Brucek From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 246 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 6444 times:
There seems to be so few of these built, especially compared to their ancestors DC-9 / MD-8x aircraft.
I believe Delta was the launch customer and still has at least some in service. Any ideas of where I can go see where the present day fleet are? My understanding is that- even by today's standards- they are quite fuel efficient, although I note that the cockpit design looks very similar to the MD-8x. Same type-rating for the MD-8x's and the MD-9x's??
WhiteHatter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 6387 times:
Early MD-90s were an absolute dog. The V2500 engine was new and initially troublesome, and the aircraft itself had significantly different features in its systems to the earlier MD-80 family.
There are a number still flying today, but commonality and lack of numbers is against the aircraft. Which is a shame as they are extremely efficient and quiet compared to earlier family members.
D950 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 493 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 6356 times:
Delta, SAS, EVA/UNI, Lion, Nordic Leisure, Hello (British Jet), China Eastern, Northern, Southern, and JAS takes care of most if not all.
Resting on your laurels is a synonym for flirting with disaster
Dacman From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 444 posts, RR: 9 Reply 4, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 6115 times:
The only MD-90-30 to be broken-up (at kingman, AZ) was the prototype.
Three are still stored at Marana, AZ and Saudi Arabian reportedly use two of their 29 for spare parts.
Two MD-90-30s were built in China as well and operate with China Northern Airlines.
AKelley728 From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2101 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 6096 times:
There are rumours around that three ex-Air Aruba/ProAir birds are going to be broken up simply because there are no takers for the aircraft. Unfortunately the owners of these aircraft have deemed the aircraft more valuable as parts then as whole pieces.
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15990 posts, RR: 59 Reply 6, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 6044 times:
Quoting AKelley728 (Reply 5): There are rumours around that three ex-Air Aruba/ProAir birds are going to be broken up simply because there are no takers for the aircraft.
Airtransport database reports that these 3 M90's were recently parted out.
Did the recent Saudi M90 fire in CAI result in a write-off also?
Panam, TWA, Ansett, Eastern.......AC next? Might be good for Canada.
Blsbls99 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 345 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 5667 times:
I've flown on a DL MD-90 a few times out of SLC. Extremely quiet and smooth ride. Sad that these airframes aren't more desired.
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 47 Reply 12, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 5657 times:
Quoting WhiteHatter (Reply 2): Early MD-90s were an absolute dog. The V2500 engine was new and initially troublesome, and the aircraft itself had significantly different features in its systems to the earlier MD-80 family.
The V2500 wasn't new even back then, having been in operation on the A320 since the late 1980's. I cannot speak for this specific engine version, which might have had some trouble, though.
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
FlagshipAZ From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3419 posts, RR: 15 Reply 14, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 5582 times:
There were 5 ex-Reno MD-90s. Did Lion Air picked up all 5? I had wished that Delta would have gotten these birds once AA terminated the leases on them. AA did offered them to DL, but DL in turn offered AA its 16 MD-90s. Regards.
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." --Ben Franklin
Doona From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 3707 posts, RR: 14 Reply 15, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 5565 times:
Quoting Yyz717 (Reply 6): Did the recent Saudi M90 fire in CAI result in a write-off also?
I believe you're right about that, Saudi Arabian Airlines currently has 27 MD-90's flying, with a further two in storage, that leaves one of their original 30.
JL's domestic operation, (ex JAS) has 16 in service.
Sure, we're concerned for our lives. Just not as concerned as saving 9 bucks on a roundtrip to Ft. Myers.
FBU 4EVER! From Norway, joined Jan 2001, 998 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 5304 times:
SAS currently operates 3 MD-90's,3 are grounded and the last 2 are being leased to Nordic Leisure in Sweden.
After initial problems ("learning curve" reasons) the planes were extremely reliable as long as they were maintained by STS at OSL.However,with the transfer of technical and operational service of the MD-90 fleet to CPH,the servicability of the fleet decreaseed to such a level that SAS has decided to ground the entire fleet from the end of October this year.Very sad,indeed.The MD-90 was all the MD-80 should have been from the beginning.
Yanqui67 From Puerto Rico, joined Jan 2005, 505 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 4691 times:
I worked them things at Delta. Let me clue you guys in. JUNK!! They have all kinds of problems. The electrical system while nice in theory is always breaking down. The engines are the same as the A320 but is mounted at an angle since it is not hanging off a wing. The gearbox had to be redesigned for the new configuration. The thrust reversers are a nightmare to open up for maintenance. There are also more things that are unique to the MD-90 but I could go on for days. I loved flying it, very quiet and confortable. Not nice for AMTs though. If Delta could of found a buyer, they would of been gone long ago.
