"SO LONG SUPER 80´s" - Retirement Tribute To AA´s MD-80´s
Sept 4, 2019 2:47:36 GMT
Tony Madge - HJG, aerofoto - HJG Admin, and 2 more like this
Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 4, 2019 2:47:36 GMT
"SO LONG SUPER 80´s" - Retirement Tribute To AA´s MD-80´s
When AMERICAN AIRLINES FLT 80 touched down, and shutdown, at Chicago some time after 11:35 HRS and upon the conclusion of its 09:00 HRS service from Dallas/Fort Worth on September 4th 2019, it also concluded 36 years of AA´s association with what it´s termed as being "SUPER 80" aircraft .... technically identified as the "DC-9-80/MD-80" .... and which are also affectionately regarded as "MAD DOG" aircraft throughout civil aviation world.
It was a sad, but, none-the-less historic day as it represented the end of yet another "GREAT"/proud aircraft era at AA .... however .... it´s inevitable that once new aircraft quickly become old aircraft in today's rapidly advancing age of developing aviation technology, and the reality is, of course, that airlines must also move with the times, and implement newer and more advanced aircraft types in order to remain competitive, or, be left behind .... no airline, or any other business, can survive on nostalgia.
The following is a salutary tribute to the "SUPER 80" in AA service ....
The McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 is a rear mounted twin-engine short to medium-range narrow-body jetliner. It was developed from MDC´s popular DC-9 series and evolved through MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and MD-88 aircraft versions of varying specifications. This successful line of aircraft was then followed into service by its more advanced MD-90-30 development .... and the MD-95 which was ultimately launched and marketed as the B717-200 when BOEING AIRCRAFT CORPORATION absorbed MDC during 1997 .... each of which were operated by AA with the exception of both the MD-81 and MD-88.
Since 1983 .... when AA placed its first MD-82 aircraft into service .... the airline has operated a total of almost 400 of these popular twin-jet airliners in MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and MD-90-30 form. The airline commenced its progressive retirement program of these aircraft in earnest during 2016 .... although the parting out of some of its MD-80 fleet members actually commenced as early as 2002.
During the early 1980´s, the MD-80 (marketed then as the "DC-9 SUPER 80") had achieved sales successes overseas, but, had yet to reach a commercial breakthrough within its home/US domestic market .... outside of small number orders for the type from AIRCAL, PSA, and HAWAIIAN AIRLINES. Eager to turn this around, MDC identified AMERICAN AIRLINES as a "top potential customer" for their MD-80 .... owing to its large domestic route network and fleet of ageing B727-100´s.
During September 1982 MDC proposed a deal to AA CEO Bob CRANDALL (who was legendary for his bargaining skills) that was just too good to refuse; 20 aircraft (later expanded to 33 aircraft) were to be leased out with payments based on a purchase price that was well below that any other MD-80 customer was then paying. Additionally .... AA was free to walk away upon expiration of the deal, with no questions asked, and would incur only a minor penalty if they chose to return the aircraft prematurely. Confident that the MD-80 would well´n´truly prove itself in service with AA both parties proceeded to negotiate within this very favourable atmosphere.
On May 15th 1983 the first MD-80 entered scheduled service with AA as FLT 577 from New York/La Guardia to Nashville. 2 other aircraft also entered service that same day, with flights from Dallas to Detroit, Memphis, and Ontario/California. These aircraft were initially configured with 12 seats in First/Business class and 130 seats in Economy (in a 2-2 and 3-2 cabin configuration respectively) .... and were capable of ranges of up to 2,000 miles .... subject to both payload and operating conditions .... and at an economic cruising speed of MACH 0.75 through MACH 0.77.
Featuring AA’s long-tenured blue/white/and red fuselage striping, the fleet also initially supported polished aluminum vertical stabilizers, and fuselages, with black radome caps .... a livery style that had originated during the early 1970´s and which was continued throughout the 1980´s, 90´s, and well into the new millennium. Blue and red “SUPER 80” titles were also applied near the nose on each aircraft .... as was the case in regard to other aircraft type names across the majority of AA´s fleet .... and which identified these aircraft to the traveling public for the remainder of their service to the airline. AA’s published timetable code for all services operated by its MD-80 aircraft was “S80” .... a designation that has continued to be applied even until today's final service of the type.
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES Original Full Natural Metal Livery With Black Radome And DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
By 1984 .... and just as MDC had bargained would be the case .... AA was sufficiently impressed with the MD-80 to place a follow-on order for 67 aircraft, plus 100 options, in what was then one of the worlds largest contracts for the production and supply of commercial aircraft.
Further orders saw the airlines fleet grow to some 260 MD-80´s by 1992.
