Europes last airline MD-87, now retired already! \r
\r
The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80was lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.\r
The MD-80was introduced into commercial service on October 10, 1980 by Swissair. Theincludes the MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and MD-88. These all have the same fuselage length except the shortened MD-87. The MD-80was followed into service in modified form by the MD-90 in 1995 and the MD-95/Boeing 717 in 1999.\r
In January 1985 McDonnell Douglas announced it would produce a shorter fuselage MD-80 variant, designated MD-87 (DC-9-87), which would seat between 109 and 130 passengers depending upon configuration. The designation was intended to indicate its planned date of entry into service, 1987.\r
Dimensions: With an overall length of 130 ft 5 in (39.75 m), the MD-87 is 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m) shorter than the other MD-80s but is otherwise generally similar to them, employing the same engines, systems and flight deck. The MD-87 features modifications to its tail, with a fin extension above the tailplane. It also introduced a new low drag beaver tail cone, which became standard on all MD-80s.\r
Powerplant: The MD-87 was offered with either the 20,000 lbf (89 kN) thrust JT8D-217C or the 21,000 lbf (93 kN) thrust -219.\r
Performance: Two basic versions of the MD-87 were made available with either an MTOW of 140,000 lb (64,000 kg) and MLW of 128,000 lb (58,000 kg) or an MTOW of 149,000 lb (68,000 kg) and an MLW of 130,000 lb (59,000 kg). Fuel capacity is 5,840 US gal (22,100 l), increasing to 6,970 US gal (26,400 l) with the incorporation of two auxiliary fuel tanks. Typical range with 130 passengers, is 2,370 nmi (4,390 km) increasing to 2,900 nmi (5,400 km) with two auxiliary fuel tanks.\r
Cabin: The MD-87 provides typical mixed-class seating for 114 passengers or 130 in an all economy layout (five-abreast 31 in and 32 in seat pitch). The maximum seating, exit limited, is for 139 passengers.\r
\r
MD-87 timeline: Announced/go-ahead: January 1985 First flight: December 4, 1986 FAA certification: October 21, 1987 First delivery: November 27, 1987 to Austrian Airlines Last delivery: March 27, 1992 to Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)\r
\r
Danish Air Transport A/S, abbreviated DAT, is an airline in Vamdrup, Kolding Municipality, Denmark, operating scheduled and chartered passenger and cargo flights.\r
Danish Air Transport was founded and started operations in 1989, initially as a cargo airline. Soon special operations like the transport of live horses or supplies for the Paris Dakar Rally in Africa were offered, too. Passenger charter flights were added in 1994, with the subsequent launch scheduled services on 18 November 1996. DAT flies regular services from Denmark to Norway as well as domestic flights within Denmark and Norway.\r
\r
Photo credit cover picture (MD-87 takeoff: Carlos Miguel Seabra)
