Welcome to The History of Passenger Jets!

Feel free to browse our site. Sorry about the pictures! I'll fix them tonight.

1990's

1990’s

The 1990’s was not an innovative decade. Boeing starting using fly-by-wire, and they developed the 777. Airbus developed the A330 and A340. McDonnell Douglas built MD-11, one of the only aircraft developed in the 90’s that didn’t have fly-by-wire. All of the major manufacturers started work on a new large airplane in the mid 90’s but all were abandoned with the notable exception being the A380. In 1997, McDonnell Douglas became a part of Boeing.

McDonnell Douglas MD-11

McDonnell Douglas wanted to build a follower of the DC-10 so they started design a similar plane. The fuselage was stretched, the glass cockpit was advanced and the passenger capacity was increased. The MD-11 sold few of the jets but this jet was known as a safe and reliable airliner. McDonnell Douglas was absorbed into Boeing in 1997 but MD-11’s continued to be built by Boeing.

Boeing 777

When the 757 and 767 were introduced, a third aircraft was supposed to be built, the 777. The original design was a trijet to compete with the DC-10 and L-1011. However, DC-10’s and L-1011’s were almost at retirement. To replace them, Airbus started A330 and A340 work, while McDonnell Douglas built the MD-11, an improved DC-10. Because of the gap in size between the 767 and the 747, Boeing designed a new 777, and dropped the trijet project. The 777 soon became a very safe airliner.

Airbus A330/A340

The A330 was similar to the A300, but it received a new cockpit with fly-by-wire. The A340 was similar but had four engines. At the time, the A340 was more fuel efficiency than twinjets. Both planes had amazing safety records and are still being produced today.

Boeing 717

Boeing built the last developed DC-9: the 717. The 717 wasn’t a success in terms of sales. This plane is often forgotten and was never well known.

Boeing NLA, McDonnell Douglas MD-12, Airbus A380

Boeing was planning on making the Boeing NLA (New Large Airplane) to replace the ageing 747. However, the decision was made to drop the project. McDonnell Douglas reportedly started work on the MD-12, a large double decker the size of the 747. Initially, the plan was to build a more sophisticated MD-11 with a stretched fuselage. The press found that McDonnell Douglas didn’t have the funding to build this plane. Also, no solid orders were made. Airbus decided to wait until the 00’s before building the A380.

The unbuilt MD-12

1980's

1980’s

The 1980’s was an important time for passenger aircraft. This decade pioneered glass cockpits, a new type of computer display that eliminates the need for a flight engineer. All major airlines ordered from Airbus or Boeing. Boeing introduced the narrow body 757, and the 767. Airbus came out with the A310, and the more sophisticated A320.

Boeing 757

Seeing that the 727 was becoming obsolete, Boeing designed the 757 to replace it. The narrow body jet was popular as it offered many seats for passengers. The 757 was ordered by many airlines and was known as a safe aircraft. Production was ceased in 2004 and over 1,000 757 were delivered.

Boeing 767

Boeing built the 767 as a competitor for the A310 after seeing the success of the A300. The 767 was introduced and was a popular seller. Later, Boeing discovered that the A310 wasn’t a big seller. However, the similar 767 continued and is still in production.

Airbus A310

When it was time for Airbus to create a new jet, they chose to shorten the fuselage; the A300 was too long. The A310 was introduced in 1983 and began selling well. However, orders soon dried up and the 767 was winning. When production ceased, it was almost ten years since its last delivery. The A310 was still a reliable and safe aircraft.

Airbus A320

The A320 was designed as a rival to the Boeing 737. The A320 has features like a glass cockpit that the A310 had. The A320 not only had a glass cockpit, it also had fly-by-wire technology. Fly-by-wire would not let pilots do anything it read as dangerous. This gave Airbus the advantage; Boeing didn’t starting using fly-by-wire until 1994.

McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90

After the success of the DC-9 McDonnell Douglas chose to make a larger version. The cockpit was more sophisticated than the DC-9 and the fuselage was stretched. The MD-80 series sold well and is in service today. Another variant of the DC-9, the MD-90 was built another will the 717.

