Workhorse DC-9 Heads to the Afterlife in the Sky

Workhorse DC-9 Heads to the Afterlife in the Sky | TIME.com

I probably flew on that one when it was in the Midwest Express fleet. There was an old bird that they would fly on a seasonal route to Florida.

 

It really is incredible that the DC-9 has been in mainline service in the US for so long. Long after the 727 and original 737s which were it's competitor back in the day are gone.

 

Any speculation as to the number of pressurization cycles that hull has survived? Must be a pretty impressive (scary?) number….

What would an expected number for a modern (199)?) or newer aircraft?

Is that a reason to retire an aircraft? Or is it purely economic reasons?

 

Terribly poorly written article. Go Time!

The aircraft leading the story is sn 888 very auspicious number…….SEND IT TO CHINA!

 

Over 100,000, I would guess. My opinion, and there are others on here more qualified to comment than myself, is that the expected life of a newer airplane would be less.

The airplane would be retired because it's inefficient, and because as it gets older, the maintenance required goes up-- just think of how old the wiring is, every single connector and fitting, etc.

 

Don- That is why the AF gets rid of aircraft, although you could not tell it from the B-52Hs built in 1962, or the KC-135. Those have been updated multiple times over their lives, though, and engineering by rule of thumb and experience added extra strength just about everywhere.

 

It probably could not legally fly in the US any longer... or Euro...

 

Why? Noise?

The DC-9, even the DC-9-10 would already be subject to stage III noise restrictions. And there are several freight operators still flying DC-9s in the US.

Is there another reason it wouldn't be legal?

 

Those old DC-9s were really loud, especially if you were sitting in the rear. Definitely needed earplugs.

 

I would think the engines would have been updated to newer varients as they became available... allowing it to meet noise regs... engine efficiencies went up adding to lower fuel operating costs... the plane's use profile coupled with low used prices ( vary large and long production run ) made it attractive to lower tier operators

 

Was thinking noise... yes... spent many hours in 9's in years past. LOUD.

That version of the JT8D was loud...


Remember using the rear airstair, even in DEN and ABQ back in the day.

The Speys on the BAC 1-11 may have been even louder... flew on a couple of those, also.

 

Speys are definitely illegal, unless they are hush-kitted.

I don't know for sure, but I believe if the DC-9 was legal on December 31 2013, nothing much has changed since then. And I know they are still being used by freight operators.

 

Did some checking, think you're correct... JT8D's are not too loud, it seems.

 

I flew a LOT on TWA and NWA DC-9's in the 1980's. I had an obsession for looking at the little serial number plate in the door frame (whatever that is called) - because it had the manufacture date on it. Was usually 67-70ish. I remember freaking a co-worker out once by showing him the plane was built in 1967.

I remember a flight on one when I was a kid - probably 12 or so - from STL-CLT. It was a late night flight and I was sitting in the window seat just ahead of the engine -the cowling was about 6 inches into my window. Right in the middle of the flight, all of a sudden there was a fire in the engine! I crapped all over myself for about 2 seconds.

Then I realized it was just the guy in the seat in front of me lighting a cigarette - and the reflection from his lighter was coming off my window right in the engine.

 

You should know, there is always a fire in the engine. The problem is when the fire goes where it isn't supposed to be...

 

You are a wordsmith without peer...

 

Or when it goes OUT when it isn't supposed to be...

 

Still remember Hugh Hefner's black DC-9 with stocked interior. Long time ago.

 

I flew on a Convair 880 and DC-8 with Delta. The DC-8 (with jets) is some type of novelty. I had a postcard from the 880.

Others - L1011, DC-10, 727, 747-100 (took forever to rotate), and 707.

 

all DC8's were jets.

 

All I can figure from this, is that the NY Jets had a DC-8 team plane, and your flew on it.

Otherwise, makes no sense.

 

I could have written about the DC-8 differently.

Original DC-8 with turbojets !!!!

I guess today, it is considered an old airplane.

It has nothing to do with the football team.

 

I know that, only possible meaning for that sentence... made no sense without the "turbo" in the sentence.

 

I have heard pilots talk about flying fans and jets.

 

Maintenance is not in the African vocabulary mostly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In fact, take some unnecessary looking parts of it and put them in your early 80s toyota pickup...

If **** goes wrong, mourn for a day and move on.

A friend of mine is mechanic here at the local airline. Let me tell you this much: I will never, ever fly kalahari airways. And not because the bus will get me there faster. He also prefers to take the car...