747fan From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 1165 posts, RR: 1 Posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 14166 times:
I'm curious if anyone is in the know of any kind of schedule of the retirement of DL's remaining DC-9's. I was trying to dig up a thread on here where some sort of drawdown schedule was mentioned (example: 4 DC-9's leaving the fleet in 6/2012, 7 in 7/2012, etc.). I do know a few of these aircraft have already left service, with several lines of DC-9 flying (mainly from DTW & MSP) going away recently.
If I remember correctly seems that all will be gone sometime around the fall of 2012, with most of the remaining aircraft leaving the fleet in the coming spring & summer months (and perhaps a few leaving this winter)?
I'm likely going to fly DL early next month simply to fly on several "diesel niners," with a personal goal of 1 DC-9 trip per month up to when they're basically all gone (non-rev benefits are a good thing!).
I believe DL now has about 25-30 of these aircraft remaining, out of the 34.
CF-CPI From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 849 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 14014 times:
I can't enlighten you on the retirement schedule, but I recently went out of my way to fly on one as part of a BWI-MEM-MSP-SJC routing, the MEM-MSP segment being on DC-9-50 N786NC. I must say, it was a great experience, and I had forgotten how nice a real METAL aircraft feels.
Overall it was a great ride, as they had been retrofitted with large overhead bins, and I must say the front galley area was big. Obviously this was a holdout from the days of meals served throughout the cabin. I upgraded and could not resist a Jack Daniels on the rocks before takeoff from MEM, just to get into the Tennessee mood. With MEM being such an integral part of DL DC-9s ops since 1965/66, it was well worth going out of my way to do it right. (All the while I wanted a time machine so I could conjure up some Braniff pastel 111s screaming down the runway, but you can't have everything).
I hope I put you in the mood for some good DC-9 hunting.
PSU.DTW.SCE From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 6867 posts, RR: 29 Reply 2, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 13928 times:
10 leaving the fleet in 2011
24 leaving in 2012.
They are leaving at a rate of about 1 a month, as they time out for heavy maintenance. This will increase to about 2 per month in 2012. No final end date officially anounced yet. Likely to phase-out in Q4 to 2012.
United_fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7157 posts, RR: 8 Reply 3, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 13763 times:
Quoting PSU.DTW.SCE (Reply 2): They are leaving at a rate of about 1 a month, as they time out for heavy maintenance
Which leads me believe they will be scrapped.
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
747fan From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 1165 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 12969 times:
Thanks, exactly the info I was looking for. About what I was expecting.
Quoting United_fan (Reply 3): Which leads me believe they will be scrapped.
This has been the fate of the retired -30's & -40's and I assume will be the same for the -50's. Some of the -50's are "newer" DC-9's (late '70's vintage, maybe 1980 for a few compared to many of the -30's & -40's being from the late '60's) but their time has likely come. The oldest of the remaining DC-9's are from 1975.
Quoting CF-CPI (Reply 1): I can't enlighten you on the retirement schedule, but I recently went out of my way to fly on one as part of a BWI-MEM-MSP-SJC routing, the MEM-MSP segment being on DC-9-50 N786NC. I must say, it was a great experience, and I had forgotten how nice a real METAL aircraft feels.
I flew SDF-DTW-EWR & back to fly on both a -30 & a -40, although it wasn't out of the way (plus it was a legit trip to see family)...but still, flying on those soon-to-be-retired "diesel nines" was the highlight.
Quoting CF-CPI (Reply 1): I hope I put you in the mood for some good DC-9 hunting.
Indeed you did. Hopefully I'll be flying on a few in about a month, with some good video footage of the JT8D's to add to it.
sevenfeet From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 44 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 12374 times:
I'm flying one of the old birds tomorrow (BNA->ATL). The DC-9 is still flown a lot out of Nashville although we've been seeing more A319s of late. Delta stopped flying larger jets like the 757 completely out of our city.