Although pitched as a replacement for its older B727´s, the fleet was primarily used to dramatically expand AA’s route network across the USA, bringing mainline services to new cities and also increasing frequencies between it established destination cities too. The majority of these services were operated by MD-82´s, but, the first of 23 heavier and longer-ranging MD-83´s were delivered to the airline during June 1987. Additionally .... some of the airlines original MD-82´s were upgraded to the MD-83´s during the early 1990s. The MD-83´s also introduced a slightly revised livery too .... with the vertical stabilizer on these aircraft being painted light grey .... as well as introducing technical improvements in the form of a revised and more aerodynamically efficient/low-drag “screwdriver” type rear fuselage tail cone. Over following years these features would eventually be applied across AA´s entire MD-80 fleet.
MD-82 With Modified Grey Tail Black Radome And DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-83 With Modified Grey Tail Black Radome And Low-Drag Rear Fuselage Cone
Meanwhile .... TRANS WORLD AIRLINES sought a similar deal from MDC shortly after discussions with AA .... and which resulted in it placing an order for 15 MD-80´s during October 1982 (local competitor OZARK AIRLINES would also order a small fleet of MD-80´s for its West Coast services too) .... the first of which were delivered during June 1984. At the time these were essentially standalone orders, but, within 20 years these same aircraft would eventually play a role in AA´s evolving association with the MD-80.
Throughout the 1990´s the AA MD-80 fleet was composed of some 260 aircraft, but, this began to grow .... with additional MD-80´s being absorbed into the AA fleet after the airline acquired RENO AIR during February 1999.
Established during 1990, by former executives of the first incarnations of both FRONTIER and MIDWAY AIRLINES, RENO AIR had commenced services during 1992, operating from its namesake hub to cities throughout the western USA. Uniquely, for an airline of its stature, it also operated a route system based in Gulfport, Mississippi, and which was completely disconnected from its western network. RENO AIR operated a diverse fleet of MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and larger MD-90-30 aircraft.´
At the time, AA was also seeking to build upon San Jose, California, as a focus city (described also as a small hub), and RENO AIR’s route network offered the airline an ideal opportunity to do so. Throughout 1999 the ex-RENO AIR fleet gradually supported a simplified version of AA´s livery .... and which also resulted in a number of hybrid liveries too. In AA service the ex-RENO AIR MD-80´s, MD-87´s, and MD-90-30s even got “SUPER 80" and "SUPER 90” nose titles respectively .... in commonality with aircraft type names applied across the AA fleet.
MD-82 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery 2
MD-83 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
MD-83 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
MD-87 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
Md-87 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
MD-90-30 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
MD-90-30 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
However .... these aircraft didn’t remain part of the AA fleet for very long; most were parked-up following the September 11th terrorist attacks within the USA and the subsequent economic downturn which resulted in their being withdrawn from AA service during late 2002.
Although not directly connected with AA or any of its acquisitions, St.Louis, Missouri, based OZARK AIRLINES .... the airline who´s tail logo was representative of the "San Juan Capistrano Swallows" legend (these birds migrate from Goya, Argentina, to the California Mission where they punctually arrive during the Spring of every year), and which had been established during 1943 .... was swallowed by TWA on October 27th 1986 and ceased to exist as an independent carrier. The airlines fleet of 4 MD-80´s, and 42 remaining DC-9-10´s and -30´s, each acquired the mid 1980´s era livery of TWA .... in particular its 4 MD-82 aircraft were ultimately destined to fly for AA by 2001.
MD-82 OZARK AIRLINES With DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-82 TWA Definitive Mid 1980´s Era Livery And With DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
Around this same period also the AA SUPER 80 fleet was about to be further, and substantially, expanded following the airlines takeover of bankrupt TWA .... which had been enduring mixed economic fortunes over a considerable period time previously .... a decline which, by this stage, had also been worsened somewhat by its FLT 800 disaster during 1996. Although TWA had attempted to rebrand, renew its aging fleet, and boost morale among its employees, these efforts were too little too late, and the airline, by early 2001, was no longer viable. A deal was struck during April 2001 for AA to acquire TWA´s usable assets (through the AMR GROUP .... AA´s parent company), which included a fleet of 192 aircraft and a hub operation based at St.Louis, Missouri. As part of this deal TWA declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy (for the 3rd time in its history) the day after this agreement was struck .... the terms of which also included a $US 745 million payment. The bankruptcy court approved AA´s purchase of TWA over a rival bid by JET ACQUISITION GROUP.
As the takeover progressed TWA’s aircraft were repainted in basic AA livery albeit with "TWA" titles as during this period the ailing airline still legally operated as "TWA AIRLINES LLC" .... a holding company that was established to handle the merger proceedings. Aside from the MD-80s .... the ex-TWA Boeing B717´s, B757´s, and B767´s also each appeared in the same hybrid TWA LLC/AA livery. A number of TWA’s MD-83´s were among the last off the assembly line. Indeed MD-83 "N984TW" was "the final" MD-80 aircraft to be produced by BOEING .... and which was delivered to the airline during December 1999.
