Jun 25, 2019, 10:38 am
Last edit by: JDiver
AA McDonnell Douglas MD-80 “Super 80” (1983-2019)
“The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a series of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jetliners. It was lengthened and updated from the DC-9. This series can seat from 130 to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.
American Airlines was the first US major carrier to order the MD-80 when it leased twenty 142-seat aircraft from McDonnell Douglas in October 1982 to replace its Boeing 727-100. It committed to 67 firm orders plus 100 options in March 1984, and in 2002 its fleet peaked at more than 360 aircraft, 30 % of the 1,191 produced.” AA used the “Super 80” name for this aircraft.
The first AA MD-80 was delivered in 1983, the last in 1999. (Wikipedia) The MD-80 was delivered with a standard tapered round fuselage tail cone, but it was found a “screwdriver” design somewhat similar to the Boeing 777 saved fuel. The “screwdriver” tail cone was applied to all AA MD-80s, and were fabricated by AA maintenance personnel at the Tulsa shop.
The last “Super 80s” operated by AA were TWA MD-83s built toward the end of the manufacturing run. “Their cockpits have digital engine instruments and dual flight management system (FMS) displays versus AA’s traditional ‘round dial’ presentation and lone GFMS keypad. The TWA computers’ formats and functionality are different from those of the single units—the Mac versus PC of the MD-80 world.” (Airways Magazine)
The last 23 “Mad Dogs” flew to a desert air park in Roswell, New Mexico, on 4 Sep 2019. One MD-80 remains at DFW Airport, to be used for future de-icing practice, and more will be donated to flight-training schools. (Bloomberg)
N984TW, a MD-83 assembled in 1999 (MSN 53634 / LN 2287), was the last MD-80 built (at the McDonnell Douglas plant at Long Beach / LGB, California, and was the last to be retired, flying AA 80 DFW-ORD before flying its final segment ORD-ROS. This aircraft is said to have “logged more than 61,000 hours in the air on 31,092 flights and is estimated to have carried more than 3.5 million passengers”.
Though wingtip devices and higher bypass ratio engines were proposed to create an “MD-80 Advanced”, there was never sufficient interest from the airlines to proceed with these advances. The 737’s GE CFM-56 engines offer 35% additional fuel savings per seat mile over the MD-80. An expensive to fulfill 2017 Airworthiness Directive governing the fuel pump system drove the nails into the coffin.
According to Airways Magazine,
“... the Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles crew domiciles (closed, and) DFW will be the aircraft’s final hub because of its maintenance capabilities and proximity to Tulsa’s repair and overhaul station... The aircraft’s tenure will conclude in the way it started. Memphis, Houston, Kansas City, New Orleans, and other current MD-80 destinations mostly lay within a 500-mile radius of Dallas.”
The AA MD-80s were retired to ROW / Roswell International Air Center, Roswell, New Mexico (previously Walker Air Force Base / WAFB).
American Airlines MD-80s in their final 140 seat configuration:
16 First class seats, 38-40” pitch, 21” width (rows 3-6, the seats on the port / left side had slightly less seat pitch than the starboard side due to removal of a closet to install an extra seat pair.
35 Main Cabin Extra seats with 34” pitch, 17.4 - 17.8” width in 2 x 3 configuration in rows 7-11 and exit rows.
89 Main Cabin seats with 31” pitch, 17.4 - 17.8” width in 2 x 3 configuration.
The A-B overhead bins were small, and couldn’t accommodate rollaboards wheels first; these had to be stowed in the D-E-F side bins. MD-80 we’re equipped with full service galleys, WiFi, center overhead screens for IFE, cigar lighter type jacks providing 15 VDC. Onboard WiFi IFE streaming to passengers’ personal entertainment devices was added.
Many consider the MD-80 seats some of the most comfortable, as they were better padded than the newer generation of lightweight seats. The cabin was relatively quiet, with the air noise completely masking any engine noise in First. On the other hand, the offset rows 31 and 32 were very close to the aft-mounted engines and engine noise was very loud.
“McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83)
The MD-83 is a longer-range version of the basic MD-81/82 with higher weights, more powerful engines, and increased fuel capacity.
Powerplant: Compared to earlier models, the MD-83 is equipped with slightly more powerful 21,000 lbf (93 kN)-thrust Pratt and Whitney JT8D-219s as standard.
