McDonnell Douglas

McDonnell Douglas MD-90

M90 MD90 Out of Production

Higher-bypass IAE V2525-D5 engines quieted the MD-90, McDonnell Douglas's twin-engine update of the MD-80 that first flew in 1993. A typical cabin seats 153 and a dense layout up to 172, with range near 3,787 km at cruise speeds around 811 km/h and a service ceiling close to 11,277 metres. The stretched narrow-body measures 46.51 metres long on a 32.87-metre wing and grosses up to 70,760 kg at takeoff. Quieter operation was the model's main selling point, but only 116 were completed before the merger with Boeing closed the programme. Retired from production, it is filed under ICAO code MD90.

Dimensions

Length: 46,51 m
Wingspan: 32,87 m
Height: 9,33 m
Cabin Width: 3,14 m

Performance

Range: 3 787 km
Cruise Speed: 811 km/h
Max Speed: 876 km/h
Service Ceiling: 11 277 m
Category: medium-haul

Capacity

Typical Seats: 153
Max Seats: 172
Cargo Volume: 30,00 m³
Size: narrow-body

Engines

Count: 2
Type: Turbofan
Model: IAE V2525-D5

Engine Profiles

Pratt & Whitney JT8D

About McDonnell Douglas MD-90

Versión actualizada del MD-80 con motores de mayor bypass para una operación más silenciosa. Solo se construyeron 116 unidades antes de que la fusión de McDonnell Douglas con Boeing pusiera fin al programa.

Frequently Asked Questions

The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 typically seats 155 passengers in a two-class configuration. Maximum single-class capacity is 172 passengers. The cabin dimensions are identical to the MD-80 at 3.14 m wide with 2-3 seating. The MD-90 was positioned as a modernized, quieter successor to the MD-80 series.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 has a maximum range of approximately 3,787 km (2,045 nautical miles). The aircraft uses two IAE V2525-D5 turbofan engines, which are significantly quieter and more fuel-efficient than the MD-80's JT8D engines. The V2500 engine family is also used on the Airbus A320, providing the MD-90 with modern engine technology on a classic airframe.

The MD-90 shares the MD-80's fuselage and systems but features modern IAE V2525 engines replacing the older JT8D, resulting in approximately 10% lower fuel consumption and significantly reduced noise. The MD-90's cockpit was updated with EFIS displays. However, the MD-90 was commercially unsuccessful, with only 116 deliveries compared to the MD-80's 1,191. By the time the MD-90 launched, airlines were already committed to the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320.

The MD-90 looks nearly identical to the MD-80 from the outside but can be distinguished by its IAE V2500 engine nacelles, which are larger and have a different shape than the MD-80's JT8D nacelles. The V2500 nacelles have a wider fan diameter, giving a more modern appearance. The overall T-tail, rear-engine configuration, and fuselage proportions remain the same as the MD-80.

The MD-90 was the last new single-aisle aircraft developed by McDonnell Douglas before its merger with Boeing in 1997. Only 116 aircraft were delivered between 1995 and 2000, a commercial disappointment. Boeing discontinued the program after the merger, redirecting resources to the 737 family. Delta Air Lines was the largest operator with 16 aircraft, all retired by June 2020. Shanghai Airlines operated MD-90s produced at a factory in Shanghai, China, marking one of the earliest Chinese aircraft manufacturing ventures.