While things are slow and Bar is on the forum, I thought I might ask some questions about the DC9 and it's derivatives. I'm relatively new to the MD88 and I like it, but I have come to the realization that it will always be a challenging airplane to fly.

What's the deal with the wing? How is it that Douglas would build the same wing for 50 years with little improvement? I'm guessing that if Douglas were still around today, they would still be building the same wing that poops out once you get into the low 30's. It also seems like an airplane that is not stall friendly. Seems like if you were to stall it below 10,000' on a clean wing, you're as good as dead.

There must be some advantage to this wing though because the design was apparently bought by the Chinese a few years ago.

Is there a good book out there that chronicles the history of Douglas and the DC9?