MD JETLINERS - THE "MAD DOGS!" - A look at McDonnell Douglas airliners built in the 1980s and '90s.
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- čas přidán 7. 05. 2023
- They were originally called DC-9s and DC-10s, but a series of events led to a name change with the "MD" designation for McDonnell Douglas. What happened? This video explains it all.
DOUGLAS AIRLINERS - Part 1: • DOUGLAS AIRLINERS - Pa...
DOUGLAS AIRLINERS - Part 2: • DOUGLAS AIRLINERS - Pa...
DOUGLAS AIRLINERS - Part 3: • DOUGLAS AIRLINERS - Pa...
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I recently retired from Delta Air Lines as a pilot instructor. I taught the MD-88/MD90 "Mad Dog" on and off for 14 years. Coming from the Boeing 737-200, it was a huge learning curve to figure out "what is it thinking?". "Steam gauges" to digital. "Jurassic jet" to "Jurassic magic". But, I got to love the airplane once I figured it out. It flew like a "dump truck" compared to the little 737-200. But...what you felt in the Mad Dog controls was exactly what the airplane was doing. I likened it to having no power steering in your car...heavy but you can feel the road. A hydraulic failure was...a hassle...not a catastrophe. Yeah, it was "quirky". Trying to learn checklist "flows" was a bear. This switch here controlled that thing...way over there. I taught my pilots "the waltz"...a three step x 4 would get all 12 after takeoff items completed. I was honored with Delta's Chairmans Club and received "my own" MD-88 with my name emblazoned on adjacent to the boarding door.. Our ship number 9020 was the last MD-88 off of the assembly line. While Delta wouldn't let me take her home with me, I flew on her many times on company business. Every time the captain found out that she was "mine", an announcement was made that I was aboard. I moved to the Boeing 777, which evoked another huge learning curve. I was thrown from a "Jurassic magic" jet to a "voodoo magic" jet. I was moved back to the Mad Dog as pilot hiring ramped up and I was needed on it. As the Mad Dogs started to dwindle in numbers, my fleet captain conned...er convinced me to join him on the Airbus A220. The HUGE learning curve nearly broke me going from steam gauges to Jurassic magic, to "voodoo magic", back to "Jurassic magic" and now to "beyond voodoo magic" on an airplane that well tell you if it wants your opinion! When the last MD88 & MD90s retired during the pandemic, my Ship 9020 was sent to the boneyard. I asked the company if I could fly to the boneyard to see her. I was driven out to the huge ramp with well over 100 Mad Dogs awaiting their fate with the grim reaper. There she was. Her engines had been removed, windows covered to protect the interior. She kept whispering to me, "Take me home!" I was thrilled to hear that she got her engines back and was flown out of the boneyard to be someone else's friend. WHEW!
Wow! What a terrific story!
That’s a mad story that
Mad damn good story man I already really miss the mds
Flew the mad dogs for several years. She would talk to you through her controls. Miss her…..
Man what a career! Where is your ship headed? Off to Saltillo for a freight conversion?
As a former DC mechanic at the Long Beach plant from 1989-2000, that was truly enjoyable, thanks for the memories, I remember lots of talk on the MD-12 back in the early 90's. I was able to work on the MD 80/90s, MD-11 and C-17 aircraft, all rock solid in my book. Favorite plane to fly used to be the MD80, what power! Miss seeing it at airports.
I was there around the same time 88-2000. K2J I was in building 13,80,54 best job I ever had!
My uncle was a test pilot for MD until he passes in 1979. My aunt worked at the Bolsa Chica facility. I have lots of his flight details and memorabilia.
The media declared war on Douglas in the 70s and they never stopped till Boeing gutted them.
Both my Grandparents worked at Douglas immediately after WW2. Grandpa was a WW2 Vet and retired from Douglas. Grandma left Douglas to raise my Mom and her siblings. Thank you for posting this.
Wonderful story, thanks!
I spent many hours flying the DC9/MD80 series airliners and they were a pilot's airplane. Extremely reliable and efficient. I flew Boeing aircraft too but I will always have great memories of my time on the DC-9 series including the -80.
The DC9 MD80 is my favorite plane, because it’s essentially a subsonic passenger plane with the head of a space shuttle.
Damn, you worked for Douglas in the 80's? Lots of respect - I miss the MD-80 series, pleasure to fly, felt like being in an Apollo rocket - no more engineering stations, APU's had finally come out.
