McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was one of the most iconic aircraft manufacturers in aviation history—responsible for a wide range of military and commercial aircraft that helped define modern air travel and aerial combat. It was formed in 1967, when McDonnell Aircraft Corporation and Douglas Aircraft Company merged. The company was later absorbed by Boeing in 1997, but its legacy lives on in both the sky and aerospace tech.
🛫 Civilian Aircraft (Highlights):
DC Series (Douglas Commercial):
MD Series (McDonnell Douglas):
| Aircraft | Description |
|---|---|
| DC-3 | Legendary piston-powered transport from the 1930s; revolutionized air travel |
| DC-4 / DC-6 / DC-7 | Successors to the DC-3, used widely in WWII and postwar airline service |
| DC-8 | First Douglas jetliner; rivaled the Boeing 707 in the 1950s–60s |
| DC-9 | Short-haul twinjet; spawned a family (MD-80, MD-90, Boeing 717) |
| DC-10 | Wide-body trijet for long-haul routes; later adapted into cargo and tanker variants |
✈️ Military Aircraft (Highlights):
| Aircraft | Description |
|---|---|
| MD-80 | Stretched, upgraded DC-9 with better range and engines |
| MD-90 | Further upgraded MD-80 with quieter, more efficient engines |
| MD-95 | Later rebranded as the Boeing 717 after Boeing merger |
| MD-11 | Advanced wide-body trijet; successor to the DC-10; popular as a freighter |
🏭 Legacy & Merger:
- In the 1990s, McDonnell Douglas struggled to keep up with Boeing and Airbus in the commercial market.
- The 1997 merger with Boeing effectively ended the McDonnell Douglas name, but many of its designs live on:
The Boeing 717 is really the MD-95
F/A-18s, originally McDonnell Douglas, are still in production as the Super Hornet
The C-17 Globemaster III, developed under McDonnell Douglas, is now a Boeing product
- The Boeing 717 is really the MD-95
- F/A-18s, originally McDonnell Douglas, are still in production as the Super Hornet
- The C-17 Globemaster III, developed under McDonnell Douglas, is now a Boeing product
🔧 Design Legacy:
McDonnell Douglas was known for:
- Practical, rugged aircraft
- Evolutionary designs (especially with DC-9/MD-80/MD-90 family)
- A strong military portfolio
- Being a pioneer in trijet and wide-body designs
| Aircraft | Role |
|---|---|
| F-4 Phantom II | Supersonic fighter-bomber used extensively in Vietnam and beyond |
| F-15 Eagle | Air superiority fighter still in service today |
| F/A-18 Hornet | Multirole fighter for Navy and Marine Corps |
| AV-8B Harrier II | V/STOL attack aircraft used by Marines (joint with British design) |
| KC-10 Extender | Aerial refueling tanker based on the DC-10 airliner |
| MRO | Location | McDonnell Douglas Services |
|---|
A list of parts on the McDonnell Douglas is coming soon. Please check back again next week.