The Douglas design team knew there was ample competition in the short-medium haul market as they began work on the DC-9. That the company, with no firm orders in hand, started laying down the first DC-9 airframe on 26 July 1963, seems in retrospect to have been a very bold move. In order to be successful, the new aircraft needed to surpass the market share of two well-established airliners. The French Sud SE-210 Caravelle had been flying quite satisfactorily in the domestic market with United Airlines since June, 1961. Posing a greater threat to early DC-9 production was the British BAC 111, which entered service with American Airlines just two months after the first flight of the DC-9 on on 25 February 1965.

In accordance with Douglas design philosophy, the DC-9 was envisioned as an aircraft with growth potential. Following production of 137 DC-9 Series 10 aircraft, the Series 30 was announced with a fuselage stretch of nearly 15 feet. Other changes from the DC-9 Series 10 included more powerful 14,000-lb thrust P&W JT8D-7 turbofans, and full-span wing leading edge slats which would help retain minimum runway length criterion. The maximum takeoff weight grew to 98,000 lb.

The first flight of the DC-9-30 was on 1 August 1966, and service introduction took place with Eastern Airlines on 1 February 1967. The photos that follow help to show that the DC-9 Series 30 was operated by a wide variety of domestic US airlines.

In production for more than 25 years, Douglas manufactured a total of 831 DC-9s, and followed this success with production of the evolved MD series.

The author would welcome contact with anyone with additional photos and comment on the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30.

Click each photo below for large version