Who still flies MD-80?

McDonnell Douglas MD-80

Why is the MD-80 called the Mad Dog?

The MD-80 Mad Dog The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 was designed as a stretched version of the Douglas DC-9 and was originally designated as the DC-9 Super 80. The Mad Dog nickname came not only from its MD initials but also because it takes off like a rocket and makes a hell of a lot of noise.

Who is the American Airlines MD 80 pilot?

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.

What was the last flight of the MD 80?

The routes dominated by the MD-80s have been taken over by newer versions of jet families such as the Boeing Co. 737 and Airbus SE’s A320. So on Wednesday, after 36 years, American planned to make the last commercial trip of the MD-80, Flight 80, flying from Dallas to Chicago.

When did American Airlines retire the McDonnell Douglas MD-80?

(CNN) — It’s the end of an era for American Airlines’ Super 80 planes. The carrier flew its last revenue flight of the classic McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Wednesday. The aircraft, also called Super 80 by the airline, has been an American Airlines workhorse since 1983, when the airline operated three of them.

Who was the American pilot who flew Mad Dogs?

Neil Roghair, an American pilot who flew Mad Dogs earlier in his career, recalls that it was a struggle to learn to land the MD-80 well, and it wasn’t a good plane at high altitudes.