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Source One Spares of the U.S. has recently purchased two more ex- Uni Air MD90s for parting out. JT Power has purchased the two V2500 engines for similar scrapping. The company has now acquired six MD90s for scrapping. The two latest acquisitions, (serial numbers 53538 and 53539), were operated by Uni Air since they were new, after being delivered in 1996 and 1997 respectively. The acquisition of the MD90s for parting out reflects the dire market conditions for the MD90.
The MD90 represented the final version of a product that can be traced back to the early 1960s when the DC9 was first created. The introduction of the MD80 in the late 1970s inevitably made it necessary for a replacement to emerge by the early 1990s. In the 1980's both Boeing and Airbus had developed new models - the B737- 300/400 and A320. A response from McDonnell Douglas (MDC) was vital if the company was to remain competitive. The MD90 was launched in late 1989.
There was much talk of modifying the basic model to encompass a family of aircraft, thus enabling the MD90 to more compete more adequately with the competition. But due to the finances of the company and the weak market conditions of the early 1990s, no other variants made it beyond the CAD/CAM monitor.
McDonnell Douglas was number two in the terms of Western aircraft manufacturing at the time of the launch of the MD90, with an MD80 operator base exceeding 1,000 units. The success of a follow on product for the MD80 seemed assured. In contrast, the A320 had no operator base and initially seemed destined to be operated by a few major European airlines for politico-economic reasons. But within five years, the fortunes of Airbus and McDonnell were reversed.
Instead of designing an all-new aircraft, McDonnell...