N295EA

This airframe, registered as N295EA, is a McDonnell Douglas MD-87 (DC-9-87) built in 1991 with manufacturer's serial number 53211. The aircraft is owned by CORSAIR TWO LLC, an LLC based in Hillsboro, OR, US, and is registered in the US; its operator/home base is effectively associated with that ownership location. The airframe has been modified from its original passenger configuration into a dedicated airtanker with retardant tanks, and passenger seating is not maintained in a standard airline layout while configured for firefighting missions. Valuation and detailed condition reports for this specific airframe are Not published.

The cabin of N295EA has been converted to an airtanker role with installed retardant tanks; as a result, standard passenger seating and interior layout are not present when configured for firefighting operations. Avionics fitment specifics are not published for this airframe, but operational use centers on fixed-wing, multi-engine airtanker missions typically originating from the owner/operator base in Hillsboro, Oregon. Typical mission profiles for this conversion emphasize low-level retardant delivery and rapid turnaround between sorties during wildfire seasons, and maintenance considerations focus on structural and systems checks associated with airtanker tanks and their dispensing mechanisms. Regular upkeep includes monitoring for fatigue and corrosion consistent with the airframe’s 1991 build year and specialized inspections tied to the retardant installation.

The MD-87, a member of the DC-9-80 family, fills a niche for high-capacity short-to-medium range operations with a relatively compact fuselage compared to larger jetliners, offering a cruise speed near 450 kts and ferry range around 2,390 nm. Competing models for specialized conversions include other DC-9/MD-80 series airframes and older narrowbodies adapted for aerial firefighting; demand is driven by agencies and private operators seeking robust, twin-engine platforms capable of carrying substantial retardant loads. Maintenance and resale considerations for this airframe include age-related structural inspections, support for the JT8D-219 engines, and market factors specific to converted airtankers versus passenger-configured examples.