McDonnell Douglas DC-X-200

The McDonnell Douglas DC‑X‑200 was a proposed medium‑range airliner conceived in the late 1980s as part of the company’s effort to replace the aging DC‑9 family. Development began in 1989 under the codename “Project Phoenix,” aiming to deliver a 180‑ to 200‑seat aircraft that fused the reliable DC‑9 airframe with emerging technologies. The design featured a high‑efficiency wing of carbon‑fiber reinforced polymer, a stretched fuselage with a six‑window per‑side cabin, and a fully digital fly‑by‑wire control system—the first offered by McDonnell Douglas. Powered by two GE CF6‑80E1 turbofans, the DC‑X‑200 promised a 15 percent fuel‑burn reduction versus the DC‑10 and a range of about 7,200 km, appealing to airlines seeking short‑haul capacity and governments needing a versatile transport.

A full‑scale prototype flew in 1993, but the program was cancelled in 1995 after the Boeing merger and the introduction of the 737‑800, which met similar market needs at lower cost. Nevertheless, many DC‑X‑200 innovations—composite wings, integrated avionics and noise‑reduction nacelles—were adopted in later Boeing and McDonnell Douglas models, giving the aircraft a lasting influence on modern, fuel‑efficient jet design. The DC‑X‑200’s blend of composite construction and digital avionics set a precedent that helped shape the design philosophy of 21st‑century narrow‑body jets.