 It is the only airplane built by McDonnell to be marketed to civil buyers prior to the company's merger with Douglas Aircraft to form McDonnell Douglas.The jet could be outfitted for 10 passengers in a luxury executive configuration and could carry as many as 29.The Model 119 was designed in 1957 for the U.S. Air Force's UCX (Utility-Cargo Experimental) contract announced in August 1956, competing with the Lockheed JetStar; the Air Force simultaneously announced the UTX (Utility-Trainer Experimental) competition, but McDonnell chose not to enter this contest, which was won by the smaller two-engined North American Sabreliner.