10.12.2004 OS1521 1000 VIE AUSTRIAN AIRLINES **OE-LMB** TRAINING-FLIGHT (LAST FLIGHT)
10.12.2004 OS1521 1230 VIE AUSTRIAN AIRLINES **OE-LMB** TRAINING-FLIGHT (LAST FLIGHT)

This will be the startup of the final countdown - OS is finally in the process of phasing out the last remaining twinjets of the McDonnell-Douglas family. OE-LMB - a DC9-82/MD-82 will be the first of total 7 DC9's/MD8's left in OS fleet to leave its homebase (ferry flight out of VIE is scheduled for the 13th of December).

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Photo © L-AJRUPLAN

OE-LMK/L/N/O - all MD87's - are scheduled to leave by yearend, OE-LMD (MD83) by end of March 2005 and with OE-LME (MD83) to be phased out end of May 2005 the MD era at OS will come to an end.

Going back to 70's OS started their "modern jet age" with 9 DC9-32's - first being OE-LDA. The 9 DC9's were the flying ambassadors showing each the name and the flag of one of the 9 federal districts of Austria.

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Photo © Markus Buttinger

Next type to enter service supplementing the DC9-32's was the DC9-51 having been ordered together with SR followed by numerous family members of the MD80-family.
For a short period OS was even operating a DC8-63CF OE-IBO (leased from ONA) primarily in cargo configuration.

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Photo © Manfred Groihs


With the last MD80's now leaving OS Group a roughly 30 years lasting period of McDonnell-Douglas Jets - which could easily be called "era" - is coming to an end.

Today OS Group (OS, NG, VO) is operating a mixed fleet of Airbus (319/20/21/30/40) and Boeing (737/767/777) jets side by side with CRJ's, F70's, F100's and DH8 aircraft.

I will miss the DC9/MD80 - it was one of the aircraft I used to get around a lot and which always was going along with the picture of Austrian Airlines I had.

=TW741=


[Edited 2004-12-08 18:22:33]