Comments on: 25 February 1965

By: William D Todd Jr

William D Todd Jr — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 19:16:00 +0000

Boeing eventually bought the remains of Douglas (McDonald-Douglas) and built the DC-9 as the B-717.

By: Chuck Savall

Chuck Savall — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 21:11:36 +0000

In reply to Chuck Savall.

http://rzjets.net/aircraft/?parentid=405&typeid=98&frstatus=3

By: Chuck Savall

Chuck Savall — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 07:04:10 +0000

In reply to Paul Kohler.

Paul, you really sent me down the rabbit hole tonight. I found all this info about N9DC, the actual fuselage No 1 (25695) Delivered to Texas International (Trans Texas), but not until 9/30/1966. It was used by Douglas for testing and PR tours, listed as the DC-9 “prototype.” Apparently, it flew until 1991, so back when we were at YX, being told that N700ME was the oldest DC-9 flying, that wasn’t actually true until 91 when it was apparently retired and destroyed. Appears N3301L/N700ME was indeed fuselage No 2 (25696). Do a Google search for “N9DC” – lots of info and photos. Not 1st delivered, but oldest fuselage. Look at the bottom of this page:

By: Chuck Savall

Chuck Savall — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 04:59:57 +0000

In reply to Paul Kohler. Hey Paul, hope you're well. When I go back and look at manufacture dates of the 1st few aircraft, it appears that Delta may not have taken delivery in the same sequence the planes were made. Might be Douglas used the 1st couple fuselages for flight-testing, and may have taken a while to return them to delivery condition. I have a photo of the test pilots in the cockpit of A/C No. 2 (stenciled on the backs of their seats), which I'm guessing was eventually N3302L, because 3302L has the 2nd earliest manufacture date on that page you posted. It has quite a bit of extra panels, switches, and test instruments installed in the cockpit, along with seats designed to accommodate parachutes. Could be the 4th one made was actually the 1st one delivered to DL, and the earlier manufactured planes were delivered when Douglas was done testing them. I'm guessing I have over 1000 hours in N700ME / N3301L.

By: Jim Schmidt

Jim Schmidt — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 19:50:28 +0000

In 1997 Allegiant Air started with a single DC9-21, a short production run in the DC9 family.
SAS ordered ten -21s for their short field operations. The -21 uses the short fuselage of the original -10 and replaces the non-slatted “hard” wing with the slatted wings and engines of the -30 series. The -30’s wings and higher thrust engines made the airplane a real hot rod and a hoot to fly. https://www.airliners.net/photo/Allegiant-Air/McDonnell-Douglas-DC-9-21/228170/L?qsp=eJwtjEEKwkAMRe%2BStZsqKHSnF9CFFwiTj5bWmSEJ6FB6d%2BPg7vEevJVSyY6P31sFjWRgTU/aUWXll9G40oz2LirBlIf9Kc9RrahfWhhhxzklVIf8/VUF%2Bkuw1EePGA8B0FtnOhzDy2R14f6A87TQtn0BL38ufA%3D%3D

By: Bryan Swopes

Bryan Swopes — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:26:01 +0000

In reply to Dalieba. Thank you. I look through old advertisements to search for company logos appropriate to teh aircraft. It's not always easy to get the right one.

By: Dalieba

Dalieba — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 06:06:16 +0000

The Douglas logo you have used is cut up from McDonnell Douglas logo, Wikipedia has a correct logo design.

By: Bryan Swopes

Bryan Swopes — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 18:45:30 +0000

In reply to Tom Facer. Yes, thank you, Tom. According to the Delta Flight Museum, the correct date is 7 October 1965. Good catch.

By: Tom Facer

Tom Facer — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 16:23:37 +0000

In reply to Bryan Swopes.

From your article –

“Delta Airlines was the lead customer for the Douglas DC-9. Delta’s first DC-9, serial number 45699, F.A.A. registration N3304L, was delivered in a ceremony at the Douglas plant at Long Beach Airport, 7 October 1966.”

A typo on the date?

By: Bryan Swopes

Bryan Swopes — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 19:18:57 +0000

In reply to Paul Kohler. Thank you, Paul. The Delta Flight Museum reports N3304L was delivered 7 October 1965.