DC-9 as loss-maker
Adding to Douglas cost was the production of too many models of the -8 and -9, which resulted in confusion and production delays, the 9 was selling faster than they could build them, with delivery schedules falling apart as a result, airlines sued successfully for the late deliveries, and to top it all off, the Vietnam war created a shortage of parts and skilled labour. All the time they were struggling financially and the large cash flow created by the 9 did not cover the cost of building them.
Thank you,
megan. So it might be fair to say that Douglas managed to lose money while making a fantastically successful aeroplane? (Note cunning pun in "managed".)