N297EA

This airframe, registered as N297EA, is a McDonnell Douglas-built short/medium-haul jet delivered in 1991 with manufacturer serial number 53213. The airframe is a McDonnell Douglas MD-87 originally produced by McDonnell Douglas and is currently held by Corsair Two LLC; the owner is recorded as Corsair Two LLC (LLC) of Hillsboro, OR, US. The aircraft carries a US civil registration and has been reconfigured from its original passenger layout into an aerial firefighting role, a conversion that has materially altered its cabin and operational profile. Registry actions have documented its re-role to a retardant-tank-equipped platform, which influences its market valuation and condition considerations relative to standard passenger-configured MD-87s.

This specific MD-87 is outfitted in an aerial firefighting configuration with a retardant tank and retains only minimal passenger seating, reflecting its primary mission as a retardant delivery platform rather than a transport airliner. Typical mission profiles center on low-altitude, short-range sorties to retardant-drop zones, operating from the operator’s base in Hillsboro, Oregon, and regional forward bases during fire seasons. Avionics fit is not published in the supplied data, but the airframe’s conversion necessitates specialized plumbing, tanks, doors, and structural inspections unique to retardant-carrying aircraft, increasing maintenance oversight and specialized inspections compared with passenger-configured examples. The minimal cabin seating and firefighting hardware reduce flexibility for commercial passenger operations.

The MD-87 occupies the lower-capacity, short-to-medium-range segment of the MD-80 family, offering moderate cruise speed and operational ceiling suitable for regional and special-mission roles. Competing types in the secondary market include converted regional jets and turboprops repurposed for special missions; demand for converted MD-87s is niche and driven by government and contractor firefighting programs. Resale considerations for this airframe hinge on its firefighting conversion, airframe hours, and the continued availability of JT8D-217C engine support; specialized role conversions typically lower broad-market appeal but maintain value within firefighting operator circles.