OyKIE From Norway, joined Jan 2006, 2577 posts, RR: 4 Posted (2 years 1 month 1 hour ago) and read 5621 times:
In March Aviation Week did an article about Super98, a Long Beach, California-based design company. The company aims to reduce drag by as much as 7,5% Since I read about this improvements, I have been searching around a bit to see what the status and is on other improvements and modifications as well.
Let’s start with the Super98 mods. The drag reduction is designed in two phases. Phase 1 weighs less than 200lb and consists of 17 add-on elements to reduce drag. Kit one is expected to save 283 000 dollar per aircraft per year with fuel price at 3 dollar per gallon. Deliveries are expected third quarter this year, although I am not sure if any customers have made an order public. Phase 2 has indicated an overall drag reduction of 4.49 % and includes 777 long range-like wingtips, divergent trailing edge wing treatment, rudder sealing and the addition of an aft fuel tank to enable aft center of gravity changes to improve cruise trim.
The company consists mostly of ex-McDonnell Douglas and Boeing engineering veterans. The kits might be offered for the MD-90 and 717 later on.
Another modification to the MD-80 is the QuietEagle Noise seduction System. Is it rude to say that it has been too quiet from this program? It offers up to six decibel noise reduction making it Stage 4 and Chapter 4 compliant. QuietEagle is designe by PW, but sold exclusively by Aviation Fleet Solutions.
Then we have Dugan Kinetics that offers an EP-80 ejector thrust reverser that they claim offer a 5-10 % fuel burn reduction depending on the flight profile. They have received the FAA award, but from what I have been garnering of information no airline has opted to buy the Dugan ejector. Because the ejector increase airflow and thereby increases thrust, the engine can be kept at a lower thrust making the engine Stage 4 compliant according to Dugan Kinetics.
Finally I have not found out anything yet about ongoing cockpit mods or cabin mods. DL (NW) installed 717 interior in the DC-9. It should be possible for the MD-80 as well. Some of AA’s MD-80 leases expire in 2024. In that timeframe the NextGen ATC might force some cockpit updates for the MD-80 down the road.
OyKIE From Norway, joined Jan 2006, 2577 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5296 times:
Quoting OyKIE (Thread starter): Deliveries are expected third quarter this year, although I am not sure if any customers have made an order public.
Does anyone have any inside information in relation to orders? If they are to be delivered in the third quarter of this year some should be lining up pretty soon.
Quoting OyKIE (Thread starter): Is it rude to say that it has been too quiet from this program?
This program has been available since 2007 and 4 years later no news about potential customers. Does anyone know why? I know it is an expencive modification and that it might even increase fuel consumption, but it makes the loud MD more silent that should be good for some customers flying into noise sensitive communities.
Quoting OyKIE (Thread starter): Then we have Dugan Kinetics that offers an EP-80 ejector thrust reverser that they claim offer a 5-10 % fuel burn reduction depending on the flight profile.
AA was supposed to be interested, but have still not made any order from any information that I have been able to find.
Airliners member pfletch1228 have started two topics about this before, but they are now archived, and more than a year old, so time for an update Dugan MD80 Fuel Reduction Mod Test Results (by pfletch1228 Mar 24 2010 in Civil Aviation)
SASMD82 From Netherlands, joined Mar 2007, 549 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 5151 times:
Good news to keep these great birds in the sky for a longer period. I am afraid that this will not apply for Europe as SAS has announced to withdraw the MDs. Also, Alitalia will stop flying with these birds soon, so no European carrier will fly MD80's again, I guess?
MDShady From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 74 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 5097 times:
I don't know if any carrier would bite on this. An improvement or re-engine program would've probably been much more prominent/successful if it was introduced in the 80's or early 90's.
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 4806 times:
AA ordering this kit is obviously dependent on how long they are going to keep the MD-80's and how soon that company could produce them. AA could very easily make the trailing edge flap fairing themselves just as they did with the low drag tail cones. Some of the mods would be relatively easy to accomplish, like fairings. Others like slat seals would be more labor intensive and would require an MBV.
On the super98 site it's mentioned that flight tests were supposed to be conducted last year. I wonder if this happened and what were the results.