Great video yes indeed! Brings back so many memories. I did like a internship at McDonnell Douglas back in 89. Architect students were chosen from high schools in the Long Beach, Lakewood, Bellflower, and Cerritos area. 2 students from each high school were chosen, I was ecstatic because I wanted to be a Aeronautical engineer. The program was 2 months I believe and we got 10 additional credits towards graduation. We worked in building 35 and that's a experience I'll never forget. 30+ years later now it's a shopping center, hotel, Virgin Galactic, and a Mercedes Benz facility who wanted to remove the iconic "Fly DC JETS" neon sign. After the program was over, some of us were offered jobs there as riveters.
Wonderful comment, thanks!
Thank you for this recap of the MD Series airframes. The MD-12 never got made because MCD could not find enough production partners to share the cost to develop. Much is already in print on how MCD talked to various airframe suppliers including Airbus to share more development costs. But its no shock that the A380 looks just like a MCD/Airbus proposal. The noise about the "constant changes" in airframes was strictly because MCD could not finance the 12 program themselves and were making adjustments to suit proposed partners. A whole airline was built in the 2000's on the back of the MD-88. That airline was Allegiant. They are all Airbus now but in their startup days it was not uncommon to fly a 30+ year old MD-88. At their Sanford Florida hub, they had at least 8 MD-8x airframes lined up to supply parts at a moments notice to the working fleet. I rode in the MD-90/717 while they were at AirTran and I loved it. It was the most comfortable and quietest of the MD's (IMHO). When Boeing exited the Series 30 market (mostly due the ALPA scope clause) they abdicated the market to Embraer E-Series and later Bombardier with their C-Series. (Now Airbus A220). A carbon fiber MD tube combined with a current gen high efficiency engine and the t-tail would definitely fulfill that market, but the union pilots have too much control in airframe design now to support their salaries. But lets face it, the production realities at Long Beach were out of date and obsolete. Too much human labor and out of date assembly methods were tied to each airframe and it just wasn't sustainable.
Look better looking than any modern Jetliners of nowadays.
My very first jetliner flight was in a DC-9, taking me from home in Tallahassee, Fla. to San Antonio, Tx for Airforce bootcamp at Lackland AFB. Jan of 1976. I remember they were called "Whisperjets".
I had an uncle who grew up in early days of airports. As a boy he would hang out at an airport. Back then kids could walk around them.
pilots taught him to fly. When he was old enough, Delta airlines hired him and he flew DC-9 between Miami and Dallas till he retired.
It had to be really cool back then were a kid could learn to fly like my uncle.
Wonderful comment, thanks!
I grew up with TWAs DC9s and MD80s, and absolutely fell in love with them. Having worked at an Intl airport for a few years, I got to fuel former TWA American Airlines MD82s and 83s they had in service still. No need for a ladder, just get up in there n go! I miss them immensely. That JT engine startup was music to my ears
Whenever I see an early DC-8, I think of the opening to the old Hawaii Five-O TV series from the 60's and 70's where the "8" is featured as promotional tool on the ramp and coming in over approach lights. Of course, they have to use the '60's "edge of your mind" wide angle lens. The dramatic use of the DC-8 as a prop (no pun) reminds you that Hawaii is an exotic and far away place. It was a time, I think, when not so many people could go to places like that, which made the sequence even more exciting.
Great comment, thanks!
Good memories of flying on DC-10s in the 1980s. My first jet flight was on a DC-9. Thanks for the memories!
Excellent stuff Mike - thanks for navigating us through the various DC/MD twinjets - it can get confusing!
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
My Grandfather and my Father both worked at Long Beach plant. Grandfather for 30 years, Father 35 years. I grew up 2 miles from the plant in the 70’s. I wonder if your renderings covered the walls of my childhood room as I was fascinated by their work. Thanks for the video.
Fly DC Jets / Long Beach Forever 🌴🤞🏽 very honored to have worked/still work with the MD-10s/MD-11s
They were the best!
I always liked the MD-80/90/717 seating (3/2) and for a long time made flight choices based on that (I have that luxury because I live in Atlanta and fly Delta almost exclusively). Almost any seat on the "2" side is better than just about any seat on a 3/3 (business or 1st class excepted, of course). The Mad Dogs are retired now, but there's still the occasional 717 flight on offer.