And the youngest I've seen of the DC-9-50s from the plate inside the door is 1980.
timf From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 954 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 12356 times:
The DC-9-50s don't appear to be headed for the shredder just yet. So far, all of them have been sent to MZJ. The DC-9-30s and -40s that were to be scrapped were sent directly to SFB. I know there were quite a few -30s already at MZJ before the final group was retired, but I'm not sure if any of those have been scrapped on site or if they're still just sitting in storage. Many of them are still actively registered to Delta (unlike the scrapped ones which had their regs cancelled), so I would guess they are still intact.
MCOflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 8552 posts, RR: 14 Reply 8, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 11132 times:
747fan From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 1165 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8479 times:
Quoting timf (Reply 6): The DC-9-50s don't appear to be headed for the shredder just yet. So far, all of them have been sent to MZJ. The DC-9-30s and -40s that were to be scrapped were sent directly to SFB. I know there were quite a few -30s already at MZJ before the final group was retired, but I'm not sure if any of those have been scrapped on site or if they're still just sitting in storage. Many of them are still actively registered to Delta (unlike the scrapped ones which had their regs cancelled), so I would guess they are still intact.
That's interesting, thanks for the info. I too have noticed an occasional DC95 ferry flight out of MSP to MZJ on Flightaware now that I think about it.
Quoting jetfuel (Reply 7): N787NC Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 - cn 48149 / ln 990
Date of Manufactur 02-12-1980
Age 30.9 Years
Did a quick search and I believe this is the newest in Delta service
Yes I do know that's the newest of these aircraft (and newest DC-9 that was in the former NW fleet). The N7**NC aircraft were originally from North Central, with the N78*NC airplanes being 1979-1980 builds.
Quoting MCOflyer (Reply 8): DL flies them into MLB 4-5x daily.
I assume these regional flights out of ATL such as MLB, PNS, CHS, SAV, etc. will be among the last to see DC-9 service before they're gone for good. That's where they're the most common these days, with MSP & DTW probably getting no more than 10-15 daily now and MEM getting maybe 8-10 (compared to around 50 for ATL). My station SDF typically gets 2 daily (although we got 4 this past Friday), but looks like we might lose them in January & February before they return for the spring schedule.
beefstew25 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 675 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 7418 times:
aerorobnz From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6325 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 7020 times:
Was just going through my records from my September trip to ATL/MSP/ORD. I managed to get all that were in service at the time except N762NC/N773NC/N783NC.
Since I photographed them 9-11 September N766NC/N781NC/N761NC have been retired to Marana, however both DC9s that I flew N676NC/N770NC are still operational. I hope this shows the rate at which they are going quite well..
BD338 From United States of America, joined Jul 2010, 595 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 6341 times:
Whatever the final date of withdrawal the DC9 has been an amazing airframe, to think there are 30-35 year old frames still flying regular US airline service is a testimony to the original design. I doubt we'll be tracking a 35 year old DL 737/320 in the years ahead!
ATA L1011 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1361 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6257 times:
Quoting BD338 (Reply 14): I doubt we'll be tracking a 35 year old DL 737/320 in the years ahead!
Definately not an A320 with its cycle/hour life expectancy!
TVNWZ From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 2200 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6256 times:
TOMMY767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6172 posts, RR: 9 Reply 17, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6246 times:
They are a great ride. I flew one on EWR-ATL in July of this year and man, what a fine piece of machinery.
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
mke717spotter From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 2309 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 6077 times:
Quoting TVNWZ (Reply 16): These planes are remarkable. I get them out of MKE all the time and will really miss their passing.
Yep, I've been doin quite a bit of DC-9 flyin the past few years in anticipation of their eventual retirement. Hopefully I'll still be able to get on a few more this summer, but even at MKE they're not as common anymore as they used to be.
Will you watch the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions on Sunday? Only if coach Eric Mangini resigned after a loss.
PSU.DTW.SCE From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 6867 posts, RR: 29 Reply 19, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 5506 times:
25 aircraft active:
N762NC
N764NC
N765NC may be out of service?