Quoting OyKIE (Thread starter): Finally I have not found out anything yet about ongoing cockpit mods or cabin mods. DL (NW) installed 717 interior in the DC-9. It should be possible for the MD-80 as well. Some of AA’s MD-80 leases expire in 2024. In that time frame the NextGen ATC might force some cockpit updates for the MD-80 down the road.
Just because the lease expires in 2024 does not mean AA will fly them that long. As for the interiors as of right now AA has no plans, that I know of, of any mods. They did put in the bin extensions and took out the aft galley's.
OyKIE From Norway, joined Jan 2006, 2577 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 4367 times:
Quoting KLASM83 (Reply 4): It sure is. Allegiant has some ex-Aeromexico MD-88's that have the 717-esque interior, and I must say they are the sharpest MD-80 interiors around.
Some SAS MD-80 has the same interior bins as the MD-90. Not sure how different they are from the 717, or if they are the same.
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 5): Just because the lease expires in 2024 does not mean AA will fly them that long.
No, but it gives a hint that if they can find easy ways to keep the MD economical and efficient, then why switch? In 2024 the youngest MD-80 will only be 25 years old.
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 6): I know that's a typo but I still think it sounds better than the original!
Did not see that before now
Quoting KLASM83 (Reply 7): To be fair, IMHO, the noise an MD-80 makes is pretty alluring.
The sound of the MD-80
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N243NW From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1494 posts, RR: 21 Reply 9, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 4359 times:
Quoting KLASM83 (Reply 7): To be fair, IMHO, the noise an MD-80 makes is pretty alluring.
I love everything about the -80. I hope whatever mods out on the market will continue to provide extended life to this beauty. The sound of the old Pratts is a refreshing change from all the generic IAEs and CFMs out there today.
Quoting OyKIE (Reply 8): 2024 the youngest MD-80 will only be 25 years old.
Thanks for mentioning that. For some reason I thought it was 1997 and not 1999, but with a little research I discovered you're right. Golly, that's a spring chicken for a Mad Dog.
TSS From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 2870 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (2 years 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 4264 times:
Quoting N243NW (Reply 9): I love everything about the -80. I hope whatever mods out on the market will continue to provide extended life to this beauty.
As do I.
Also, when was the last time an MD-80 popped an impromptu sunroof?
Able to kill active threads stone dead with a single post!
Haven't heard anything about Dugan Kinetics in a while. Time for me to do some digging...
Last time I asked, I got told that the mods only become feasible if oil skyrockets again. At the moment, increased opex cost is more than offset by decreased capex (acquisition) cost. Unfortunately, the easiest way to make an MD more effecient is to fly it on shorter sectors. These mods only really make a noticeable difference on longer sectors.
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Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15872 posts, RR: 66 Reply 13, posted (2 years 3 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 3702 times:
Quoting tdscanuck (Reply 12): Quoting TSS (Reply 10):
Also, when was the last time an MD-80 popped an impromptu sunroof?
Douglas didn't use the same fuselage fatigue design philosophy as Boeing. Notice which one is still in production...
Well played. Very well played.
I get the impression that Douglas tended to go with methods that gave excellent quality and durability, but also relatively high cost. The bleed air instead of wiper blades mentioned in another thread is a perfect example.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (2 years 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3388 times:
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 13): I get the impression that Douglas tended to go with methods that gave excellent quality and durability, but also relatively high cost.
Douglas from a structural standpoint made an excellent product. From a maintenace perspective they are not always the most user freindly aircraft in the world.
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 13): The bleed air instead of wiper blades mentioned in another thread is a perfect example.
I've never come a across a Boeing or Douglas product that used bleed air instead of wiper blades. the only aircraft I have ever seen with that is the F-14.
Quoting tdscanuck (Reply 12): Douglas didn't use the same fuselage fatigue design philosophy as Boeing. Notice which one is still in production...
That has more to do with Douglas trying to rehash older products instead of using a clean sheet of paper. When they tried to update old designs it did not work out as well as they hoped, i.e. the MD-11 and MD-90.
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Did not see that before now 
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