MD-82 TWA Definitive Final Livery
MD-83 TWA Definitive Final Livery
MD-83 AMERICAN AIRLINES/TWA AIRLINES LLC Interim Livery
Then from December 1st 2001 TWA, which had been founded as TRANS CONTINENTAL & WESTERN AIRLINES during 1930 (one of USA´s "Big 4" domestic airlines formed through "the Spoils Conference/Air Mail Act" of 1930), ceased to exist .... flying its last service (FLT 220, operated by MD-83 N948TW, under the command of CEO captain William COMPTON) between St.Louis and Las Vegas on December 1st 2001.
AA´s takeover of TWA resulted in the peak number of MD-80 aircraft within its fleet .... with 103 new MD-80 additions from TWA, plus its few remaining ex-RENO AIR aircraft too, then resulting in a total of some 370 MD-80´s in active service with the airline. This number of SUPER 80 aircraft would be relatively short-lived though as economic factors, stemming from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, gradually worked against the MD-80´s economy.
Also inherited by AA through its TWA takeover were some 29 B717-200´s .... all of which were disposed of though to AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, BANKOK AIRWAYS, and QANTAS LINK between 2002 and 2003.
B717-200 TWA Definitive Final Livery
B717-200 AMERICAN AIRLINES/TWA AIRLINES LLC Interim Livery
During this period AA was also acquiring a large fleet of new B737-800s which offered a similar seating capacity, but, with better fuel economy and performance than the MD-80´s .... this was despite the fact that it wasn´t intended for its B737´s to majorly displace the airlines MD-80 fleet until late 2010.
The MD-80´s did have one significant advantage in their favour however; although fuel costs for these aircraft were higher than some of the airlines other types many of AA´s SUPER 80´s had, by this time, already been paid off .... meaning .... the money saved on paying-off these assets could then be applied towards their operating costs.
It was also during this period that the original black WX radome caps began to disappear from the noses of AA´s MD-80 aircraft. Some sources claim this was a necessity to ensure more reliable functionality of the WX radar (which apparently had difficulty “seeing” through the black capped nose surfaces commonly used throughout the 1960´s, 70´s, and 80´s), whilst others sources allege this alteration was merely a cosmetic fashion implemented by many airlines (including AA) around the world from the 1980´s. In any case .... the WX nose radome caps on each of AA´s MD-80´s began to appear in overall grey .... with the airlines blue/white/red fuselage striping then being extended across the top of the nose and above the WX radome on each aircraft.
Both the original DC-9 type and modified rear fuselage tail cones also continued to be observed on some of the airlines MD-80´s during this period too, although the low-drag “screwdriver” type design had been implemented as "the production standard" by the late 1980´s. In some cases older parts would be swapped-in on some aircraft, as required, during the course of regular maintenance. Similar applied also in regard to WX radome features too .... with some aircraft continuing to support the airlines original black nose radomes well beyond 2010. From 2006 AA began to manufacture and recondition MD-80 tail cone assemblies at its own maintenance facilities, eventually enabling the airline to equip its entire fleet with the low-drag “screwdriver” type design .... and far more cheaply than had previously been the case when these modifications were contracted-out. This further prolonged the economic viability of these aircraft .... even in the face of rising fuel costs that were to follow.
MD-82 With Modified Grey Tail, Grey Radome, And DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-82 With Modified Grey Tail, Grey Radome, And Low-Drag Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-83 With Modified Grey Tail, Grey Radome, And Low-Drag Rear Fuselage Cone
The mid-2000´s also saw a handful of AA MD-80´s support various special/hybrid markings; N214AA and N73444 both supported red “WORKING TOGETHER” titles, and which was, at the time, intended to symbolize a positive relationship between airline management and its labor unions. Ex-TWA MD-80 N9405T supported "FLAGSHIP TULSA" titles as a tribute to AA´s long-standing maintenance and overhaul base .... with MD-80 N9627R being named "FLAGSHIP TULSA II" shortly afterward.
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES "Working Together" Livery
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES "Flagship Tulsa" Livery
As early as 2002 AA had begun to slowly withdraw its MD-80 fleet .... commencing with some of its older ex-TWA aircraft. Some of these airframes had been produced during 1980 and 1981 as MD-81´s for foreign carriers, and which were then converted to MD-82´s and MD-83´s upon their acquisition by TWA, whilst other aircraft had simply reached the expiration of their leases or had reached that period when they were scheduled for major, and expensive, engineering overhauls. SUPER 80 retirements began in earnest though from around 2008 as the oldest MD-80´s within the AA fleet gradually made their way to Roswell, New Mexico, for storage and scrapping. Most notably 20 aircraft were ferried to Roswell within a single day .... on August 23rd 2016.
