McDonnell 119

Design and development

The Model 119 was originally designed to compete for the U.S. Air Force's UTX/UCX (Utility-Trainer Experimental/Utility-Cargo Experimental) contract, but when it lost to the Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (called the C-140 in Air Force service) in the fall of 1959, the McDonnell corporation began efforts to market the type commercially. The company's first tactic was to draw up a deal with Pan American World Airways that would have involved the airline leasing 170 jets for five years, but when no other airline orders materialized, McDonnell decided that opening up a new assembly line for 170 leased aircraft was unfeasible. Instead, they renamed the plane the Model 220 (to commemorate the start of the company's second 20 years of existence) and commenced wide-ranging marketing efforts to sell the aircraft as a business jet, including contacting the 750 largest corporations in the United States. There were no takers, even for the single prototype that had already been constructed.

The McDonnell Corporation used the airplane as a VIP transport for a few years before donating it to the Flight Safety Foundation's research facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Then it was acquired David Tokoph, then to its current owner. The commercial failure of the Model 220 is credited with being one of the reasons McDonnell never again attempted a commercial project before merging with the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967.

The sole prototype McDonnell 220 remains in storage at El Paso International airport in El Paso, TX. In October 2009, it was listed for sale by its current owner Fuel Fresh, Inc. which located in Phoenix. As of Nov 17, 2015 the plane is now under contract to purchase into another private collection.

Specifications (McDonnell 220)

Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920

General characteristics

Performance