With which airline can I ride in an old commercial airliner?

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty) 12/17/2014 at 18:47 • Filed to: None

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Reading Margin Of Error's MD-80 story today, I realized that there are parallels between classic cars and even commercial planes. It's interesting that the planes are kept going for so long—even though it would be cost prohibitive otherwise—and pilots appreciate involvement and analog character as much as us bandwagon-hopping morons who think that cars should be "engaging." (Pfft, is that even an adjective? Typical Jalopnik comment. I should totally stay and bask in my cynicism instead of going over to DCTturbohybrids.net.)

(A 727 freighter. The noise would be unreal compared to a new passenger jet!)

Anyways, the last DC-9 was retired in January. I might have been in one once, but I wouldn't have cared to find out. It's neat that Delta decided to restore all of the ancient-technology DC-9s instead of buying new 737s a while back. I'd still like to ride in some noisy, small, RMR derivative of the venerable Douglas while I have the chance, before the planes sitting at the gates go the way of the cars in most garages. Even as someone who's mildly intrigued by aviation for a few days every year, it would be a missed opportunity to not have done so looking back when everything's a 787.

My citroen won't start > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 18:49

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Aeroflot has some frightening cool flights.

For Sweden > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 18:50

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Allegiant and the Third World.

kinjasignedmeout > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 18:52

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I think there is still some 717s with Hawaiian. Not old, but DC-9 based.

Jagvar > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 19:07

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Maybe you're looking for older than this, but I still fly Delta MD-88s and MD-90s all the time.

whoarder is tellurium > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 19:10

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You've definitely missed the DC-10s and MD-11s. Never again...unless somehow you manage to sneak aboard or bribe your way onto a cargo flight.

Dat vintage Northwest

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > My citroen won't start 12/17/2014 at 19:16

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Thanks. But I have to figure out why to go to Russia...

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jagvar 12/17/2014 at 19:17

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That's about all I expect to fly at this point. I don't travel much at all, so I just end up on 737s and A320s.

My citroen won't start > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 19:18

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Also, Cuba.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > For Sweden 12/17/2014 at 19:20

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Allegiant is my best bet, departing from Richmond for Tampa. But I'd have to find something that's closer by and probably goes elsewhere...

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 19:21

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Well, AA still has a million MD80's. They fly over me heading to DFW everyday (though they've decreased significantly).

I think KLM still flies MD-11's. That's about all I know. Unless you sneak on a Fed Ex or UPS jet.

whoarder is tellurium > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 12/17/2014 at 19:33

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I think KLM just stopped passenger service on the MD-11. (Ive only flown on Northwest DC-10s and an ex-condor DC myself)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayint…

f86sabre > kinjasignedmeout 12/17/2014 at 19:46

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Delta has 717s as well as MD-88s and MD-90s. Douglas T tails will be around for a long while.

You could always fly the EAAs Ford Trimotor of you want to go really old school...

https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-…

f86sabre > whoarder is tellurium 12/17/2014 at 19:47

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The MD-11s were a nice ride.

whoarder is tellurium > f86sabre 12/17/2014 at 19:50

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Yes'm. Spent some good time on them flying back and forth between Alaska and Minnesota. Smooth jets with big cabins. Although, I have heard they aren't very forgiving when flown manually.

Not related, but a nicely shot taxi and takeoff...

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/17/2014 at 20:56

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I freaking hate MD-80s. (TUL to DFW). I had one bad experience taking off from DFW and clearly I blamed the plane instead of the terrible weather. But I chose to go home using Southwest this time just to get a 737-800 in hopes big planes mean better flights.

The Transporter > whoarder is tellurium 12/17/2014 at 23:08

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World Airways still has a bunch of MD-11s for charger use, though you're going to have to be in the military and on your way to Afghanistan to fly on one.