MD80 Design Question

[DTVAirport]

How come some MD80 rear ends are of a "screwdriver" design, and some of a "cone" design? Which came first? The screwdriver or the cone? Why did McDonnell Douglas change it?

Screwdriver: http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6063285

Cone: http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6062654

Regards,

[z740]

there was a thread about this sometime ago but i can't remember much of ti. i think one reason is that the "screwdriver" is more aerodynamic. another reason is that when flight attendants try to disarm the rear doo they would often pull the wrong handle and the tailcone would drop onto the runway or taxiway. the "screwdriver" was designed so that it wouldn't roll as far.

-Chris

[Crunk415balla]

Something that might interest you is some airlines alternate "cones" and "Screwdrivers", as you put it, on their aircraft. Do a quick search of some AA MD-80s, and you'll see that at some point one may have had a "cone", then a year later it was sporting a "Screwdriver", then back to the "cone" again.

No idea as to WHY they do this, though.