But - in our times of carry-on luggage, I haven’t experienced one MD80 flight without luggage problems. The smaller fuselage diameter just doesn’t fit well with overhead luggage.
A220 has 3/2 seating as well.
Here's a fun C-17 story:
The wing fixtures were instrumented with enough precision to see the tides.
Drove the engineers nuts as the fixture would deform for unknown reasons and thankfully one of the guys on the program was a surfer and recognized the similarity to a tide chart.
Really amazing modern manufacturing precision.
Not following you...... Are you talking about the landing light fixtures, the wing structure itself when being built, some sensor or something else. Please explain in more detail.
I flew on a few Boeing 717's. I loved it. Nice quiet, stable, took air turbulence well and it must have been brand new because it still had its strong new plane smell. The funny thing I remember about the B-717 was it had three seats on one side and two seats on the other side in rows of course. It flew like a tank and got us there fast! I've always loved the 717 by name she was one sweet ride!
I flew on a Mad Dog 80 in 1999 from Phx to Cle. The pilot said they had a good tailwind and were going to put the hammer down. We made it gate to gate in under 4 hours! It was a ‘red eye’ with few passengers.
FedEx retired the the very first MD-11 to be built back on May 1st of this year. Flown out to Victorville.
Thank you so much. I miss MCD.
That dc-9 was quiet as long as you didn't have to sit in the tail. If you were back there it would shake your fillings out. I remember a very early morning flight the day after my father passed away. I think it was US Air although I am not sure but they gave me a free bereavement ticket which I was very grateful for but I was sitting in the back between those two Motors. It really gave you a heck of a Feeling.
Yep, that's what I was going to say. I've flown on the DC-9 series jets several times, and somehow always ended up sitting in the far back for some reason (perhaps everyone else knew better). I found they were noisy and miserable to fly on with the engines right next to the passengers.
I started with MDC in 1988 aboard the MD-80 series as an assembly mechanic. I left MDC in 1992 from the C-17 wing assembly as a First Article Inspector.
I've never heard or read a bad word about Donald Douglas, Sr. Must have been quite a man. In total number of flights I've had, most of mine, by far, were on Mad Dogs in TWA livery between St Louis and Columbus, Ohio. Love those old birds and miss them now.
I worked for a commuter airline in 1980-1984. I remember flying non-rev from Minneapolis to NYC on a DC-9. We were the last two passengers to get cleared to board. Our seats were at the very, very back of the plane. Infact behind us was a bulkhead and we looked out the window and the only things we saw was engine. And damn that engine was loud. Smooth flight though.
Another great video. Along with all the great photos and art work.
Thank you! Amazing illustrations
Thank you for sharing this Aviation history.
This is great stuff! Thanks for making this.
I always enjoyed flying on the Braniff DC-8’s out of IAH (Intercontinental Airport Houston). I vividly remember them painted in the Calder abstracts.
Great video. Thanks
Cheers, from Texas
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Very interesting. Thank you for your service.
Thanks for all of the information. Another great video. Keep bringing these great videos.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
If you wanted a truly horrific flying experience back in the day: you could get one of those budget cattle call flights from LAX to HNL, for $100 round trip, on stretched DC-8 holding around 1,000 passengers.
The best flight, airplane, & tix price: PSA 727 LAX to SFO for $12 one way. Later PSA aircraft from Douglas didn’t disappoint.
Thanks for the great videos. From a North American (Rockwell) and, later, Northrop employee in El Segundo. I worked with some former Douglas employees in the early eighties, they wore orange ties - in an office! Bold Donald Douglas influenced style choice.
It was sad to see so much aerospace leave Southern California, even Douglas.
I spotted a DC-9 type airliner landing at Munich (MUC) airport this morning. And watched your excellent Mad Dog video later. Well done, Mike !
Many thanks!
Excellent content in every way. Always thrilled to fly on the DC/MD airliners, particularly the DC-9s and 10s. Lots of Eastern DC-9 flights while serving in the USAF, and a very memorable AA DC-10 flight from DFW to SAN with a smooth as silk landing in a heavy rainstorm. Thank you Mike for all your effort in compiling these.
Long may you and your videos continue Mike. Your knowledge and narration are just top quality and though it's photos not video it's all the better for that. Watching from Oxford UK and I'm grateful for your work. You truly are an expert. Thank you.