Performance: The MD-83 features increased fuel capacity as standard (to 6,970 US gal (26,400 L)), which is carried in two 565 US gal (2,140 L) auxiliary tanks located fore and aft of the center section. The aircraft also has higher operating weights, with MTOW increased to 160,000 lb (73,000 kg) and MLW to 139,500 lb (63,300 kg).
Typical range for the MD-83 with 155 passengers is around 2,504 nautical miles (4,637 km). To cope with the higher operating weights, the MD-83 incorporates strengthened landing gear including new wheels, tires, and brakes, changes to the wing skins, front spar web and elevator spar cap, and strengthened floor beams and panels to carry the auxiliary fuel tanks.” - (Wikipedia)
The scheduled final operations for these aircraft is shown in posts #1, #76, #166.
FlyerTalk threads:
MD-80 / Super 80 best seats (master thread)
The slow end of an era....the retirement of the AA MD-80
20 Mad Dogs / MD-80 (retiring) to ROW today (23 Aug 2016)
MD-80 “Super 80” aka “Mad Dog” memories, “longest goodbye”
Age of AAs MD-80 fleet?
External resources:
Link to MD-80 article in Airways Magazine, Nov 2015 issue
Link to (unofficial) AA Fleet Site retired MD-80 page
Link to Wikipedia MD-80 page
“The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a series of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jetliners. It was lengthened and updated from the DC-9. This series can seat from 130 to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.
American Airlines was the first US major carrier to order the MD-80 when it leased twenty 142-seat aircraft from McDonnell Douglas in October 1982 to replace its Boeing 727-100. It committed to 67 firm orders plus 100 options in March 1984, and in 2002 its fleet peaked at more than 360 aircraft, 30 % of the 1,191 produced.” AA used the “Super 80” name for this aircraft.
The first AA MD-80 was delivered in 1983, the last in 1999. (Wikipedia) The MD-80 was delivered with a standard tapered round fuselage tail cone, but it was found a “screwdriver” design somewhat similar to the Boeing 777 saved fuel. The “screwdriver” tail cone was applied to all AA MD-80s, and were fabricated by AA maintenance personnel at the Tulsa shop.
The last “Super 80s” operated by AA were TWA MD-83s built toward the end of the manufacturing run. “Their cockpits have digital engine instruments and dual flight management system (FMS) displays versus AA’s traditional ‘round dial’ presentation and lone GFMS keypad. The TWA computers’ formats and functionality are different from those of the single units—the Mac versus PC of the MD-80 world.” (Airways Magazine)
The last 23 “Mad Dogs” flew to a desert air park in Roswell, New Mexico, on 4 Sep 2019. One MD-80 remains at DFW Airport, to be used for future de-icing practice, and more will be donated to flight-training schools. (Bloomberg)
N984TW, a MD-83 assembled in 1999 (MSN 53634 / LN 2287), was the last MD-80 built (at the McDonnell Douglas plant at Long Beach / LGB, California, and was the last to be retired, flying AA 80 DFW-ORD before flying its final segment ORD-ROS. This aircraft is said to have “logged more than 61,000 hours in the air on 31,092 flights and is estimated to have carried more than 3.5 million passengers”.
Though wingtip devices and higher bypass ratio engines were proposed to create an “MD-80 Advanced”, there was never sufficient interest from the airlines to proceed with these advances. The 737’s GE CFM-56 engines offer 35% additional fuel savings per seat mile over the MD-80. An expensive to fulfill 2017 Airworthiness Directive governing the fuel pump system drove the nails into the coffin.
According to Airways Magazine,
“... the Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles crew domiciles (closed, and) DFW will be the aircraft’s final hub because of its maintenance capabilities and proximity to Tulsa’s repair and overhaul station... The aircraft’s tenure will conclude in the way it started. Memphis, Houston, Kansas City, New Orleans, and other current MD-80 destinations mostly lay within a 500-mile radius of Dallas.”
The AA MD-80s were retired to ROW / Roswell International Air Center, Roswell, New Mexico (previously Walker Air Force Base / WAFB).
American Airlines MD-80s in their final 140 seat configuration:
16 First class seats, 38-40” pitch, 21” width (rows 3-6, the seats on the port / left side had slightly less seat pitch than the starboard side due to removal of a closet to install an extra seat pair.