N766NC
N767NC
N769NC
N770NC
N773NC
N774NC
N775NC
N777NC
N778NC
N779NC
N780NC
N782NC
N783NC
N784NC
N786NC
N787NC
N675MC
N676MC
N670MC
N671MC
N677MC
N401EA
N600TR
9 removed from service:
N760NC last revenue flight 7/8/11 DL 959 MCI-MSP, ferried MSP-MZJ on 7/9/11
N761NC last revenue flight 10/7/11 DL 1732 ORD-MSP, ferried MSP-MZJ on 10/8/11
N768NC last revenue flight 6/1/11 DL 1069 DTW-MSP, ferried MSP-MZJ on 6/2/11
N770NC last revenue flight 11/1/11 DL 1476 DTW-MSP, ferried MSP-MZJ on xxx
N771NC last revenue flight 6/14/11 DL 2107 ORD-MSP, ferried MSP-MZJ on 6/15/11
N772NC last revenue flight 8/29/11 DL 798 MEM-MSP, ferried MSP-MZH on 8/30/11
N776NC last revenue flight 8/19/11 DL 798 MEM-MSP, ferreid MSP-MZJ on 8/20/11
N781NC last revenue flight 9/30/11 DL 1142 GRR-MSP, ferried MSP-MZJ on 10/1/11
N785NC last revenue flight 7/21/11 DL 1732 ORD-MSP, ferried MSP-MZJ on 7/23/11
1 written-off:
N763NC hydraulic failure and ground collision with NW A319 N368NB in MSP 5/05, now used as ARFF trainer
Thanks very much for this list! Looks like a pretty consistent retirement rate of 1-2 monthly. If this rate keeps up it looks like they'll all be gone by next November or December.
trigged From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 497 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 4907 times:
Last DC-9 flight I took was a DC-9-41 (N759NW) from MEM to DFW back on 6/13/2008. I sure loved that plane. I see it is scrapped now. Shame to see that happen to all of the DC's.
September11 From United States of America, joined exactly 9 years ago today! , 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 22, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 4834 times:
nwa757boy From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 662 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (1 year 6 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 4718 times:
N401EA had an inflight engine fire on me back in January...She will always hold a special place in my heart....I heard the circuit breakers popping in the flight deck...either automatic or manual shedding. No pressure and limited electrics....
I too will miss working these puppies.
25 United_fan: I'm hoping DL will sub one up here to ROC one more time. I was thankful to get a picture of one last September .
26 727LOVER: I think you are mistaken, because I only see MD-80s into MLB.
27 catiii: How much different could it have been from an MD-88?
28 aerorobnz: I kinda know what they mean. They look and feel more solid from being built in a time when it things were built to last out of quality materials - fr
29 PSU.DTW.SCE: NW put all-new interiors - overhead bins, sidewalls, seats, lavs, galleys on the DC-9 when they overhauled them in the 1995-2000 timeperiod as a part
30 1337Delta764: In addition, on the MD-88 fleet, DL installed modernized extended overhead bins in the early 2000s, however, unlike the NW DC-9 mods, the MD-88 mods
31 TWAL1011727: Delta used to fly the DC9 into MLB for the summer but changed to the MD88s on 6NOV11 Looking to the future......17Dec - Delta flies the B757 into MLB
32 HermansCVR580: Hey Delta how about when the last one retires paint one side in North Central's colors offer a photo op and fly it off into the sunset give the DC-9 t
33 Viscount724: They also installed a lavatory in the F class cabin which many of the DC-9s inherited by NW from their multiple original owners did not have, especia
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From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 1165 posts, 
From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 849 posts, 
This has been the fate of the retired -30's & -40's and I assume will be the same for the -50's. Some of the -50's are "newer" DC-9's (late '70's vintage, maybe 1980 for a few compared to many of the -30's & -40's being from the late '60's) but their time has likely come. The oldest of the remaining DC-9's are from 1975.
From Australia, joined Jan 2005, 2066 posts, 
From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6325 posts, 
, 3623 posts, 
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