Great presentation once again Mike! Thank you. I’m sorry I missed the livestream presentation.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Great job, Mike! Watched quite a few Southern Airways & Eastern DC-9s growing up in the south. They provided a lot of my transportation to new duty stations, also flight time on Navy & Marine C-9s. Great way to chase the Monday morning blues away. Off to work.
McDonnell Douglas aircraft are flying tanks, a "real mechanic's" jet. Worked for Delta (MD-88) and now FedEx (MD-11) those planes are something I love to hate working on. Just when you think you're an "expert" on them, there's an MEL or write-up that will humble you!
I flew between St. Louis and Columbus, Ohio on TWA Mad Dogs too many times to count. Still my favorite plane of all time.
Very interesting and informative. Thank you.
Thank you Mike. i enjoyed your detailed history and person connection, amazing artwork.
I loved flying the md80.
Many thanks!
Great work Mike👍👍
Thanks for this video. Lots of memories. I started in Long Beach in ‘89 and was an MD11 production manager from ‘91 to Nov ‘97 when I went to the 777.
Great video! Brings back memories of my early years of working ops/ ramp with Continental. Loved the md80. If you were lucky enough to snag a 1st class seat when non-revving,the ride was whisper quiet. I was sad to see the Mad Dog go. Thanks for showing. 👍
I enjoy your videos. Simple, straight forward presentation, yet full of great information. Greetings from Argentina.
Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching!
I worked at McDonnell Douglas in 1979, 80, and 81. I remember the prototype coming back to Toronto in pieces after it punched the gear up through the wing and the tail fell off. Much longer fuselage, all they changed were 4 stringer on the upper fuselage to a heavier material. Some of the things I saw there swore me off ever flying on an MD product. Workers smoking weed or drinking in the alley between building on their break. Holes in the wrong place sealed and painted over with alodyne. Swarf and cigarette butts riveted in under the Y stringers on the wings. The Drivematic riveting machine I worked on was antique, and one night I got to watch some engineers doing test piece to see why the rivets did what what they did. I actually built a quicky jig so the rivets would be in the right spots on the test dog bones and helped them for most of that shift.
Thanks for the video, my Dad retired from Air Force Plant #3 a couple of years before it closed with 35+ yrs of service, was asked twice to become an inspector for the Air Force, turned it down, later had second thoughts about it after retirement. Dad enjoyed aviation and all it required to keep planes flying...
Always excellent. A nice voice, and intelligent script and absorbing illustrations. Simply the best! Thanks Mike.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Thank you Mike, especially for the pic of the PSA MD-80. Loved flying the engineer-eclectic MD-80 for both PSA and US Air/ways. As the plane slowed the hydraulic boosted controls went to manual and in a cross-wind it was a pilots airplane. Thank heavens for the big control yoke!😁
What a way to start a new day AND a new week, a new video from Mike Machat. As always, great content and narration. So much history so little time..................
Thanks for the great comment!
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 As always well earned.
I grew up on Md-80s and DC9s. Loved flying on them. I flew one of American Airlines' last flights of the MD80 in 2019. It was special! Oklahoma State was gifted an MD80 to use as a laboratory in SWO. Sometimes I drive by just to see it!
Excellent, and my favourite aircraft of all time. Started my cabin crew career on the -83.....even though MD I still call it a DC-9. After the mad-dog I then went on to another icon, the 737-200 which i also loved. Then the -300 and -700 and ended up on old ATR-42 and -72. Had the time of my life and never once felt like i was actually going to work. Good times. Subbed to your great channel 😁
Amazing video as always Mike. You got me with the C17, I was sitting here saying "None!" out loud until you threw that curve ball our way. Cheers!!
04:37 Wonderful work you did there!
Fascinating and educational as always Mr. Machat! I remember flying in the DC-10 a few times, and always hearing other passengers tell me how much they loved the aircraft. Truly a remarkable story about a remarkable company. God bless you and your family always! Thanks again for everything you do! Take care always Sir!! 😊
Thanks Martin, and yes, pilots and passengers alike truly loved flying the DC-10!
Great overview... DC-10 was always a beautiful aircraft.
Great job Mike, I enjoyed this very much. I recently got to see a Ameristar DC-9 and the NASA DC-8 take off within a half an hour of each other at Paine Field in Everett.
Mike, your site is on of few where I am amazed with new information on legacy aircraft! Again I never realized how Douglas morphed their base designs. Almost a Lego approach to wings, engines and fuselages.