Some of these aircraft were eventually acquired by other operators and with whom they´ve since earned new leases of life in Barbados, Indonesia, and the Ukraine .... and virtually everywhere else around the world too. Some of these aircraft were also converted to pure freighters .... N73444 having become the proof-of-concept airframe as the first "MD-82SF" pure freighter conversion. Both EVERTS AIR in Alaska, and Mexico´s AERONAVES TSM, have each since acquired sizeable fleets of converted ex-AA MD-80 aircraft for their cargo operations. Other ex-AA MD-80´s were parted out and scrapped/cannibalised .... in order to keep AA´s remaining MD-80 fleet members operational.
Throughout their 36 years of service to AA, the airline lost 2 MD-80´s in accidents; on June 1st 1999, MD-82 N215AA, operating FLT 1420, overshot the runway upon landing at Little Rock, Arkansas, during a severe thunderstorm .... with a loss of 10 of its 139 PAX and 1 crew member ....
DC-9-82/MD-82 N215AA ACCIDENT REPORT
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19990601-0
On July 15th 2012, MD-83 N110HM (an ex-TWA airframe), was damaged as the result of maintenance related incident at AA´s Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas maintenance base (a jack punctured the rear fuselage). Although repairable it was decided, that due the aircraft's age, and progression of the airlines fleet retirement schedule, the aircraft was sensibly "beyond economic repair" ....
DC-9-83/MD-83 N110HM INCIDENT REPORT
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20120715-0
In an earlier serious, albeit though non-fatal, incident on November 12th 1995, MD-83 N566AA, operating FLT 1572, struck trees and approach equipment short of the runway at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and suffered some $US 9 million worth of damage as a result, but, was repaired and later returned to service ....
DC-9-83/MD-83 N566AA INCIDENT REPORT
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19951112-0
Now concluding some 36 years of service to AA .... today (September 4th 2019) .... the airlines MD-80´s have until now been a ubiquitous (some of their more frequent passengers might say inescapable) and recognizable fixture of many airports throughout the USA.
Flying east, west, north, and south .... linking multitudes of cities across the entire breath and length of the USA .... AA´s MD-80´s have more than satisfactorily delivered both PAX and freight to their destinations .... uniting people and facilitating the wheels of commerce and industry .... whilst also carrying AA throughout both prosperous and tough times alike and playing their part in making the airline "GREAT".
Although the MD-80 will live on within world civil aviation for a while to come .... particularly within the USA and in regard to DELTA AIR LINES operations of the type, among those of a handful of other minor US carriers too, the skies over vast portions of the USA will, from today, become a little quieter now for their progressive, but inevitable, withdrawal from service.
At least 1 formerly AA operated MD-83 (N948TW, C/N 49575, L/N 1414 .... an ex TWA aircraft acquired during August 1994, originally registered "EI-BWD", and which also supported the airlines "WINGS OF PRIDE" livery theme) has, since August 7th 2015, been preserved at the TRISTAR HISTORY & PRESERVATION/TWA HISTORY MUSEUM, located at Kansas City, Missouri, in the USA.
MD-83 EI-BWD (Later N948TW) TWA Original "Wings Of Pride" Livery
MD-83 N948TW (Formerly EI-BWD) Replica TWA "Wings Of Pride" Livery
The preserved N948TW features a livery "representative" of (but not identical to) the "WINGS OF PRIDE" identity supported by this aircraft during the final stage of its service with TWA .... prior to the AA takeover.
Whilst AA began introducing its new livery from around 2011/2012 none of its MD-80 fleet members ever supported the airlines current identity .... the fleet being both large and so close to retirement simply didn´t justify the cost of such rebranding.
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES New/Current Livery "Concept"
AA´s last ever commercial MD-80 service was flown by MD-83 N984TW, operating between Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago, as FLT 80, on September 4th 2019 .... under the command of captain Clint BEEDLE with F/O captain Greg KUNARSEK. Later that same day this aircraft was then ferried to Roswell, New Mexico, for storage. In fact the airline not only retired this particular aircraft, but, also retired all 27 of its remaining in-service MD-80´s (1 MD-82 and 26 MD-83´s) during the course of this same day. 2 of these aircraft are to be donated to airport ground training institutions whilst the remainder will also be placed in storage at Roswell .... and where they´ll await their destiny. Due to the continuing current B737-800 MAX re-certification crisis .... which is also affecting AA too .... the airline did consider delaying the retirement of it´s MD-80 fleet, but, given some of these aircraft were approaching scheduled major engineering overhaul requirements the decision was ultimately made to withdraw them from service, as originally planned, and in the overall interest of operating economics.
"SO LONG SUPER 80´s"
"THANK YOU" for your 36 years of sterling service to AMERICAN AIRLINES
You may be gone now, but, the sight of your sleek, silver silhouette, punctuated by its patriotic blue/white/red striping, along with the sublime sound of your P&W JT8D turbofans too, will be forever preserved in commercial aviation history .... and in the memories of those whom admired you most.
