Technical Advances & Amenities  The McDonnell Douglas MD-88 developed from the original Douglas DC-9, with twice the passenger capacity of the first version, and modernized engines and avionics. The MD-88 had an updated "glass cockpit" with digital displays powered by cathode ray tubes (CRTs). It also featured aerodynamics improvements found on the earlier MD-82 (DC-9-82), including a redesigned tail cone. The MD-88 had a wider than usual 22-inch aisle in the coach cabin, which allowed passengers to pass by serving carts unobstructed. A new feature was handrails along the edge of the overhead bins, adding to the comfort and safety of passengers moving through the cabin. First MD-88s Delivered as MD-82s Delta placed its initial order for 30 MD-88s in January 1986, with options for 50 more. Eight of the planes were delivered as model MD-82, the forerunner to the MD-88. These were Ships 901-908 (N901DL-N908DL), delivered in March-May, 1987, and modified by Delta to MD-88 configuration with the more advanced flight deck in 1988. Initial Service Delta had four MD-82s in service with its April 1, 1987 schedule. First cities served from Atlanta: Austin, Birmingham, Cincinnati, Jackson, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Shreveport, and Washington, DC. Ship 905 "Wally plane"  Delta's newest MD-82, Ship 905 (N915DL), was the symbolic centerpiece of merger ceremonies for Delta and Western Airlines in April 1987. It carried a decal showing a thumbs-up version of "Wally bird" logo, a long-time Western Airlines marketing symbol, fixed just beside the Delta widget logo on the forward part of Ship 905. "It is only fitting that Wally is going to join Delta on a Douglas plane, because just a few weeks short of 61 years ago, Western Airlines began operation with an M-2, an open cockpit aircraft also manufactured by the Douglas Company." Gerald Grinstein, Western Airlines chairman on April 1, 1987 Ship 915 was on view at Delta/Western employee merger ceremonies in Los Angeles on April 1, and the next day for employees in Salt Lake City. MD-88s MD-88s began arriving at Delta with Ship 909 (N909DL) in December 1987. The final MD-88 was delivered in December 1993. Delta placed its first MD-88 into service on January 5, 1988. Video & Pics
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