35 Main Cabin Extra seats with 34” pitch, 17.4 - 17.8” width in 2 x 3 configuration in rows 7-11 and exit rows.
89 Main Cabin seats with 31” pitch, 17.4 - 17.8” width in 2 x 3 configuration.
The A-B overhead bins were small, and couldn’t accommodate rollaboards wheels first; these had to be stowed in the D-E-F side bins. MD-80 we’re equipped with full service galleys, WiFi, center overhead screens for IFE, cigar lighter type jacks providing 15 VDC. Onboard WiFi IFE streaming to passengers’ personal entertainment devices was added.
Many consider the MD-80 seats some of the most comfortable, as they were better padded than the newer generation of lightweight seats. The cabin was relatively quiet, with the air noise completely masking any engine noise in First. On the other hand, the offset rows 31 and 32 were very close to the aft-mounted engines and engine noise was very loud.
“McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83)
The MD-83 is a longer-range version of the basic MD-81/82 with higher weights, more powerful engines, and increased fuel capacity.
Powerplant: Compared to earlier models, the MD-83 is equipped with slightly more powerful 21,000 lbf (93 kN)-thrust Pratt and Whitney JT8D-219s as standard.
Performance: The MD-83 features increased fuel capacity as standard (to 6,970 US gal (26,400 L)), which is carried in two 565 US gal (2,140 L) auxiliary tanks located fore and aft of the center section. The aircraft also has higher operating weights, with MTOW increased to 160,000 lb (73,000 kg) and MLW to 139,500 lb (63,300 kg).
Typical range for the MD-83 with 155 passengers is around 2,504 nautical miles (4,637 km). To cope with the higher operating weights, the MD-83 incorporates strengthened landing gear including new wheels, tires, and brakes, changes to the wing skins, front spar web and elevator spar cap, and strengthened floor beams and panels to carry the auxiliary fuel tanks.” - (Wikipedia)
The scheduled final operations for these aircraft is shown in posts #1, #76, #166.
FlyerTalk threads:
MD-80 / Super 80 best seats (master thread)
The slow end of an era....the retirement of the AA MD-80
20 Mad Dogs / MD-80 (retiring) to ROW today (23 Aug 2016)
MD-80 “Super 80” aka “Mad Dog” memories, “longest goodbye”
Age of AAs MD-80 fleet?
External resources:
Link to MD-80 article in Airways Magazine, Nov 2015 issue
Link to (unofficial) AA Fleet Site retired MD-80 page
Link to Wikipedia MD-80 page
AA MD-80 requiem - final 2019 routes and 4 Sep 2019 final flights
Sep 4, 2019, 9:48 pm
#226
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Posts: 5,662
Flew the S80 many times during my childhood, last time I was on one was in 2007 DFW-LAX despite taking many AA flights since then. Sad to see it go.
Sep 5, 2019, 6:10 pm
#227
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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American is ferrying the last 23 of its MD-80 jets to a desert parking lot in Roswell, New Mexico, with one staying at DFW Airport to be used for future de-icing practice. Two more will be donated to flight-training schools.
It earned other nicknames through the years: “silver bullet,” for its polished aluminum fuselage; “Harley” because it was loud and fast; and “the Long Beach sewer pipe,” because it was manufactured in Long Beach, California, and had an extended length.
The airline, led at the time by Chief Executive Officer Robert Crandall, leased its first 20 of the new commercial jet from McDonnell Douglas in 1982, then quickly added 13 more. The airline began operating the aircraft the following year.
In March 1984, American placed what was then the largest-ever order for commercial aircraft, for 67 MD-80s with options to buy 100 more. The fleet got another boost when American acquired Trans World Airlines and its 104 MD-80s in 2001.
American pilot Sam Mayer moved up to captain on the MD-80 in 1999 after a decade flying as a first officer on Boeing Co.’s 727 and then the 767 -- both of which had a much higher level of cockpit automation.
“I remember thinking it was the most un-ergonomic cockpit I had ever seen, with switches and dials seemingly placed at random spots all over the cockpit, bearing no semblance to any other aircraft I had ever seen,” Mayer said. “When they talk about ‘seat of the pants flying,’ the MD-80 will be the last of the breed.”
It earned other nicknames through the years: “silver bullet,” for its polished aluminum fuselage; “Harley” because it was loud and fast; and “the Long Beach sewer pipe,” because it was manufactured in Long Beach, California, and had an extended length.
