Douglas DC-9-14 N3304L (c/n 45699) of Delta Air Lines. Although the fifth aircraft off the line, this was in fact the first DC-9 delivered to Delta which flew the first commercial DC-9 flight. Whilst this particular aircraft was sold only eight years later, Delta has operated DC-9s and its development the MD-88/90 series, for over 42 years.

Douglas DC-9-15 (c/n 45739) G-BMAC of British Midland Airways (BMA). Originally delivered to TWA in 1966, it was then bought by BMA (the first DC-9 operator in the UK) in 1980. The DC-9 has never been particularly popular with UK airlines which have preferred its competitors the Boeing 737, BAC One-Eleven and the A320 series.

Douglas DC-9-21 N126NK (c/n 47303) of Valujet. Valujet, a Miami-based low-cost airline, started operations in 1993 with a DC-9-32. After lengthy studies in was found that the DC-9 series was the ideal choice for this type of operation and the airline grew very rapidly, but a crash in 1996 saw the fleet grounded. Due to adverse publicity and unable to get more than ten of its 42 strong fleet airworthy the airline merged with Air Trans in 1997.

Douglas DC-9-32 YV286T (c/n 47473) of Aserca Airlines (Aero Servicios Carabobo), Venezuela. The company operates domestic and regional scheduled services to destinations in the Caribbean, Central America and the USA. This particular DC-9 is illustrated in the company's new corporate colours. A testiment to the DC-9s longevity is that the average age of Aserca's current 26 strong DC-9-32 fleet is 34 years.

Douglas DC-9-33RC PH-MAN (c/n 47291) of Martinair Holland. Delivered in 1968, this version of the DC-9 has proved a popular and versatile aircraft with its large forward cargo door and easily interchangeable interior. This particular aircraft went on to serve with Hawaiian Airlines, Itavia and American International Airlines before ending up with the US cargo carrier Airborne Express. It was retired in 1985.

Douglas DC-9-41 N933L (c/n 47617) of Trans World Airlines (TWA). One of 22 delivered to Toa Domestic Airlines in Japan and later sold to TWA, this variant is basically a stretched DC-9-32 with a 6ft 6in longer fuselage. A total of 71 were produced.

Douglas DC-9-51 N420EA (c/n 47689) of Hawaiian Airlines. The longest version of the DC-9 to fly, it had a 8ft 2in fuselage stretch and seats up to 139 passengers. This particular aircraft was delivered in 1975 (20 years after the first revenue DC-9 flight) and was eventually retired at Mojave, California, then later scrapped in 2005.

A North Central Airlines DC-9-30 N955N seen at South Bend Indiana, on a wintry day in February 1968. The aft ventral stairway, rather than the forward door, was being used for access to keep the cold wind from blowing into the cabin during a short turnaround.

DC-9-21 OY-KIE 'Skate Viking' served with SAS for over 31 years, having been delivered to the airline in 1969. It is seen here on approach to London Stansted Airport in October 1999.

Military variants of the DC-9 were operated by the USAF, US Navy and the airforces of Kuwait, Italy and Venezuela. This US Navy C-9B was photographed at Bari, Italy, in November 1995.