You´ll never .... ever .... be forgotten
AMERICAN AIRLINES "SUPER 80" Retirement/End Of Service
By Erik INGRAM
&
Mark CRANSTON
When AMERICAN AIRLINES FLT 80 touched down, and shutdown, at Chicago some time after 11:35 HRS and upon the conclusion of its 09:00 HRS service from Dallas/Fort Worth on September 4th 2019, it also concluded 36 years of AA´s association with what it´s termed as being "SUPER 80" aircraft .... technically identified as the "DC-9-80/MD-80" .... and which are also affectionately regarded as "MAD DOG" aircraft throughout civil aviation world.
It was a sad, but, none-the-less historic day as it represented the end of yet another "GREAT"/proud aircraft era at AA .... however .... it´s inevitable that once new aircraft quickly become old aircraft in today's rapidly advancing age of developing aviation technology, and the reality is, of course, that airlines must also move with the times, and implement newer and more advanced aircraft types in order to remain competitive, or, be left behind .... no airline, or any other business, can survive on nostalgia.
The following is a salutary tribute to the "SUPER 80" in AA service ....
The McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 is a rear mounted twin-engine short to medium-range narrow-body jetliner. It was developed from MDC´s popular DC-9 series and evolved through MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and MD-88 aircraft versions of varying specifications. This successful line of aircraft was then followed into service by its more advanced MD-90-30 development .... and the MD-95 which was ultimately launched and marketed as the B717-200 when BOEING AIRCRAFT CORPORATION absorbed MDC during 1997 .... each of which were operated by AA with the exception of both the MD-81 and MD-88.
Since 1983 .... when AA placed its first MD-82 aircraft into service .... the airline has operated a total of almost 400 of these popular twin-jet airliners in MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and MD-90-30 form. The airline commenced its progressive retirement program of these aircraft in earnest during 2016 .... although the parting out of some of its MD-80 fleet members actually commenced as early as 2002.
During the early 1980´s, the MD-80 (marketed then as the "DC-9 SUPER 80") had achieved sales successes overseas, but, had yet to reach a commercial breakthrough within its home/US domestic market .... outside of small number orders for the type from AIRCAL, PSA, and HAWAIIAN AIRLINES. Eager to turn this around, MDC identified AMERICAN AIRLINES as a "top potential customer" for their MD-80 .... owing to its large domestic route network and fleet of ageing B727-100´s.
During September 1982 MDC proposed a deal to AA CEO Bob CRANDALL (who was legendary for his bargaining skills) that was just too good to refuse; 20 aircraft (later expanded to 33 aircraft) were to be leased out with payments based on a purchase price that was well below that any other MD-80 customer was then paying. Additionally .... AA was free to walk away upon expiration of the deal, with no questions asked, and would incur only a minor penalty if they chose to return the aircraft prematurely. Confident that the MD-80 would well´n´truly prove itself in service with AA both parties proceeded to negotiate within this very favourable atmosphere.
On May 15th 1983 the first MD-80 entered scheduled service with AA as FLT 577 from New York/La Guardia to Nashville. 2 other aircraft also entered service that same day, with flights from Dallas to Detroit, Memphis, and Ontario/California. These aircraft were initially configured with 12 seats in First/Business class and 130 seats in Economy (in a 2-2 and 3-2 cabin configuration respectively) .... and were capable of ranges of up to 2,000 miles .... subject to both payload and operating conditions .... and at an economic cruising speed of MACH 0.75 through MACH 0.77.
Featuring AA’s long-tenured blue/white/and red fuselage striping, the fleet also initially supported polished aluminum vertical stabilizers, and fuselages, with black radome caps .... a livery style that had originated during the early 1970´s and which was continued throughout the 1980´s, 90´s, and well into the new millennium. Blue and red “SUPER 80” titles were also applied near the nose on each aircraft .... as was the case in regard to other aircraft type names across the majority of AA´s fleet .... and which identified these aircraft to the traveling public for the remainder of their service to the airline. AA’s published timetable code for all services operated by its MD-80 aircraft was “S80” .... a designation that has continued to be applied even until today's final service of the type.
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES Original Full Natural Metal Livery With Black Radome And DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
By 1984 .... and just as MDC had bargained would be the case .... AA was sufficiently impressed with the MD-80 to place a follow-on order for 67 aircraft, plus 100 options, in what was then one of the worlds largest contracts for the production and supply of commercial aircraft.
Further orders saw the airlines fleet grow to some 260 MD-80´s by 1992.
Although pitched as a replacement for its older B727´s, the fleet was primarily used to dramatically expand AA’s route network across the USA, bringing mainline services to new cities and also increasing frequencies between it established destination cities too. The majority of these services were operated by MD-82´s, but, the first of 23 heavier and longer-ranging MD-83´s were delivered to the airline during June 1987. Additionally .... some of the airlines original MD-82´s were upgraded to the MD-83´s during the early 1990s. The MD-83´s also introduced a slightly revised livery too .... with the vertical stabilizer on these aircraft being painted light grey .... as well as introducing technical improvements in the form of a revised and more aerodynamically efficient/low-drag “screwdriver” type rear fuselage tail cone. Over following years these features would eventually be applied across AA´s entire MD-80 fleet.
