The Boeing 717 is an American five-abreast narrow-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The twin-engine airliner was developed for the 100-seat market and originally marketed by McDonnell Douglas in the early 1990s as the MD-95 until the company merged with Boeing in August 1997. It was a shortened derivative of McDonnell Douglas’ successful airliner, the MD-80, and part of the company’s broader DC-9 family. Capable of seating up to 134 passengers, the 717 has a design range of 2,060 nautical miles [nmi] (3,820 km; 2,370 mi). It is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR715 turbofan engines mounted at the rear of the fuselage. The first order for the airliner was placed with McDonnell Douglas in October 1995 by ValuJet Airlines (later AirTran Airways). With the 1997 merger taking place prior to production, the airliner entered service in 1999 as the Boeing 717. Production of the type ceased in May 2006 after 155 were delivered. As of June 2023, 103 Boeing 717 airliners remain in service and have recorded zero fatalities and no hull losses. Development Background Douglas Aircraft launched the DC-9, a short-range companion to its larger four-engine DC-8, in 1963.[4] The DC-9 was an all-new design, using two rear fuselage-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engines; a small, efficient wing; and a T-tail.[5] The DC-9's maiden flight was in 1965 and entered airline service later that year.[6] When production ended in 1982, a total of 976 DC-9s had been produced.[5] The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series, the second generation of the DC-9, began airline service in 1980. It was a lengthened DC-9-50 with a higher maximum take-off weight (MTOW) and higher fuel capacity, as well as next-generation Pratt and Whitney JT8D-200 series engines and an improved wing design.[7] 1,191 MD-80s were delivered from 1980 to 1999.[8] The MD-90 was developed from the MD-80 series.[9] It was launched in 1989 and first flew in 1993.[10] The MD-90 was longer and featured a glass cockpit (credits to DARZAVIATION)