As part of its efforts to fully retire its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80s by 2019, American Airlines has sent 8 of its Super 80s, as the airline refers to them, to Roswell International Air Center today where they will be stored indefinitely. (airlinegeeks.com) 更多...
AA's retired fleet of Super 80's at Roswell will help keep Delta's fleet of Mad Dog's flying for a few years yet. I visited the facility at Roswell last year and there were a load of boxes awaiting shipping to Atlanta. Delta know that AA's fleet of Super 80's are well maintained, so Roswell is their 'go to' place for quality, documented, pre-owned spare parts.
Not all are fans of the MD-80, but have you ever ridden up front in one? The ride is awesome and quiet with those pushers sitting all the way back at the tail section. While not the most efficient of birds, the ride was always nice... for those in the first 10 rows at least.
Actually,the MD-80 is the most fuel efficient transport of its size for routes 1500 nm or less. Far less fuel consumption than a 737 for short missions - 2 to 3 hours. Even the leadership at B and of course the operators know this. Best ride up front for sure.
As a frequent business traveler, typically flying out of SJC on AA, I can't count the number of times I was aboard an MD80. A lot of other travelers at my company really disliked those airplanes - I didn't. I rather enjoyed flying on them. I'm also a Private Pilot, with a ton of hours, and my only reservation about the MD80's was in the air and on the ground the CG looked all wrong. I still haven't taken the time to figure out why they appeared so damn nose heavy, but maybe I'll do that today... after about 25 years of flying on them. They were comfortable, had a nice ride and were small enough to get you on and off the aircraft quickly. The AA routes I flew generally had a plane change at DFW, an airport I loathe. Oh well, another good bird going into the history books, but they'll be flying for many years to come.
Weren't airlines scouring the planet for MD-80s only about a year ago? I would have thought that buyers are lining up for these aircraft unless they are about due for a C check.
It was a typo. But there is not a way to edit things on this site so it will stay. You all know that I meant the MD-80/83 because they are the oldest followed by the MD-87. It's not my fault that they skipped all over the place numbering their planes.
kevin..amamerican had the md 80's prior to using the fokker 100 aircraft..the md 80 was the new up and coming jet in the 80's replacing the 727 which had been the "workhorse"..the fokker 100 was used on some routes in the 90's and then phased out as it was a very unpopular and inefficient aircraft..i worked with both aircraft...another part of history going to the aviation boneyard..life goes on and so does aviation..
Oh ok. Did not know that. I looked at as an upgrade from the F100 due to the cabin. Didn't realize the ages. I did fly on UA's 727 quite often as well, but don't recall if AA had any 727s.
the f-100s were purchased cause ord let airlines swap 100 seat jets for commuter slots so aa purchased 76 with options for 75 more ntu. pulled seats out for the 56 seat dallas love field operation v/s legend airlines with 56 seat dc-9s... aa had to cut the number of a/c types and parked the f-100 paying the leases for a few years.
My wife and I flew an AA MD80 to/from DFW-MSY August 8th & 13th. Our return MD80 had the old green background in the cockpit. Wonder if one or both of those planes were recently to Roswell? If so I'm glad we got one last ride on them. On return flight to DFW I sat next to an AA 737 pilot who said, "these planes are old and the pilots are always busy".
Everts Air Cargo. is still flying the MD-82SF. Probably some third/fourth tier airline still flying the model. UM Men’s basketball had a near death experience 2-3 years ago when their charter ran off the end of the Willow Run runway in high winds.
FYI, the cockpit section of one of a to-be-scrapped AA MD80s has made it into the newly refurbished CR Smith Museum in Fort Worth, TX. I'll give it a look next time in town but ten years on the aircraft type was enough, come to think of it...
I can't count the number of miles that I have flown on AA's MD-80's beginning when they were brand new! American has made the most of this iconic airliner. I will miss seeing the T-tails with the old AA livery. I will particularly miss the 2-3 seating--unfortunately a thing of the past except on RJ's!
**WOW: I can still remember when working for TWA in reservations, when in the early-mid 90's, when the employees bought the MD83 from "BE-WEE", (BWIA), and we repainted it in 'reverse' colors. AA took possession of that plane and few other MD83's. SAD to see it go by the wayside, but also TWA went by the wayside as well. The MD80's, (83) were the replacement 'workhorse' for the 727's.
Not stopping with 8 - will be sending the remainder of the Super-80 fleet to ROW in the next year, or they'll go to any other operator who wants to buy those POS airplanes!