MD-90
McDonnell Douglas · United States · first flew 1993 · airliner
The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 is a stretched, re-engined development of the MD-80 family, a single-aisle twinjet seating around 150-160 passengers with rear-mounted engines and a T-tail.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long slim fuselage with rear-mounted engines and a T-tail |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Long slim fuselage with rear-mounted engines and a T-tail
- Quiet IAE V2500 engines distinguishing it from earlier MD-80s
- Five-abreast single-aisle cabin in a stretched DC-9 lineage
Look for the long thin fuselage with engines mounted on the rear sides and a high T-tail, the classic DC-9/MD silhouette. The MD-90's greater length and quieter V2500 engines distinguish it from earlier MD-80s.
Specifications
- The MD-90 has a length of 46.51 m (153 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 32.87 m (108 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 811 km/h (504 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the long DC-9/MD-80 lineage, the MD-90 first flew on 22 February 1993 and introduced quieter, more efficient IAE V2500 engines and a glass cockpit. It entered service in 1995 but arrived late against the booming Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, limiting its sales.
Variants
The main version was the MD-90-30, with an extended-range MD-90-30ER also offered. The programme effectively ended McDonnell Douglas's twinjet line, with the smaller MD-95 becoming the Boeing 717 after the merger.
Where you'll see it
The MD-90 was rare in Britain and never a UK fleet staple, though it occasionally appeared on inbound charter and leasing operations. UK travellers were far more likely to encounter its MD-80 predecessors or the rival A320 and 737 families.
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