The number 717 seems to be missing in the series of model numbers for
Boeing aircraft.  How come?

Dear martyman-ga,

The Boeing 717 actually exists, and is in the air today. The reason
why you may not know the model number off the top of your head is
because it's a smaller plane, with 100 seats, and intended for short
trip high frequency flights, such as commuter flights between
neighboring cities. It's currently in use with AirTran Airways. In
fact, it is their main aircraft and as stated on their aircraft page,
"By the end of 2003, when Boeing 717s comprise 100% of our fleet,
we'll have one of the youngest jet fleets in the nation." Here are
some statistics from Boeing's webpage:

Model				717-200
First Order			10/19/95
Rollout				06/10/98
First Flight			09/02/98
Certification			09/01/99
First Delivery			09/23/99
In Service			10/12/99
First Airline in service	AirTran Airways

Boeing has stated its committment to this plane, and is steadily
producing a fleet to number around 3,000 over the next 20 years. More
information is on Boeing's website for the 717 which I have linked
below.


Boeing 717-200:
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/717/overview/index.html

AirTran Airway's aircraft page:
http://www.airtran.com/info/aircrafts/index.jsp


Thank you for your question, and I'm glad to have answered it.

skermit-ga

There's a little more to the history.  The 7-series airplanes have all
been named in chronological order so the 707 is the oldest and the 777
is the newest.  (The 7E7 is on the drawing board and doesn't fit the
pattern at this time).  And, in fact, Boeing did use 717 moniker long
before the MD-95 was renamed.  Here's the story from the Boeing
website:

"Another aircraft type that traces its ancestry to the 707 prototype
is the U.S. Air Force KC/C-135 tanker-transport/cargo airplane. Boeing
built 820 of these aircraft for the Strategic Air Command and the
Military Air Transport Service (predecessor of the Military Airlift
Command). The KC/C-135 series was initially designated within The
Boeing Company as the model 717. In January 1998, the 717 model number
was reassigned to the commercial line for the 717-200 regional
jetliner."

from http://www.boeing.com/commercial/707family/

Thank you - the out of sequence timing was a bit of a mystery but the
renaming of the MD aircraft fills in the gap.