MD-82 With Modified Grey Tail Black Radome And DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-83 With Modified Grey Tail Black Radome And Low-Drag Rear Fuselage Cone
Meanwhile .... TRANS WORLD AIRLINES sought a similar deal from MDC shortly after discussions with AA .... and which resulted in it placing an order for 15 MD-80´s during October 1982 (local competitor OZARK AIRLINES would also order a small fleet of MD-80´s for its West Coast services too) .... the first of which were delivered during June 1984. At the time these were essentially standalone orders, but, within 20 years these same aircraft would eventually play a role in AA´s evolving association with the MD-80.
Throughout the 1990´s the AA MD-80 fleet was composed of some 260 aircraft, but, this began to grow .... with additional MD-80´s being absorbed into the AA fleet after the airline acquired RENO AIR during February 1999.
Established during 1990, by former executives of the first incarnations of both FRONTIER and MIDWAY AIRLINES, RENO AIR had commenced services during 1992, operating from its namesake hub to cities throughout the western USA. Uniquely, for an airline of its stature, it also operated a route system based in Gulfport, Mississippi, and which was completely disconnected from its western network. RENO AIR operated a diverse fleet of MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and larger MD-90-30 aircraft.´
At the time, AA was also seeking to build upon San Jose, California, as a focus city (described also as a small hub), and RENO AIR’s route network offered the airline an ideal opportunity to do so. Throughout 1999 the ex-RENO AIR fleet gradually supported a simplified version of AA´s livery .... and which also resulted in a number of hybrid liveries too. In AA service the ex-RENO AIR MD-80´s, MD-87´s, and MD-90-30s even got “SUPER 80" and "SUPER 90” nose titles respectively .... in commonality with aircraft type names applied across the AA fleet.
MD-82 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery 2
MD-83 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
MD-83 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
MD-87 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
Md-87 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
MD-90-30 RENO AIR Definitive Livery
MD-90-30 AMERICAN AIRLINES/RENO AIR Hybrid Livery
However .... these aircraft didn’t remain part of the AA fleet for very long; most were parked-up following the September 11th terrorist attacks within the USA and the subsequent economic downturn which resulted in their being withdrawn from AA service during late 2002.
Although not directly connected with AA or any of its acquisitions, St.Louis, Missouri, based OZARK AIRLINES .... the airline who´s tail logo was representative of the "San Juan Capistrano Swallows" legend (these birds migrate from Goya, Argentina, to the California Mission where they punctually arrive during the Spring of every year), and which had been established during 1943 .... was swallowed by TWA on October 27th 1986 and ceased to exist as an independent carrier. The airlines fleet of 4 MD-80´s, and 42 remaining DC-9-10´s and -30´s, each acquired the mid 1980´s era livery of TWA .... in particular its 4 MD-82 aircraft were ultimately destined to fly for AA by 2001.
MD-82 OZARK AIRLINES With DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-82 TWA Definitive Mid 1980´s Era Livery And With DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
Around this same period also the AA SUPER 80 fleet was about to be further, and substantially, expanded following the airlines takeover of bankrupt TWA .... which had been enduring mixed economic fortunes over a considerable period time previously .... a decline which, by this stage, had also been worsened somewhat by its FLT 800 disaster during 1996. Although TWA had attempted to rebrand, renew its aging fleet, and boost morale among its employees, these efforts were too little too late, and the airline, by early 2001, was no longer viable. A deal was struck during April 2001 for AA to acquire TWA´s usable assets (through the AMR GROUP .... AA´s parent company), which included a fleet of 192 aircraft and a hub operation based at St.Louis, Missouri. As part of this deal TWA declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy (for the 3rd time in its history) the day after this agreement was struck .... the terms of which also included a $US 745 million payment. The bankruptcy court approved AA´s purchase of TWA over a rival bid by JET ACQUISITION GROUP.
As the takeover progressed TWA’s aircraft were repainted in basic AA livery albeit with "TWA" titles as during this period the ailing airline still legally operated as "TWA AIRLINES LLC" .... a holding company that was established to handle the merger proceedings. Aside from the MD-80s .... the ex-TWA Boeing B717´s, B757´s, and B767´s also each appeared in the same hybrid TWA LLC/AA livery. A number of TWA’s MD-83´s were among the last off the assembly line. Indeed MD-83 "N984TW" was "the final" MD-80 aircraft to be produced by BOEING .... and which was delivered to the airline during December 1999.
