Swissair MD-81: A Model with History, Transformation, and Elegance

Probably no other aircraft type has undergone as many changes and improvements as the former small DC-9. The MD-81, too, underwent continuous development over time, including a fuselage extension, the use of more efficient turbofan engines, and the transition from the analog “clock shop” to the digital glass cockpit.

The aircraft was popular with pilots because, unlike the “flying Atari” (Airbus), it still required real piloting skill. The MD-81 didn’t yet have “fly-by-wire” controls, so the pilot could still really feel the aircraft through the control column. That was real flying. As a passenger, you could enjoy the quiet during the flight—quite the opposite of if you were unlucky enough to be seated in the back, between the roaring engines.

The MD-81’s design is timeless, which is part of the reason why the aircraft still has so many fans today. Despite the many technical advancements in the aviation industry, the MD-81 remains a symbol of classic design. I was fascinated by the aircraft’s elegance. Especially in flight, it outshone the B-737 and the Airbus. So I decided to build a wooden model of the MD-81.

Because of the two engines at the rear of the aircraft, I built a 1/35-scale model, which corresponds to a fuselage length of 1.20 m. The wingspan of this model is rather small, which made me doubt while building it whether the aircraft would even fly. The entire model was built conventionally from balsa wood. I fabricated the landing gear from metal on a lathe. A friend of mine handled the painting and decals for the model, choosing the original Swissair colors to highlight the aircraft’s elegance.

The decision to build everything out of wood required thorough planning and a great deal of craftsmanship. Despite the challenges, building the airplane was a lot of fun.

After giving it a lot of thought, I decided not to take the model on its maiden flight, since I assumed—given the high wing loading—that this would likely have been my MD-81’s last flight. Instead, the MD-81 now hangs from the ceiling of a lovely model airplane shop in Winterthur and has truly earned its “place in the sky.”