To complement their long-range DC-8 series, the Douglas Aircraft Company studied a short- to medium- haul airliner in the late 1950s. Despite many setbacks and challenges along the way, the concept was developed in to the DC-9, which first flew on February 25, 1965. Unlike competing airliners, the DC-9 was an all-new design and did not reuse much components from Douglas's previous airframes. The plane was also designed to be versatile, able to land at smaller, scrappier airport with shorter runways and less ground services.

(© Jetphotos/JustinPistone)

With a fuselage stretched to 133 ft, the DC-9-50 is the longest variant of the aircraft family and can seat up to 139 passengers. The -50 series entered service with Eastern Airlines in August 1975. Asides from the increase in fuselage length, the airframe also offers other detailed improvements such as new cabin interiors and more powerful engines. A total of 96 DC-9-50 were produced, all as model -51.

About this airframe:

N787NC first flew on December 12, 1980 and was ordered by North Central Airlines - by which time it had merged with Southern Airways to form Republic Airlines. She did eventually join Republic's fleet on April 17, 1981, and given fleet number 878. On October 1, 1986, N787NC became part of Northwest Airlines' fleet as the carrier absorbed Republic. Re-designated ship 9878, she would find herself home at Northwest for next 3 decades; during her stay, she wore the original bare metal livery, a series of experimental colors, the iconic bowling shoe livery, and eventually Northwest's modern silver colors.

N787NC would find herself in a merger again in 2009, this time between Northwest and Delta Air Lines. This merger reintroduced DC-9s, including N787NC, to Delta, who had been the type's launch customer back in 1965 but initially retired them in 1993. In 2014, however, Delta would once again phase out the type, this time for good. Whereas N787NC was scrapped, her sistership, N675MC/Ship 9880, is currently on display at the Delta Flight Museum at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Credit goes to @AnIndonesianGuy for making the original DC-9 replica! (autocredit broke again)