MD-80 / Valuejet AirlinesMD 80 Valuejet airplane model. For operators of the DC 9 who sought to offset rising fuel costs of the mid 1970s, McDonnell Douglas proposed new versions of the DC 9 50. The DC 9 Super 80 was launched in October 1977, with wing span increased by 14 ft. 5 in., and fuselage length increased by 14 ft. 2 in., allowing up to 172 passengers to be carried. In June of 1983 the company adopted a new system of MD designations, breaking away from the old Douglas