MD-82 TWA Definitive Final Livery
MD-83 TWA Definitive Final Livery
MD-83 AMERICAN AIRLINES/TWA AIRLINES LLC Interim Livery
Then from December 1st 2001 TWA, which had been founded as TRANS CONTINENTAL & WESTERN AIRLINES during 1930 (one of USA´s "Big 4" domestic airlines formed through "the Spoils Conference/Air Mail Act" of 1930), ceased to exist .... flying its last service (FLT 220, operated by MD-83 N948TW, under the command of CEO captain William COMPTON) between St.Louis and Las Vegas on December 1st 2001.
AA´s takeover of TWA resulted in the peak number of MD-80 aircraft within its fleet .... with 103 new MD-80 additions from TWA, plus its few remaining ex-RENO AIR aircraft too, then resulting in a total of some 370 MD-80´s in active service with the airline. This number of SUPER 80 aircraft would be relatively short-lived though as economic factors, stemming from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, gradually worked against the MD-80´s economy.
Also inherited by AA through its TWA takeover were some 29 B717-200´s .... all of which were disposed of though to AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, BANKOK AIRWAYS, and QANTAS LINK between 2002 and 2003.
B717-200 TWA Definitive Final Livery
B717-200 AMERICAN AIRLINES/TWA AIRLINES LLC Interim Livery
During this period AA was also acquiring a large fleet of new B737-800s which offered a similar seating capacity, but, with better fuel economy and performance than the MD-80´s .... this was despite the fact that it wasn´t intended for its B737´s to majorly displace the airlines MD-80 fleet until late 2010.
The MD-80´s did have one significant advantage in their favour however; although fuel costs for these aircraft were higher than some of the airlines other types many of AA´s SUPER 80´s had, by this time, already been paid off .... meaning .... the money saved on paying-off these assets could then be applied towards their operating costs.
It was also during this period that the original black WX radome caps began to disappear from the noses of AA´s MD-80 aircraft. Some sources claim this was a necessity to ensure more reliable functionality of the WX radar (which apparently had difficulty “seeing” through the black capped nose surfaces commonly used throughout the 1960´s, 70´s, and 80´s), whilst others sources allege this alteration was merely a cosmetic fashion implemented by many airlines (including AA) around the world from the 1980´s. In any case .... the WX nose radome caps on each of AA´s MD-80´s began to appear in overall grey .... with the airlines blue/white/red fuselage striping then being extended across the top of the nose and above the WX radome on each aircraft.
Both the original DC-9 type and modified rear fuselage tail cones also continued to be observed on some of the airlines MD-80´s during this period too, although the low-drag “screwdriver” type design had been implemented as "the production standard" by the late 1980´s. In some cases older parts would be swapped-in on some aircraft, as required, during the course of regular maintenance. Similar applied also in regard to WX radome features too .... with some aircraft continuing to support the airlines original black nose radomes well beyond 2010. From 2006 AA began to manufacture and recondition MD-80 tail cone assemblies at its own maintenance facilities, eventually enabling the airline to equip its entire fleet with the low-drag “screwdriver” type design .... and far more cheaply than had previously been the case when these modifications were contracted-out. This further prolonged the economic viability of these aircraft .... even in the face of rising fuel costs that were to follow.
MD-82 With Modified Grey Tail, Grey Radome, And DC-9 Type Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-82 With Modified Grey Tail, Grey Radome, And Low-Drag Rear Fuselage Cone
MD-83 With Modified Grey Tail, Grey Radome, And Low-Drag Rear Fuselage Cone
The mid-2000´s also saw a handful of AA MD-80´s support various special/hybrid markings; N214AA and N73444 both supported red “WORKING TOGETHER” titles, and which was, at the time, intended to symbolize a positive relationship between airline management and its labor unions. Ex-TWA MD-80 N9405T supported "FLAGSHIP TULSA" titles as a tribute to AA´s long-standing maintenance and overhaul base .... with MD-80 N9627R being named "FLAGSHIP TULSA II" shortly afterward.
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES "Working Together" Livery
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES "Flagship Tulsa" Livery
As early as 2002 AA had begun to slowly withdraw its MD-80 fleet .... commencing with some of its older ex-TWA aircraft. Some of these airframes had been produced during 1980 and 1981 as MD-81´s for foreign carriers, and which were then converted to MD-82´s and MD-83´s upon their acquisition by TWA, whilst other aircraft had simply reached the expiration of their leases or had reached that period when they were scheduled for major, and expensive, engineering overhauls. SUPER 80 retirements began in earnest though from around 2008 as the oldest MD-80´s within the AA fleet gradually made their way to Roswell, New Mexico, for storage and scrapping. Most notably 20 aircraft were ferried to Roswell within a single day .... on August 23rd 2016.
