Boeing was planning to deliver the last MD-80 series twinjet from Long Beach, California, on 21 December, marking the third major milestone in as many weeks for the company's narrowbodied aircraft.
The final MD-83 is the 1,191st in the -80 series, and the last of 26 aircraft delivered to TWA in 1999. Production of the MD-80A, a major derivative of the DC-9, began in 1979. Added to 976 DC-9s already delivered and 114 MD-90s - the last of which is scheduled for handover in February - the delivery of the last TWA aircraft brings production of "heritage" Douglas T-tail twinjets to 2,281 aircraft, plus four test aircraft that were not delivered.
The family will live on through the DC-9-derived 717-200, which will remain as the only ex-MDC type in production when MD-11 deliveries end early in 2000.
Meanwhile, Boeing rolled out the last "Classic" 737 - a -400 - on 9 December, marking the end of a production run spanning 15 years and 1,988 aircraft. The aircraft, due for delivery to CSA of the Czech Republic in February, is also the 3,132nd "first generation" 737 and Classic aircraft built since deliveries began in 1967.
Completing the line-up of milestones, Boeing also delivered the 900th 757 during December to Iberia of Spain.
Source: Flight International
