The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 was originally called the DC-9 Super 80, as it is a modernised version of the Douglas DC-9. It featured quieter and more efficient Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines, a fuselage stretch of 4.34 metres and larger and updated wings.
First flight took place on 18 October 1979 and it entered service on 10 October 1980 with launch customer Swissair. With its range of 3,300 to 5,400 kilometres, depending on the variant, it proved popular with airlines around the world.
McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Videos
Following on from the last video about the Boeing 777-200LR, this week we look at the McDonnell Douglas MD-80. First up is a seven minute presentation produced in 1983 by the manufacturer showing flight testing of the aircraft.
Five versions were produced during the production run. The MD-81, 82, 83 and 88 are all the same length, typically seating around 140 passengers. The differences are mostly with the maximum take-off weight, with higher weights giving more range. The MD-88 also has a glass cockpit.
It is interesting to see the minimum unstick tests as well as the stall testing. All of these tests are what ensures aircraft are safe to fly with passengers. Next up is another McDonnell Douglas production from 1984, running for five minutes.
This one shows the production line and various elements that go into the manufacturing of a jet airliner. Fun things to see are the hideous 1980s seat covers, some great air to air photography and it’s all set to a rousing corporate soundtrack.
The other variant I haven’t yet mentioned is the MD-87 which is 5.28 metres shorter than the others. With seating for 115 to 130 passengers, it is the longest range version of the aircraft.
Overall Thoughts
The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series was the most popular version of the Long Beach manufactured twin jet. 1,191 aircraft were produced between 1979 and 1999.
The plane saw service with a variety of airlines around the world. Large fleets were operated by the US carriers in particular, such as Northwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, TWA and Alaska Airlines among others.
European operators included carriers such as Scandinavian Airlines, Iberia and Austrian Airlines, and the jet could be found as far afield as Asia and Africa. Today there are less than 150 in service around the world, so getting on board is not as easy as it once was.
Have you flown on board a McDonnell Douglas MD-80? Do you have any particular memories about the plane? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Konstantin von Wedelstaedt on Airliners.net via Wikimedia Commons.
Great aircraft the “Mad Dog” so quiet upfront and like floating when you took off. If power sounds are your thing, can’t beat the last few rows.
Very true, they are very quiet up front, all you can usually hear is the air rushing over the fuselage during cruise. I haven’t sat in one down the back, but I’ve heard it’s noisy between the engines!
I have an old log book and I have been on that very TWA M80 pictured above. Flew it STL-DCA. Living in STL I got to fly on many TWA M80s and later AA and DL as well. Not quite the same as my beloved DC9, but close. Hated by some, loved by some and I am most assuredly in the latter camp. Oh, for one more ride…
What a coincidence that you’ve flown on the same aeroplane as the one in the picture. That’s pretty cool! What a shame AA dismantled the STL hub of TWA. A lot changed after that takeover, that’s for sure.
It was a shame at the time. But over the years Southwest has built a very nice station here, complete with decent sized (for WN) connecting banks. When TWA and later AA had hubs in STL, the fares were on the higher side if you were originating in STL. Southwest has been good for us, reasonable fares, many destinations and good service. The other carriers in STL (AA/DL/UA primarily) now price competitive fares thanks to WN so as much as I mourned our hub status, things didn’t turn out so bad here in the long run.
That’s good to hear! I guess there was always demand there, so Southwest happily took up the slack. That kind of competition that reduces fares is always welcome. I will have to fly with them someday as nobody has a bad word to say about WN.
I had a couple of “ok-but” experiences on WN, but for the most part…they do what they do and do it well.
I think that’s the same for most companies – at least when humans are involved in the process!
I remember very well flying many European routes with Swissair DC9’s and then MD80 in the days. Loved the feeling of power on takeoff and the very quiet front cabin. Good ol’ days!
Those older aircraft definitely accelerated a lot faster than the jets of today. Swissair was a big fan of Douglas products, all the way through to the MD-11. Customer loyalty is strong sometimes!
Loved the MD family especially MD 88. The 2/3 seating was the best of it all. Flew from PHL via GON on USAIR / PVD on DL to ATL. Flew from LAX to SFO on PSA. Then from Cali back on home to New England on AA via ORD. First was a nice goodie but seating back with the troops just as specious as 1st. Just the way MDs looked. Miss it!
By the way on these flights on MDs. Loved the way it looked. My favorite airplane!
Certainly a unique looking plane, especially today where they all look very much the same!
I agree on the 2/3 seating, I also quite like it. Luckily the Airbus A220 (Bombardier CSeries) continues that really nicely, and of course the Boeing 717 did too. Sounds like you’re definitely a fan of the plane!
Hated it. The position of the engines and wing design made it more unstable and prone to turbulence.
I never had the chance to ride on it so often that I could tell. I think I might have only been on an MD-80 five or six times. Thanks for the comment!
I loved the whole mad dog family. Sure the back was not as quiet as up front but you could smoke there (ex-smoker here) so it was fine. The two across/three across seating was a dream as well. If I recall correctly, I was on a BWIA flight to BGI where we exited from the rear via a built in stairway which was wonderful. Comfortable, reliable, and with great configuration: what’s not to like?
Oh, I completely forgot to mention the aircraft had rear stairs, just like the DC-9, Boeing 727 and BAC One Eleven. That would have been interesting to do, that’s for sure! Glad to hear you liked the plane so much – a good thing considering how common it was, I guess!
Worked at the Douglas plant in the 80’s & 90’s. Remember them on the flight line waiting to be delivered. Shiny new aircraft.
That would have been an interesting place to work, that’s for sure. The aircraft never look better than when they are first rolled out. Thanks for the comment!