Dallas (WBAP/KLIF) – When American Flight 80 taxiied from the gate at DFW this morning, it marked the end of an era for the plane that’s been in service for the Fort Worth-Based carrier for 36-years. The planes were instrumental in American’s expansion in the 1980s and 90s.
New York aviation blogger Jason Rabinowitz was on hand for the ceremonies:
The final revenue @AmericanAir Super 80 flight takes to the skies off of @DFWAirport runway 18L, AA80 to @fly2ohare. #Super80SendOff
Track: https://t.co/hX9GhfuwfB pic.twitter.com/GtOB8zHhds
— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) September 4, 2019
American Airlines pilot Capt. Scott Shankland told WFAA-TV that the plane “ultimately became the largest aircraft in their fleet … 362 aircraft, comprising nearly 40% of their fleet and was the catalyst that ushered in American to grow into the major carrier that it has now become.”
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The MD stands for the the manufacturer McDonnell Douglas. The plane was also known as the ‘Mad Dog,’ and was considered the workhorse of the American during its major expansion in the mid 90s.
✈️ Talk to any pilot and they’ll tell you the MD-80 is special.
From its unique cockpit to its manual controls, it is an experience to fly.
Tomorrow, Capt. Bruce Taylor will be part of the team sending the @americanair Maddog into retirement. pic.twitter.com/2FQbFzpQ93— DFW Airport (@DFWAirport) September 3, 2019
There is much excitement about today’s final flight. Some headed to he airport early this morning #MD80
New York aviation blogger Jason Rabinowitz flew was among many others who traveled to DFW Airport for the occasion.
Rabinowitz told us, “It’s kind of a special day for American as it retires 24 of the last of its MD-80 fleet. It just represents the retirement of an older generation technology aircraft …very loud engines steams up the flight deck. It just represents a by-gone era before the digital age, now that everything is computerized. It’s just an era that we don’t see anymore and it’s brought many people out to reminisce about their first flights on these planes.”
Here we go! #Super80Sendoff is underway. I’m at @DFWAirport to join @AmericanAir as it celebrates the end of MD80/Super80 “Mad Dog” service.
Will be headed out to Roswell, New Mexico to watch the final flights land. pic.twitter.com/6OCaQ04xIU— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) September 4, 2019
Today is the day! Flying on Flight 2257 from @flyneworleans to @DFWAirport… the final revenue flight of an @AmericanAir “Mad Dog” #MD80 between #MSY and #DFW! #avgeek #travel pic.twitter.com/rdBuZM7PD0
— Matt Madderra (@MattMadderra) September 3, 2019
A good day for many who demanded the retirement for many years, for others it’s the closing of an important chapter in the history of the #MD80 and #AmericanAirlines. Today, the last remaining MD-80s will be gradually removed from active service. pic.twitter.com/GyrOpHR7Un
— MD-80.com (@MD80com) September 4, 2019
The milestone retirement of the older aircraft comes at a time when American continues to deal with losses due to the grounded Boeing 737 Max fleet.
(Copyright 2019 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from the WFAA-TV)