In a way, yes, a modular evolution of each aircraft type. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I'm still working on the MD-11 for FedEx, I previously did maintenance for B717, DC9 MD88 MD90 back when I worked for MRO in Miami, and I had Fam course for Airborne Express DC8 not never got to work on them.
Great video, love all types of aircraft. First plane I flew on was the dash 8. Great flying Airplane. Keep up the great work. ✈✈✈✈✈
Well done, thank you.
Hello Mike! Great presentation and very interesting! Korean Air also used the MD 11 for passenger service, and then eventually, for cargo service.
Yes, good catch. Not sure how I missed that one, and thanks for watcvhing!
Great video, flew the 11 for almost 20 years. Every pilot I know that flew the 8, 9, and 10/11 series LOVED those airplanes. Flying the 777 now, but my heart is still in the MD.
Great comment, thanks!
Great video. Very historical.
Many thanks!
Excellent video. I have been a fan of DC jets for years and have been a passenger on a DC10, MD80, DC9, and 717-MD95.
I get to see thrilling fly-bys of DC-10s often: Ten Tanker is based in my town and often does their downwind legs low over the city. Gorgeous planes!
My first flight was onboard a United Airlines DC-8 Super-61 Series in "Friend - Ship" livery, Friendship Airport (now BWI) nonstop to San Francisco and continuing to Hilo, Hawaii. As soon as the pilot firewalled the throttles I was fascinated with aviation in general and jet engines in particular.
Growing up in the Los Angeles area, an airplane nut from childhood, I found myself in 1979 starting a 34-year career as a field service engineer for an obscure McDonnell Douglas subsidiary, based in Hazelwood, MO, just outside the St Louis Airport. Our company was so small at the time that we shared buildings with some MDC functions, and we often found ourselves in the museum area of the Main MDC building. My job entailed flying on an almost daily basis throughout the Western US and Canada , so there were many encounters with MDC aircraft. I especially loved watching the new F-15's launching out of STL and turning nearly straight up, disappearing into the clouds. I really enjoyed being a small part of MDC and regret it had to finally be swallowed up by Boeing. Thanks for the wonderful look back.
Great insight into the company. I am a few miles from where the plant that made the wings and floors for the DC/MD 9,10, 11 in Malton Ontario, just to the west of Toronto. The plant went through a number of owners through it's life. 1939-42, National Steel Car, 1942-45 Victory Aircraft, 1945-62 Avro Aircraft, 1962-65 DeHavilland, 1965-67 Douglas Aircraft, 1967-97 McDonnell Douglas, 1997-2005 Boeing. The plant was torn down in 2005. Prior to the Douglas take over a few 1,000 planes came out of it. including Lancaster bombers, CF100s, Avro Arrow and a few one or 2 offs like the C102 the first jet transport to fly in North America in 1949 and the Avro Car. An attempt to make a high performance flying saucer craft. It was anything but high performance. Many photos of the Avro car show up as crashed or retro engineered UFOs.
In one of my jobs I got to visit the plant during it's MD days. I even have some photos I took. The plants southern parking lot was the best place to watch planes coming and going from Pearson International. Planes would be as close as 100 feet. It was so popular that on the weekends when the plant was closed there could easily be a few 100 cars of plane watchers and food vendors would be there as well. It was very nice of them to leave the gates to the parking lot open.
I flew on Air Canada DC9s quite often. I also flew in DC10s of American Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Canadian Airlines International. While in Vancouver in 1994 I got to spend a few hours in the DC10-30 simulator of Canadian Airlines International. What a thrill that was. This was your first that I watched. Thank you I will be watching more. Keep up the great work.
The best artistic renderings I’ve ever seen of hangar queens and planes that never flew
Many thanks!
My favourite jetliner up to this day is the DC10-30 series. I have flown on this aircraft type with American and Caledonian Airways. Beautiful aircraft ! I also flew on the DC9-30/50/80 series. Great experiences! Provided ground handling services including weight and balance for Air Canada DC8-61/63, Viasa DC8-50/63, ALM DC9-30/80, Flying Tigers DC8-63F, KLM DC10-30, CP Air DC10-30, Caledonian DC10-30 and finally the JMC DC10-30, Handled the B07, B727 , B737, B747, B767, L1011 and A330 but the DC10-30 stands out in my opinion as the best !!!
Great Stuff Mike!