Agustin Anaya
DeltaGuy767 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 633 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 4281 times:
Quoting Brucek (Thread starter): Any ideas of where I can go see where the present day fleet are?
To answer your question, you would most likely find MD-90's in the US is at SLC as DL has based them there, because they perform better in the mountainous regions better than the MD-88's due to engine efficincy.
Regards from BDL,(flew on a 90 once and loved it)
DeltaGuy767
MidnightMike From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2892 posts, RR: 16 Reply 20, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3919 times:
Free download images exterior, interior, crew shots and crew with passengers! These are great aircraft images and the best I've ever seen of the the mighty-90.
The 90 certainly was the second to last gasp of McDonnell Douglas. Very sad. With the 90, they had the final evolution that started with the DC-9. Yes, they have had their maintenance issues. I am sorry Agustin that they are so hard on the AMT. I thank you for your detailed experiences good, bad or otherwise. I am always glad to hear more about the aircraft.
The end history of the program I never quite understood, but the financial situation of MD at the end was so difficult. The move to join up with a Chinese manufacturer in making some over there; I never saw how that was good for MD in the end. Then there was the MD-95/Boeing 717. "Son of MD-90," you could call it. If only it had continued on too. But Boeing was competing against itself with the 717 I guess. I hope the 90's keep flying for a great deal longer. They certainly have a niche with airlines like "Hello," who fly in high altitude areas.
Here are three images from the anet database. Impossible to pick a favorite image. First, a "Hello," then in Delta classic widget, my favorite Delta look. The last may be a good example of what Agustin means by it being hard to work on. Note the technician inside the engine! It is a great look inside those big V2500 bad boys. They cry out to be at the threshold of the runway, and then go full power and into the sky!
TWA902fly From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 3048 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3672 times:
They are an amazing aircraft, i flew on it twice this summer, once ORD-SLC on my way to DEN in June and the next time SLC-ORD coming back from YYC in August, i hope they stay around for awhile, although i hear that is unlikley.
'902
life wasn't worth the balance, or the crumpled paper it was written on
WhiteHatter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3558 times:
Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 13):
The V2500 wasn't new even back then, having been in operation on the A320 since the late 1980's. I cannot speak for this specific engine version, which might have had some trouble, though.
Yanqui67 posted a fair enough precis on the V2500 problems. It was also new in that it had not been used on the DC-9 or similar kind of airframe before and presented a complete set of new problems to McDD in that conventional clamshell reversers were ruled out.
In fact I can't think of any other rear-engined aircraft that has ever used the moving cowl/ring type before, with the exception of that VC-10 which tested the RB211 in flight. And look what happened to that!
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3466 times:
Quoting Yanqui67 (Reply 18): The thrust reversers are a nightmare to open up for maintenance.
I still have my monster size straight slot screwdriver in my tool box for the MD-90 T/R.
25 Md95: Not to mention the glass cockpit. The introduction of the LCD displays caused a quantum lap to the lay out of the cockpit instrumentation which was ma
26 LMP737: The Saudi Arabian MD-90's had LCD displays similar in layout to the 717. The overhead looked a lot like the MD-11 in the way it was laid out.
27 LH455: Saudi Arabian flies a fleet of 29 MD90-30s: Saudi fleet
29 BR715-A1-30: Only the Saudi MD90s have the Honeywell VIA 2000 Avionics (A.K.A. 717 Glass Cockpit), but a lot of the systems are still MD-80 type systems. (Suitcase
30 Flyingviking: The MD-90 entered service with Delta Airlines April 1 1995 on DFW-EWR. I got a tour of the plane right before block out, just by telling the gate agen
31 SULUK: FBU 4EVER! Is this for sure that all SAS MD-90 will be grounded by the end of the summer timetable? This is really sad, we always loved to have them f
32 Brucek: Some really great info here, especially the list of deliveries and their history. SBN580, those photos say it all! Thanks- Bruce.
33 TheSonntag: I flew the Nordic Leisure MD90 SE-DMF just recently from PMI - SXF, and while it was much quieter than the MD80, I somewhat still prefer the MD80. But
34 FBU 4EVER!: Yes,this is official and has beensfor several months now.Sad but true.
35 LMP737: When I worked for BOeing in Long Beach there was a letter on the delivery center wall from the CEO of SAS back when they first took delivery of the M
36 M404: At only 5 ft longer than the more common -80 I can't really tell the differance but the overall elongated effect is still wild. Of the 9 series that t
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