1970's

1970’s

By the 70’s the public could afford air travel and for that reason, airline’s needed bigger jets. Wide Body Aircraft was born. Major manufacturers were in a race in the late 60’s to develop a jumbo jet. The 747 won that race, and sold many units, but many airlines needed jumbo jets that were smaller than the 747, but bigger than the 707. McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed went to work to build these planes. McDonnell Douglas made the DC-10. Lockheed made the   L-1011 TriStar. DC-10’s sold well, but the L-1011 sold only 250 units. A new European manufacturer, Airbus produced A300 in 1972. It sold exceptionally for a first model.

The Competitors

Boeing 747

The 747 is a very memorable aircraft. It was the biggest passenger aircraft for thirty seven years and can be recognized by is “hump” created by the upper deck. After the introduction by Pan Am, many orders came in. Due to high demand, many variants were designed over the years.  Now, a new type of 747 is in production. However, a new type of superjumbo must be created eventually. Boeing has it on the list of planes that need to be replaced.

McDonnell Douglas DC-10

The DC-10 was very popular when it was introduced by American Airlines. However, a non-fatal near crash occurred in 1972, but McDonnell Douglas never repaired the plane and a fatal accident occurred in 1974. The problem was fixed and DC-10’s regained their safety record, unlike some other aircraft. In the late 80’s, a new type of DC-10 was introduced, named the MD-11.

Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

The L-1011 was well known when it was introduced in 1972. It started to sell but later, sales calmed down. After the L-1011 was finished production, Lockheed withdrew from the passenger aircraft business due to the below target sales. Only 250 of the aircraft were produced. Now, barely any are left in the air.

Airbus A300

In Europe, British, French and German governments decided to build a aircraft to compete with American manufacturers. Many airlines bought A300’s and it grew in popularity. The flight crew went from three to two. This helped sales slightly. The building of the plane created Airbus, and helped create a series of successful airliners.

747

DC-10

L-1011

A300

1960's

1960’s

The 1960’s meant that all manufacturers were competing for the spot once held by the 707. Now, when one manufacturer built a plane, another would build one to compete. Boeing spent most of their time developing the 727 and later the 737. McDonnell Douglas developed the DC-9.

Boeing 727

Boeing received orders from United Airlines, American Airlines, and Eastern Air Lines. This justified building the 727. The 727 was a very high seller and was popular with the flying public. The 727 had a checkered safety record, but none were Boeing’s fault.

Boeing 737

The Boeing 737 was late; rival aircraft were already in the air. Once the 737 was finished certification, many orders were placed and the 737 was already ahead. Many variants were introduced as the orders were growing and more demanding. Through the years, over 7,000 737’s were built. A new generation of passenger aircraft were built half way through the 737’s life and in now the prime competitor.

McDonnell Douglas DC-9

Douglas (and later McDonnell Douglas) was looking to build a short range airliner to complement its longer range brother. When the DC-9 was sold, hundreds of orders were placed and eventually many new planes were built based on the concept.

1950's

1950’s

The 1950’s was the first decade of passenger aircraft being powered by a jet. For that reason, there were only three major jetliners. A series of crashes for the de Havilland Comet meant that it was out of the race. That left only two. The first, the Boeing 707 was a major hit. The second was the Douglas DC-8. It mostly went into service in 1960’s and 1970’s.

de Havilland Comet

The de Havilland Comet was a major hit; it was the first jet ever made. The style on the wings and tail set it apart from other propeller planes. However, there were a string of crashes. Although the problem was solved, the Comet never fully regained its safety record.

Lockheed L-188 Electra

The Electra was an outdated even in its time; new jet aircraft introduced the very same year made the Electra obsolete. Still, there was some interest and some airlines bought the Electra. Sadly, there were two fatal crashes, both caused by the design. This sealed the fate of the Electra. No airline would buy the aircraft so in 1961, Lockheed stopped producing the L-188.

Boeing 707

The 707 was one of the first jetliners and it was of the largest. After its launch by Pan Am, airlines around the world ordered it. Some believe that the success of the 707 secured Boeing a future with jet aircraft. The 707 was a huge success partly because there were no competing aircraft meaning that the 707 owned the market.

Douglas DC-8

The DC-8 was similar to the 707 however; the DC-8 never took off. This could be because all airlines had bought the 707. Therefore, there was no need to buy the DC-8. Later on in the     DC-8’s life, the sale increased.