Douglas
DC-9 Series 50

ABOUT THIS AIRCRAFT:

The DC-9 was designed specifically to operate from short runways and on short- to medium-range routes so that the speed, comfort and reliability of jet transportation could be extended to hundreds of communities previously served only by propeller-driven airliners.

Smaller than the DC-8, the trim DC-9 has a distinctive high-level horizontal stabilizer atop the rudder, commonly called a "T" tail. Two engines mounted on the aft fuselage power the aircraft at cruising speeds exceeding 500 mph (800 km/h) and altitudes over 30,000 feet (9,144 m).

Design, development and production of the DC-9 was centered in Long Beach, Calif., at what is now the Long Beach Division of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where 976 of the twin jets were built during an 18-year production run. The first flight was Feb. 25, 1965; the final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.

There are five basic DC-9 versions, designated Series 10, Series 20, Series 30, Series 40 and Series 50. Several models in each series provide operators maximum efficiency for diverse combinations of traffic density, cargo volume and route distances to more than 2,000 miles (3,218 km). All models use variants of the reliable workhorse Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine.

Series 10: The first in the twinjet family, the fuselage length of the Series 10 DC-9 is 104.4 feet (31.8 m), accommodating up to 90 passengers with 600 cubic feet (16.9 m³) of cargo space below the floor. Wingspan is 89.4 feet (27.2 m). Engines can be JT8D-1, JT8D-5s, or JT8D-7s with takeoff thrust ratings up to 14,000 pounds.

Series 20: The DC-9 Series 20, although numbered second in the sequence of models, actually is the fourth member of the family. This high-performance version was announced in December 1966, and the first delivery was made in December 1968. The Series 20 is designed for operation from very short runways. It combines the fuselage of the DC-9 Series 10 with a high-lift wing developed for the Series 30. Power is provided by two JT8D-9s with 14,500 pounds thrust each, or 15,000-pound JT8D-11s.

Series 30: Fuselage of the Series 30 DC-9, actually second developed, is nearly 15 feet longer than the Series 10, at 119.3 feet (36.3 m), providing seats for up to 115 passengers and cargo space to 895 cubic feet (25.3 m³). Series 30 wingspan was increased to 93.3 feet (28.4 m), and a high-lift wing system of leading edge slats gives the Series 30 excellent short-field performance. The first of the type began airline service in February 1967. Most of the Series 30s are powered by either JT8D-7 or JT8D-9 engines. Others are equipped with JT8D-11 or the JT8D-15, with 15,500 pounds of thrust. The Series 30 is the most widely used member of the DC-9 family, accounting for approximately 60 percent of the entire fleet.

Series 40: To again meet airline demands for a DC-9 with more capacity, the Series 40 was developed with a fuselage length of 125.6 feet (38.3 m). Seating is available for up to 125 passengers, 10 more than the popular Series 30s. Below-floor cargo space totals 1,019 cubic feet (28.8 m³). The Series 40 uses the same wing as the Series 30. Series 40 engines are JT8D-9s, JT8D-11s or JT8D-15s. The model entered service in March 1968.

Series 50: The fifth and largest DC-9 version is extended to 133.6 feet (40.7 m) long, permitting installation of five more rows of seats than the Series 30. Maximum passenger capacity is up to 139, with cargo capacity increased similarly. Wingspan is the same as for the Series 30. Engines are either JT8D-15s or JT8D-17s, which are rated at 16,000 pounds. Airline operations with the Series 50 began in August 1975.

C-9: The C-9 was the military derivative of the popular DC-9-30. The initial model, the C-9A was built as a flying hospital for the United States Air Force. Later variants included the C-9B "Skytrain 2", a logistics aircraft for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and the VC-9C executive transport operated by the United States Air Force. Engines are JT8D-9, JT8D-15, and JT8D-17 engines each developing 14,500, 15,500, and 16,000 pounds of thrust respectively.

All Models: Common to all versions of the DC-9 are the features that make them ideal for short- and medium-range flights providing direct service between small or large airports. All have built-in boarding stairs for use where jetways are not available. The low ground clearance puts the lower deck cargo bays at waist height, to allow loading and unloading without a conveyor or loading platform. The cockpit is designed for a two-member crew.

Passenger cabins of the DC-9s are designed for optimum passenger comfort and convenience. Economy class seating is five across -- an arrangement consistently preferred in passenger surveys to the six-across seating in other single-aisle jetliners. A "wide look" interior introduced in 1973 provides a greater feeling of spaciousness than in earlier models and offers enclosed overhead racks for carry-on bags.

Thirty years after beginning operations and more than a decade after the final aircraft rolled off the assembly line, DC-9s remain a mainstay in many airlines, still building a worldwide reputation for reliability and durability unmatched by any other aircraft. The fleet makes more than 3,500 flights per day, with each aircraft averaging more than five hours of revenue service daily.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Project Freeware would like to thank Brian Quayle who designed the original Douglas DC-9 model upon which this one is based.

 

INSTALLATION:

To use this aircraft, you will need to have the following programs installed on your computer...

• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000

• A 3-D Video Card (recommended for some models to appear as intended)

• A file unzipping utility (such as Winzip)

To install this aircraft into FS2000, simply unzip the files into your main FS2000 directory.  The files will automatically place themselves in the appropriate "Aircraft" folder and subfolders. 

PLEASE NOTE:  This aircraft is optimized for use with FS2000.  In some cases, the aircraft may appear/operate properly in other versions of FS, but the Project Freeware Group does not recommend using our designs in any version of FS other than what we recommend for each model.  If you try to do so, you do it at your own risk.

 

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:

This aircraft is freely given to the flight simulation community, to add to the enjoyment of the flight simulation experience. This aircraft, or portions thereof,  may not be uploaded elsewhere without the express written consent of one of the group members, nor may they be sold or repackaged in any way on disk, CD, or other any other media type. Aircraft source files are no longer available due to the unscrupulous actions of certain pirates and individuals who do not comply with our copyrights. Our graphics and aircraft textures may not be copied, altered, or modified by "hacking" or any other means. The aircraft and airlines depicted in our designs are artistic representations of any real corporate trademarks or logos, and we are not associated with any airline or aircraft manufacturer depicted in this package or on our website. 

In providing these add-on files, the Project Freeware Group does not give any warranties, either implied or specific. Any damage to your computer, programs, or files resulting from the use of these files is the responsibility of the person unzipping the files. If you don't know what you are doing, get help! Above all, you are required to have fun with our products! If, after 7 days of use, you have not experienced a dramatic increase in enjoyment of your flight simulation software, we recommend that you remove the files from your computer and go back to paying for your flight simulation add-ons.

This software is covered under International
and US Copyright Conventions.