The airline, led at the time by Chief Executive Officer Robert Crandall, leased its first 20 of the new commercial jet from McDonnell Douglas in 1982, then quickly added 13 more. The airline began operating the aircraft the following year.
In March 1984, American placed what was then the largest-ever order for commercial aircraft, for 67 MD-80s with options to buy 100 more. The fleet got another boost when American acquired Trans World Airlines and its 104 MD-80s in 2001.
American pilot Sam Mayer moved up to captain on the MD-80 in 1999 after a decade flying as a first officer on Boeing Co.’s 727 and then the 767 -- both of which had a much higher level of cockpit automation.
“I remember thinking it was the most un-ergonomic cockpit I had ever seen, with switches and dials seemingly placed at random spots all over the cockpit, bearing no semblance to any other aircraft I had ever seen,” Mayer said. “When they talk about ‘seat of the pants flying,’ the MD-80 will be the last of the breed.”
Julio Gomez has flown the MD-80 for his entire 20-year career at American Airlines. But he can’t bring himself to make that final trip into the New Mexico desert.
“I just cannot take that airplane to its grave,” Gomez, 52, said of the iconic jets’ retirement flights on Wednesday. “It’s just too heartbreaking.” Instead, the veteran pilot made his closing flight late Tuesday.
Gomez was first hooked when he took a night flight on the jet when he was young. One glance into the darkened cockpit with its dazzling constellation of lighted dials and gauges was part of the reason he became a pilot.
He remained loyal to the Super 80, even passing up a promotion to captain on other aircraft so he could keep flying it. There’s no plane left that gives pilots the same sense of control as they input data manually instead of commanding on-board computers, he said.
“On the Super 80, you are figuring in your head, planning descents, when to start down, when to start reducing speeds,” Gomez said. “Your mind is always moving. With the MD-80, you’re flying.”
“I just cannot take that airplane to its grave,” Gomez, 52, said of the iconic jets’ retirement flights on Wednesday. “It’s just too heartbreaking.” Instead, the veteran pilot made his closing flight late Tuesday.
Gomez was first hooked when he took a night flight on the jet when he was young. One glance into the darkened cockpit with its dazzling constellation of lighted dials and gauges was part of the reason he became a pilot.
He remained loyal to the Super 80, even passing up a promotion to captain on other aircraft so he could keep flying it. There’s no plane left that gives pilots the same sense of control as they input data manually instead of commanding on-board computers, he said.
“On the Super 80, you are figuring in your head, planning descents, when to start down, when to start reducing speeds,” Gomez said. “Your mind is always moving. With the MD-80, you’re flying.”
Sep 5, 2019, 7:41 pm
#228
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
RIP, Maddog.
I cut my avgeek teeth watching these things soar overhead at aggressive departure angles south of 17R in DFW.
On board, esp. in F, it was always unique to climb so smoothly and aggressively on these things, with the engines so far behind you.
I cut my avgeek teeth watching these things soar overhead at aggressive departure angles south of 17R in DFW.
On board, esp. in F, it was always unique to climb so smoothly and aggressively on these things, with the engines so far behind you.
Sep 5, 2019, 9:00 pm
#229
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I was just thinking about it and I've come to realize I have only flown AA MD-80s twice! 
Once in 99 or 2000 LGA-MIA, and again in 05 or 06 LGA-ATL. I have flown more MD-88s with Delta than I can recall.
-J.
Once in 99 or 2000 LGA-MIA, and again in 05 or 06 LGA-ATL. I have flown more MD-88s with Delta than I can recall.-J.
Sep 9, 2019, 1:40 pm
#232
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, mid-tier with pretty much everyone else
Posts: 873
I've finally posted my pictures and experience heading out to Roswell as part of the retirement festivities on my blog (for compliance with FT rules, this is a blog to which I regularly contribute and from which I financially gain): https://andystravelblog.boardingarea...80-retirement/
Many more pics at the link, but here are a few (including some from the boneyard at ROW!)
Many more pics at the link, but here are a few (including some from the boneyard at ROW!)
Sep 9, 2019, 3:11 pm
#233
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I was watching something on Youtube this guy put up that was at gate C2. He asked Parker for a few minutes of his time which Parker obliged. When asked what did the MD80 represent Parker started to say it hearken back to a time...... then quickly shifted gears. Seems as though he didn't want to talk about a time of what air travel used to be, given Project Oasis.
