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The Boeing 717 was never meant to be a headline-grabber-but it became an icon all the same. Born in the aftermath of a corporate merger and built on the bones of the legendary DC-9, the 717 carried the final breath of McDonnell Douglas's proud engineering legacy into the 21st century. With its clean lines, quiet Rolls-Royce engines, and unwavering reliability, it symbolized both the end of an era and the quiet resilience of thoughtful design.
From its roots in the sun-baked Long Beach assembly halls to the skies over Hawaii, Europe, and Australia, Boeing 717: The Last of the Mad Dogs tells the full story of this remarkable jetliner. It traces the aircraft's evolution from the first DC-9 of 1965 through the MD-80s and MD-90s to the final production line that closed in 2006-marking the end of a century of Southern California aircraft building. Drawing on production records, operational histories, and the experiences of those who flew and maintained the 717, this definitive chronicle reveals how a small, low-volume jet became a quiet triumph of engineering endurance.
This is more than a technical account-it is a story of people, persistence, and pride. The 717 was the last of the Mad Dogs: the final descendant of one of aviation's greatest families, and a lasting reminder that great airplanes don't just change the sky-they endure in it.
