An unusual bird in the Boeing flock is the Boeing 717. It looks nothing like the other aircraft designed by the US manufacturer and that is because it was conceived by former competitor McDonnell Douglas as a Douglas DC-9-30 replacement.

Renamed the Boeing 717-200 after Boeing absorbed McDonnell Douglas in 1997, it first flew from Long Beach on 2 September 1998. Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR715 turbofans, it has a range of 2,648 to 3,815km and entered service on 12 October 1999 with AirTran Airways.

Boeing 717 Video

Following on from the last video on the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner, this time we stay in the USA for a look at the Boeing 717. The video is produced by Skyships Eng and runs for just under ten minutes.

With its five abreast cabin, quiet engines and fuel efficiency, the aircraft fit in well with the airlines who acquired it. They included carriers like TWA, Midwest Airlines, Volotea, and MexicanaClick among others. For some real sights and sounds of the plane, the video below shows it in action on the Greek island of Skiathos.

That’s quite up close and personal! One claim to fame for the former McDonnell Douglas jet is that it has never been involved in a fatal accident, which is a great thing indeed.

Overall Thoughts

Just 156 Boeing 717s were produced between 1998 and 2006 and today just three airlines utilise the aircraft. You can find them in service on inter-island routes operated by Hawaiian Airlines, in Australia with QantasLink and flying for Delta Air Lines in the USA.

I’ve been lucky enough to fly on the Boeing 717 with Jetstar in Australia, which became the very first flight review I ever wrote. I also flew on the plane in business class with QantasLink on a flight from Sydney to Canberra and immediately after from Canberra to Melbourne. It’s quite a comfortable ride!

Have you ever flown on board a Boeing 717 before and what was that like? What did you think of the videos? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Featured image by formulaone via Wikimedia Commons.