Powered by BMW Rolls-Royce BR715 engines, the Boeing 717 completed its first flight in September 1998. Because the 100-seat twinjet is used for short routes and will experience a high number of takeoffs and landings every day, its systems--including its power plant--was designed to withstand the added severity of high-cycle operations. The highly efficient 717 concluded its production run in May 2006, though the airplane will remain in service for years to come.