Many thanks!
Very interesting and great video! Well done! You certainly earned my like and subscription.
Appreciate the comment, thanks, and great to have you aboard!
This was an awesome video.. I really enjoyed it.
Many thanks!
Thanks Mike, my Uncle was a lead in the wind tunnel model shop in Long Beach during the development of both the-9 and the -10, they also built a few display models. My initial Captain upgrade at AA was the MD-80 and then transitioning to the -90 when AA bought Reno Air. The -90 was perfect for Reno on a hot summer day, lots of terrain issues on takeoff, the engine out takeoff continued was pretty ho hum after 400’ with the V-2500’s. Not so with the 737NG which I finished my career on after the -90 was retired.
These planes are tougher than 10 acres of garlic.
Loved this, thanks Mr M as always!
Superb presentation.
Appreciate the nice comment, thanks!
Worked on the last 6 DC 10s, employee. Number 320333, job was jc 44- 429, and jc 44_ 407 building 12 they still be in business today if they would have got rid of the number 3 engine, instead they focused on the MD 12, oh well, loved working their, shout out too Vince and Jeff. This is good ol stef row lol
I still remember my last flight on an MD jet, an MD-11with KLM in business class. Super exciting and a very nice flight.
Really interesting video. Thanks. I have been a passanger on the Caravelle SE210, DC9, DC10, B727, DC8-63 and MD82. Today it is all 737 and 320. Today I enjoy flying the MD82 in Microsoft Flightsimulator 🙂
13:40 DC10 - 61 Nice ! Like the wavy exhaust .
Best to you Scott
Thanks Scott, and keen eye to pick-up those exhaust trails!
Fascinating story for the back end of the Douglas story. You have to admit though that the C17 was a mighty fine aircraft to sign off with. They'll be flying for many years to come I would suggest.
Agreed!
The Douglas upgrades, mergers and model variants are hard...er...impossible to keep straight. Nearly a close second to any class 1 railroad mergers of the 20th century. Thanks for this historical record, Mr. Machat.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Such a bummer when MD got bought out by B. Another California aircraft company gone. Got a flight on a KC-10 out of Edwards to refuel and air inspect a B-2. Unfortunately the B-2 canceled after we were airborne. So we Tanked any one that would come up so we could land. We refueled a F-16, F-18 (with every drop tank it could hold) and another KC-10 being flown by a Female pulot. Great memory of that flight . Seen alot of flight testing on the C-17, another great jet. Thanks for sharing ,your vid are very informative.
Another great presentation. Such a shame that the McDonnell Douglas name doesn't live on after joining Boeing (e.g. Northrop Grumman). Flew as a passenger many times over the Atlantic always glued to the window. Often saw newer 767's (& other twins?) flying in the same direction and over a short time we would pass them! The MD 80-90's (including Airtran's 95) were such a delight. As long as you weren't in one of the last few rows, it was whisper quiet! So nice and now so rare.
Flown most of them and enjoyed the all :) Speaking of Hawaii runs, took a red-eye MD11 ATA in the 90's - fully one huge economy cabin - flips flops and a sleeping bag stretched out on the floor in a bank of 4 seats and goodnight :)
Awwww Mike, you missed New York Air as early Super 80/ MD 80 customer on the East Coast. I was ad manager June 1983 and my first few months there was spent getting the new airplane onto everything. It had the full Landor red fuselage-New York Air Bauer logo with full white apple on the tail design not the patch jobs we had on the on the mostly former Texas International DC-9-30s. Another interesting point was the 3 and 2 across one class seating and in our case, the 36" seat pitch.
Excellent.
I worked at Long Beach for 7 out of 10 years, from 1981 to 1991. I never once heard the MDs referred to as "Mad Dogs".
I worked at DAC Long Beach also, and a number of viewers mentioned this. That name was first used by airline ramp personnel, and soon spread to flight crews and the airliner enthusiast community. Thanks for watching!
Amazing video just something to add The MD 11 is still very much in service with UPS as we have a flight daily from KRDU with an MD 11 that I have fueled many many times. I also had the awesome chance of fueling a MD10! ❤
Hey, I worked there too... 1987 to 1999! Great times!
