Cockpit tour of the old MD-80

[Jesda]

I came across this on YT and found it fascinating.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R0CViDUBFs[/youtube]

Everyone hates these planes but I don't think they get enough credit. Despite their age, they're safe and reliable.
http://jesda.com/2014/05/20/quirks-of-the-md-80-jet/

[Dattebayo]

I have never heard of an MD-80.

[OriginalWheelman]

My first time traveling by plane was this past thanksgiving. I flew in two of these and I thought they were fun. It struck me as a bus with wings but really, that's all a plane is.

[sx moneypit]

I have never heard of an MD-80.

It is the updated version of the DC9.

[Jesda]

Or the predecessor to the 717

[hannibal]

That was cool!

[szh]

I have never heard of an MD-80.

Very common plane on American Airlines routes ... they use it for many of their shorter-range flights. For example, San Jose to Dallas fine, but it is not capable of cross-country in one swell foop.

Common alternative to the Boeing 737 used by others (for example, Southwest).

Z

[Dattebayo]

I probably flew on a few from here to Philly or NYC then. How exactly do they stand out from the others?

[hannibal]

DC to NYC may be a DC-9 but a flight to Philly is usually a smaller regional jet.

I think the DC-9 is probably the second most common passenger jet (after the 737). Very unique layout with the engine attached to the fuselage at the rear. Quite popular up and down the east coast, but dont think it flies cross country routes. It's cool to hear a pilot talking about a plane's quirks that we never see.

I was on a 717 from DCA to ATL yesterday...

[Bubba1]

I have never heard of an MD-80.

That's because you're young. I've logged many miles in MD-80's during the 80's. Delta used to run a bunch of them. They really weren't that awful as a passenger as long as you knew which seats to request and your carry-on was small. The better seats were ahead of the wings (offering good views). The worst were at the very rear, which were beside the engines, whose loud drone was made worse by their proximity to the bathroom. And unless you had attractive flight attendants, your only view in the rear was of one of the engines. You also wanted to be on the left side (no middle seats)

[Jesda]

I probably flew on a few from here to Philly or NYC then. How exactly do they stand out from the others?

Compared to your typical modern Boeing, they're narrower, louder (in the back), and have a lot of passenger-audible mechanical sounds. You can very much feel and hear it when the landing gear and flaps doing their thing. They ride a bit more like a larger Boeing than one of those Canadian puddle jumpers.

And they're durable and safe. Most have been retired because of rising fuel costs rather than wear and tear.