Some of these aircraft were eventually acquired by other operators and with whom they´ve since earned new leases of life in Barbados, Indonesia, and the Ukraine .... and virtually everywhere else around the world too. Some of these aircraft were also converted to pure freighters .... N73444 having become the proof-of-concept airframe as the first "MD-82SF" pure freighter conversion. Both EVERTS AIR in Alaska, and Mexico´s AERONAVES TSM, have each since acquired sizeable fleets of converted ex-AA MD-80 aircraft for their cargo operations. Other ex-AA MD-80´s were parted out and scrapped/cannibalised .... in order to keep AA´s remaining MD-80 fleet members operational.
Throughout their 36 years of service to AA, the airline lost 2 MD-80´s in accidents; on June 1st 1999, MD-82 N215AA, operating FLT 1420, overshot the runway upon landing at Little Rock, Arkansas, during a severe thunderstorm .... with a loss of 10 of its 139 PAX and 1 crew member ....
DC-9-82/MD-82 N215AA ACCIDENT REPORT
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19990601-0
On July 15th 2012, MD-83 N110HM (an ex-TWA airframe), was damaged as the result of maintenance related incident at AA´s Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas maintenance base (a jack punctured the rear fuselage). Although repairable it was decided, that due the aircraft's age, and progression of the airlines fleet retirement schedule, the aircraft was sensibly "beyond economic repair" ....
DC-9-83/MD-83 N110HM INCIDENT REPORT
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20120715-0
In an earlier serious, albeit though non-fatal, incident on November 12th 1995, MD-83 N566AA, operating FLT 1572, struck trees and approach equipment short of the runway at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and suffered some $US 9 million worth of damage as a result, but, was repaired and later returned to service ....
DC-9-83/MD-83 N566AA INCIDENT REPORT
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19951112-0
Now concluding some 36 years of service to AA .... today (September 4th 2019) .... the airlines MD-80´s have until now been a ubiquitous (some of their more frequent passengers might say inescapable) and recognizable fixture of many airports throughout the USA.
Flying east, west, north, and south .... linking multitudes of cities across the entire breath and length of the USA .... AA´s MD-80´s have more than satisfactorily delivered both PAX and freight to their destinations .... uniting people and facilitating the wheels of commerce and industry .... whilst also carrying AA throughout both prosperous and tough times alike and playing their part in making the airline "GREAT".
Although the MD-80 will live on within world civil aviation for a while to come .... particularly within the USA and in regard to DELTA AIR LINES operations of the type, among those of a handful of other minor US carriers too, the skies over vast portions of the USA will, from today, become a little quieter now for their progressive, but inevitable, withdrawal from service.
At least 1 formerly AA operated MD-83 (N948TW, C/N 49575, L/N 1414 .... an ex TWA aircraft acquired during August 1994, originally registered "EI-BWD", and which also supported the airlines "WINGS OF PRIDE" livery theme) has, since August 7th 2015, been preserved at the TRISTAR HISTORY & PRESERVATION/TWA HISTORY MUSEUM, located at Kansas City, Missouri, in the USA.
MD-83 EI-BWD (Later N948TW) TWA Original "Wings Of Pride" Livery
MD-83 N948TW (Formerly EI-BWD) Replica TWA "Wings Of Pride" Livery
The preserved N948TW features a livery "representative" of (but not identical to) the "WINGS OF PRIDE" identity supported by this aircraft during the final stage of its service with TWA .... prior to the AA takeover.
Whilst AA began introducing its new livery from around 2011/2012 none of its MD-80 fleet members ever supported the airlines current identity .... the fleet being both large and so close to retirement simply didn´t justify the cost of such rebranding.
MD-82 AMERICAN AIRLINES New/Current Livery "Concept"
AA´s last ever commercial MD-80 service was flown by MD-83 N984TW, operating between Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago, as FLT 80, on September 4th 2019 .... under the command of captain Clint BEEDLE with F/O captain Greg KUNARSEK. Later that same day this aircraft was then ferried to Roswell, New Mexico, for storage. In fact the airline not only retired this particular aircraft, but, also retired all 27 of its remaining in-service MD-80´s (1 MD-82 and 26 MD-83´s) during the course of this same day. 2 of these aircraft are to be donated to airport ground training institutions whilst the remainder will also be placed in storage at Roswell .... and where they´ll await their destiny. Due to the continuing current B737-800 MAX re-certification crisis .... which is also affecting AA too .... the airline did consider delaying the retirement of it´s MD-80 fleet, but, given some of these aircraft were approaching scheduled major engineering overhaul requirements the decision was ultimately made to withdraw them from service, as originally planned, and in the overall interest of operating economics.
"SO LONG SUPER 80´s"
"THANK YOU" for your 36 years of sterling service to AMERICAN AIRLINES
You may be gone now, but, the sight of your sleek, silver silhouette, punctuated by its patriotic blue/white/red striping, along with the sublime sound of your P&W JT8D turbofans too, will be forever preserved in commercial aviation history .... and in the memories of those whom admired you most.
You´ll never .... ever .... be forgotten
AMERICAN AIRLINES "SUPER 80" Retirement/End Of Service
By Erik INGRAM
&
Mark CRANSTON