Mike, your videos are always excellent. I enjoyed this one especially, as I have a special place in my heart for the DC-8s and DC-9s. Those were the first aircraft I ever flew on, and I enjoyed every flight on them afterward. Yes, I have been on many Boeing aircraft, including the 747, but my pick for best airplane would be the DC-9. It provided smooth and quiet flights, and it was good looking too. Your renderings are the best. Question: is that your artwork on the Revell model kits? If so, I have been a fan of yours long before CZcams was created. Thanks so much!
Great comment, thanks, and yes, I illustrated 15 model kits including DC-8, DC-9, F-27 and Boeing 727 kits for Lodela/Revell of Mexico. Thanks for watching!
What a great video series, congratulations! Enjoyed it immensly.
I will always have a soft spot for the DC-9/Super 80 as it was the first plane I ever boarded, barely 2 years old and I still remember parts of the experience, specifically crying when not understanding why we had to get out of the very fun plane (from the rear stairwell!) when people where still on board and where going to keep flying...how unfair! I consider myself lucky to currently live under approach/departure to our airport that still gets freighter activity with MadDogs (and a few DC9s). I had to chuckle when you mentioned the plane was the quietest in the day, I don't doubt it was true back in the day, but the 4:30-5AM freighter one when departing is a very good alarm clock for me and my wife :) As opposed to barely noticing some A320NEOs flying overhead, the buzzsaw sound barely noticeable sometimes.
I will browse through the rest of your channel for your other videos and excitedly wait for new ones. One question I hope you don't mind me asking is that we hear a lot of the culture in MDD or the "reverse buyout" done with Boeing as being one of the reasons that issues with the Dreamliner and 737 Max programmes ocurred, do you feel that the culture was indeed unhealthy and that that quote has any bit of truth to it? I only dare ask since you closed this video with the note that the only new plane built during the MDD run was the C17, and I get the impression that hanging on to the 737 and now looking to update the 777 is kind of a similar move, but it might be me being unreasonable and not knowledgeable on how these companies iterate through versions of planes.
Again, thanks for sharing all of this, look forward to future videos!
Wonderful comment, thanks, and yes, Douglas proudly advertised the Super 80 as being the quietest jet in the sky in 1980. Today, 747s and A380s depart LAX at about 8,000 feet over my house and I can barely hear them! As for the often-argued Boeing/McDonnell Douglas merger and impact between the two companies, it is quite common for corporate cultures to collide - look at many of the recent airline mergers! In my opinion, there was more to the Boeing story with factors that began well before the merger - Boeing's many other acquisitions, relocating Corporate headquarters in Chicago away from production centers (they've since left), and moving into the digital age with all the paradigm changes involved in that. Indeed, the entire aerospace industry suffered many of the same challenges that befell Boeing. Appreciate your comment and thanks for watching!
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Really appreciate the insight. Thanks!
Looking forward to seeing you again at the model kit collector show in Buena Park in July. Great videos!👍🏻
Great video. MD certainly made the best looking planes ever to fly.
Thanks, and I agree 100%!
Had NO clue that so few Douglas jets were made in comparison with those other companies. I seemed to fly on mostly Douglas jets in my life. Haven't ridden in a fixed-wing aircraft since 2002, though I did make a flight in a helicopter in 2008. Those were the days! Mahalo, once again. for yet another highly informative video! Aloha!
I was delivering a truck load of flowers, to the Hawaiian Air
cargo terminal one afternoon, driving on the road behind the
inter-island terminal, there was a HA (old American) DC-10
parked nearby. it was misty-drizzly. there was a rainbow
going from wingtip to wingtip AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CAMERA!!
Mahalo Nui loa.
steve
@@steveskouson9620 I have to ride in a Hawaiian Boeing 717 before they retire that type. I associate DC-9s and 717s with Hawaiian even though I've flown on their DC-10s in the past. 50 years ago, I flew an Aloha Airline flight in a 1st-gen 737.
Great vid as always, interesting American Airlines were cut one heck of an initial deal to lease the MD80's on a basic no risk contract, it was what saved the program from the start and risky for Douglas....sink or swim. It also gave me the opportunity to be hired, make decent money and live in Huntington Beach :) Thanks for keeping this history alive.
Thanks, and greetings to a fellow DAC Long Beach Team Member!
Great vlog as always. I heard a roumer in SAS/SK that they refused to accept a MD-80 because there was a difference where the wings on the airframe. One of the wings, left or right, «started» 1 inch futher back than the other. Have you heard this story? Keep up the good work!
Hadn't heard that story, thanks!