39.1m — 6m shorter than the standard MD-80 variants (45.1m) — giving a distinctly compact body-to-tail proportion with the T-tail appearing larger relative to the fuselage
- T-tail and rear-mounted JT8D-217 engines as on all MD-80s, but the shortened rear fuselage makes the tail assembly look proportionally taller
- Fewer cabin windows than other MD-80s due to reduced fuselage length; seats up to 130 passengers vs up to 172 on the MD-82
The shortened fuselage is immediately visible when the MD-87 is compared to an MD-82 or MD-83; the T-tail appears proportionally larger against the smaller body; window count is a quick secondary confirmation.
Specifications
- The McDonnell Douglas MD-87 has a length of 39.1 m (128 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 32.9 m (108 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 925 km/h (575 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The MD-87 first flew in December 1986 and entered service with Austrian Airlines and Finnair in 1987. It was designed for medium-range routes with lower passenger demand, where the standard MD-80 capacity would be excessive. Only 75 were built, as the market for shortened variants proved limited.
Variants
No distinct sub-variants; the MD-87 occupies a niche at the short end of the MD-80 family, comparable in role to the A319 within the A320 family.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Austrian Airlines, Finnair, Iberia and Japan Air System, among others; most were retired during the 2000s and 2010s as operators standardised on newer types.
Related aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas MD-11
- McDonnell Douglas A-12A Avenger II
- McDonnell Douglas MD-82
- McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
- BAe ATP
- Boeing 767-300ER
- Fokker 100
- Airbus A320
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