Color Scheme: Proposal Colors

Composition: An Original, One of a Kind, Douglas Factory Wooden Prototype Model

Dimensions: Length: 17.25" (44cm), Wingspan 16" (41cm)

Condition: Excellent

Model History: Produced in the late 1950s by the Douglas Aircraft Model Shop. This model was used by Douglas Aircraft in the Evaluation & Promotion of an Early Design Proposal for the DC-9 which was named Project 2067. Please see below for an explanation of this project and it's outcome. I Acquired this model from Terry Waddington on August 6, 2003. Terry is the Author of "Douglas DC-9 - Great Airliners Volume Four" which is an Excellent Book about the DC-9. In addition to other fine books, Terry has also authored the "Great Airliners - DC-8 & DC-10" books which are equally comprehensive. Many Thanks To You Terry For Selling Me This Great Model as well as a lot of other Wonderful Douglas DC-8 & DC-9 Memorabilia. It All Has Come To A Good Home!

A Brief History of Douglas Aircraft's Project 2067 - A DC-9 Prototype: On June 15, 1959 Douglas Aircraft publicly announced a scaled down version of the DC-8 jetliner which was designed to replace the Douglas DC-6B propliner for shorter haul routes which the DC-8 would not be economical to operate. This new aircraft was initially named Project 2067 and later would become the Douglas DC-9 - if enough orders were obtained from the airlines to justify beginning production. During that time period, Douglas was looking for approximately 75-100 orders before starting production. Because of it's resemblance to the DC-8 it was also known as the "Mini DC-8." Project 2067 would utilize many of the same systems and components as the larger DC-8 but would have a reduced range and passenger capacity with smaller Pratt & Whitney engines to make it more economical to operate on these shorter routes of 2500 miles or less. Also there were some other features added to this aircraft to make it more efficient in operating the short haul routes. Please click here if you would like to see the proposed Dimensions & Specifications of Project 2067. Unfortunately, this aircraft was proposed at a time when most of the airlines were absorbing the costs of phasing in their DC-8s and 707s and at the same time, these new jets were displacing the relatively new DC-7s & DC-6s which could then be reassigned to the shorter haul routes. Thus the airlines were under no pressure to replace these propliners for jetliners until there were definite cost advantages in doing so. By the end of 1961, with no orders on the books, and with Boeing launching the 727 tri-jet with similar performance characteristics but less costs due to one less engine, Douglas terminated Project 2067 and the DC-9 would not come into being until a few years later with two instead of four engines. This project was named Project 2086 with two versions competing for the DC-9 designation. We all know what the winning DC-9 version looks like but if you would like to see the Project 2086 DC-9 Version which was not selected and it's history then please click here.

For a much more comprehensive history of the evolution of the DC-9 project at Douglas I would recommend the book "Great Airliners Volume Four Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9" by Terry Waddington.