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Delta to Retire Last DC-9 in January
Delta Air Lines, which was the launch customer for the original Douglas DC-9 aircraft in 1965, announced plans to retire its last DC-9 in January. The last DC-9 flight will take place on January 6, 2014. Flight 2014 is scheduled to depart Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 4:20 p.m. local time.... (www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Wow. It paid for itself a thousand times
DC-9's were built to last a long time, my guess is with proper maintenance they would be just like the DC-3. Technology and gas mileage obsoletes stuff quicker today. The A320's we got at NWA in the early 90's were headed for the parking lot after 20 years. The DC-9-10 is still the fastest climbing airliner in the world at 6,000 feet per minute. But it had no slats and landed hot. Air West eventually didn't use it at El Centro because of that high approach speed and hot temps. Most long time DC-9 ramp guys eventually had knees replaced because of the small cramped cargo pits, bent over and on your knees was the norm. The worrisome departures were the under-powered DC-9-50's out of Denver in the summer. Max tire speed was 175, and a lot of flights went out close to that when they were full. Skilled crews and good maintenance made it through all those years just fine. Back in the day all operations ceased if the temp exceeded 120F, not enough lift due to the density altitude. I see the newer planes today are rated for a few degrees higher than that. Just some trivia to entertain....lol
I really hate to hear this news. The DC 9-50 to me is the best airplane I have flown. I know it's time but I wish I had the opportunity to fly one last time before it leaves.
I used to live under the glidepath to runway 12R/30L at MSP. You could sure tell when a DC9 was inbound or outbound! Since Northwest was based at MSP, it just seems fitting that the last revenue flight for the DC9 will be out of the Twin Cities.
I lived in Kansas City when one of the first flights came out of Atlanta into KC downtown airport. I couldn't wait to see it and was at the airport by the river awaiting the arrival. Hadn't seen a photo or specs but since the DC-8 was so big I figured the DC-9 must be a gorilla. It came in and I thought there was a mistake. Took awhile to verify that WAS the DC-9. Turned out to be a great 'little engine that could', though, and I spent many hours later on 9's. Memories...
Worked on all those 9's starting at RW and ending with NWA....what marvelous machines........time marches on.........
I went the fastest I ever have on the ground in an Eastern DC-9. When riding jump seat the pilot taking off from ORD 27L with more than a full load, told me,"This will be the fastest you'll ever go on the ground." We rotated at 160 indicated!
The extra speed surely helped the climb.
The extra speed surely helped the climb.