Sep 9, 2019, 3:29 pm
#234
Join Date: Jan 2011
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You'd think someone who makes $12M annually would be able to pay to have his pants pressed... or at least an iron!
Sep 15, 2019, 8:44 am
#235
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Nice video. Some happy avgeeks. 
Looking at some of my AA tickets, I clearly enjoyed the S80 on one of my regular sectors. Perfectly fine for the 3 hour flight. May they enjoy their retirement.
Aging Airliners: American retires fleet to the desert
September 12, 2019, By Ben Bradley - WGN TV
https://wgntv.com/2019/09/12/aging-a...to-the-desert/
.
Looking at some of my AA tickets, I clearly enjoyed the S80 on one of my regular sectors. Perfectly fine for the 3 hour flight. May they enjoy their retirement.
Aging Airliners: American retires fleet to the desert
September 12, 2019, By Ben Bradley - WGN TV
https://wgntv.com/2019/09/12/aging-a...to-the-desert/
.
Sep 15, 2019, 9:39 am
#236
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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Posts: 62,948
Nice video. Some happy avgeeks.
Looking at some of my AA tickets, I clearly enjoyed the S80 on one of my regular sectors. Perfectly fine for the 3 hour flight. May they enjoy their retirement.
Aging Airliners: American retires fleet to the desert
September 12, 2019, By Ben Bradley - WGN TV
https://wgntv.com/2019/09/12/aging-a...to-the-desert/
.
Looking at some of my AA tickets, I clearly enjoyed the S80 on one of my regular sectors. Perfectly fine for the 3 hour flight. May they enjoy their retirement.
Aging Airliners: American retires fleet to the desert
September 12, 2019, By Ben Bradley - WGN TV
https://wgntv.com/2019/09/12/aging-a...to-the-desert/
.
The jet in this story (N984TW) had logged more than 61,000 hours in the air on 31,092 flights and is estimated to have carried more than 3.5 million passengers.
Sep 15, 2019, 6:26 pm
#237
Join Date: Feb 2013
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I also have found memory of "Mad Dog" MD-80. According to my FlightMemory MD-80 is 19.6% of my total flights and still ranks no. 1 followed by 738.
When I was based at Houston I was ExPlt and flew MD-80 so many times on IAH-DFW, when sitting in F used to chug two or three drinks during this short 35-40 min. flights. But also remember stuck on rear middle seat on MD-80 ORD-LAX flight. When I was based at L.A. those many MD-80 flights I took on LAX-SFO, also LAX-LAS was MD-80 except for short period LAX-LAS was operated by EAAgles.
Since moving to NYC and BOS area my MD-80 flights became extinct. My last MD-80 flight was Aug. 2016 on CMH-DFW.
When I was based at Houston I was ExPlt and flew MD-80 so many times on IAH-DFW, when sitting in F used to chug two or three drinks during this short 35-40 min. flights. But also remember stuck on rear middle seat on MD-80 ORD-LAX flight. When I was based at L.A. those many MD-80 flights I took on LAX-SFO, also LAX-LAS was MD-80 except for short period LAX-LAS was operated by EAAgles.
Since moving to NYC and BOS area my MD-80 flights became extinct. My last MD-80 flight was Aug. 2016 on CMH-DFW.
Sep 17, 2019, 7:55 pm
#239
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Free agent AAdvantage LT GLD
Posts: 221
I'm glad we've gotten past judging people by their outward appearance and how much they waste on peacocking to others. Sorry he let you down.
Back on topic, my fondness of the MD80 will now just be a memory but goodbye my old friend. I was too young to appreciate you at the time but I enjoyed my first F experiences with you whether it was having pleasant conversations with your FAs or napping in your quiet, oversized (even for me) seats. You over achieved and that's all of us can hope to do.
Back on topic, my fondness of the MD80 will now just be a memory but goodbye my old friend. I was too young to appreciate you at the time but I enjoyed my first F experiences with you whether it was having pleasant conversations with your FAs or napping in your quiet, oversized (even for me) seats. You over achieved and that's all of us can hope to do.
Pretty poor show on Doug's part to show up to this type of event with wrinkled khakis... this slovenly display is captured particularly well in several of the recently posted pictures.
You'd think someone who makes $12M annually would be able to pay to have his pants pressed... or at least an iron!
You'd think someone who makes $12M annually would be able to pay to have his pants pressed... or at least an iron!