Farewell To Air Canada's DC-9s

yow · Tue Jan 01, 2002 11:13 am

Tonight marks the end of era in Canadian aviation history as Air Canada is retiring the last of its DC-9s today. The nines served AC for nearly 35 years and will be missed. Sad

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Photo © Felix Sieder

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Photo © Chris Sheldon

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Photo © Lari-Pekka Kero

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Photo © Gary C. Orlando

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Photo © John Davies

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Photo © Roland Herzog

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Photo © Henry Jr Godding
at my hometown airport YOW

717fan · Tue Jan 01, 2002 11:23 am

I hope they will come back with Air Canada as Boeing 717.....

BOEING747-700 · Tue Jan 01, 2002 11:24 am

Me to, I flew one of Air Canada's D9s to PHL back in Aug 99 and found it great.

A330DAT · Tue Jan 01, 2002 12:19 pm

I will miss them too. It's like part of the company that disappears. When you were thinking Air Canada, you knew the DC-9 was a part of it, so used to seeing them around and so common as they were, still a beautiful aircraft that has served well.

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aamd11 · Tue Jan 01, 2002 12:24 pm

I never liked them much but they will be missed by anyone who saw them regularly for different reasons.
You can always tell when a nine is going into Ottawa, they are the loudest aircraft, and one glance into the air proves it.

Will be missed by many.
Farewell DC-9

yow · Tue Jan 01, 2002 1:01 pm

Their official retirement is actually tomorrow morning when the final 3 aircraft that departed YYZ this evening return on the morning YQT-YYZ, YQB-YYZ and YQM-YYZ runs.

Aamd11 glad to see someone else is from YOW. That makes at least 5 of us now.

AC340 · Tue Jan 01, 2002 6:23 pm

Indeed it is sad to see those wonderful birds finally retired. They served Air Canada well for many years. They were true work horses that will not soon forgotten.

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Photo © Paul Jongeneelen

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Photo © Frank Schaefer

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Photo © Richard Chase

slawko · Wed Jan 02, 2002 1:08 am

Typical Air Canada style the planes are parked with no acknowledgement of their service to the company for 35 years. When delta parked the L1011 they had a big send off...meanwhile Air Canada's nines, will be parked on some apron some place never to be thought of again. I guess if it's not plastic AC does not care about it anymore, even though it's the only plane if the fleet that pays for it self at least twice a month.

Airontario · Wed Jan 02, 2002 1:41 am

The Dc-9 will be missed for its short range service i remember well my fir Dc-9 flight YOW-YYZ it was sort but fun

delta-flyer · Wed Jan 02, 2002 1:57 am

I'll never forget my first AC DC-9 flight -- YYZ-YUL in August of 1968, in first class. My buddy and I were driving his 1961 Triumph from Montreal to Chicago when it expired on the 401 near Islington Avenue exit. So we flew home (to YUL), using our AC Youth card -- 1/2 fare, standby. I think the full fare then was about $20-25, one way, so I paid half that.

I remember waiting several hours for my name to come to the top of the list. Finally, word came from the a/c that there is one more seat, so I was told to board and take the empty seat. I did, and took the empty seat I saw in First class. I guess they meant for me to go to economy, but since the FA's did not see me getting on, rather than checking every boarding pass, I heard them say that there is still one more empty seat, so they let the next one on. I was now secure in first class.

I never liked the DC-9 much (bothered my ears), but I'll still miss them.

Cheers
Pete

Guest · Wed Jan 02, 2002 2:04 am

It's certainly going to be the end of a familiar sight. Their service with Air Canada spanned five decades, from the '60s to the 2000s.

When the DC-9 era arrived at AC, the country was just getting used to the new flag, Mike Pearson was prime minister with the now-forgotten Robert Winters waiting to take over (hardly anyone was paying attention to the ambitions of a rookie politician from Montreal, newly elected in '65, named Pierre Trudeau), hippiedom and the mini-skirt were illustrating the sharp contrast between that and the previous decade, and AC's home town was gearing up for Expo.

One of AC's new DC-9s even played a starring role of sorts in the 1967 movie Wait Until Dark.

The disappearance of the DC-9 marks the disappearance of a workhorse that remained a constant in a rapidly changing country.

Can anyone imagine the BAC 1-11 or the Caravelle lasting as long in AC's fleet?

BaliMorris · Wed Jan 02, 2002 5:12 am

It's very sad to see them go from AC's fleet. I flew on them many times on Rapidair Ottawa from YYZ. My last flight on an AC DC-9 was around Jan/Feb 2001 from YYZ-BOS. It was a very cosy aircraft. I can't say I ever minded all the noise.

SafetyDude · Wed Jan 02, 2002 5:17 am

I flew them to Quebec City. They were really great ACs!
Hmm. Perhaps I should upload pics of DC-9 at Quebec City.
I'll miss them Crying

-Will

fallingeese · Wed Jan 02, 2002 5:19 am

The DC-9 made a huge impact on the Canadian Aviation industry. It's a shame that it has to come to an end. Lets not forget that the 737-200 was also huge in Canada, and though it still putters on, the end can't be long. We can only be left to wonder...if Westjet had gotten the DC-9, the aircraft that it initially wanted to use, would the DC-9 still be flying in Canada?

I wonder why nobody is mourning the soon lose of the F-28 in Canada...lol.

VonRichtofen · Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:30 am

Damn....my first flight EVER was on an Air Canada DC-9
YYC-YVR back in '91. I've always loved the little DC-9, I haven't seen one for ages! Truly sad day indeed.

Regards,
Kris from YYC

flyboy80 · Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:57 am

Bye AC dc-9s! Hey lets vote a litte peeps, does anyone know the replacment for the plane ive heard its the CRJ but what if it was to be a 717 or a A318???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
What Cha THINK!

quebecair727 · Wed Jan 02, 2002 8:36 am

Flew many times on the 9. Never liked it very much even though it was a good bird.

To Mcdougald:

No doubt the BAC1-11 and Caravelle would have not lasted as long as the DC9. You are well aware that both were considered back in 1965 when the decision to buy a twin jet was made. I know that somewhere around Montreal, there is a model of an Air Canada BAC1-11. I have not seen it but I heard about it. It was apparently given to AC by BAC. Gee, I'd like to see that. Wonder what it's worth?

Guest · Wed Jan 02, 2002 10:52 am

Quebecair727 wrote: "...both were considered back in 1965"

I read in some book somewhere that both the French and British governments were doing a fair bit of lobbying at the time on behalf of the Caravelle and the BAC 1-11 respectively.

Apparently there was further lobbying in the late '70s when Air Canada went shopping for a wide-bodied twinjet. AC management was leaning toward the 767, while the Trudeau government was allegedly more favourable to the A300/A310 as a means of improving Canadian-European relations. Had Trudeau won the '79 election, he might have brought enough pressure to bear to make AC an A300/A310 operator. Instead, Joe Clark won. He wasn't interested in the issue, so AC moved quickly to close a deal with Boeing.

I wonder if similar lobbying took place on behalf of the Trident or the Mercure? I think they were still in production when AC ordered 727s in the early-to-mid '70s.

gmonney · Wed Jan 02, 2002 11:16 am

I was at YYZ for one of the last departures of the DC-9 today...It might sound wierd but I did tip my hat to that Great Aircraft when it was leaving.

For the past week, my desktop is a picture of the DC-9 with the other work horse the 732, a great shot from YUL i think!!! I never had a chance to fly on the DC-9 but I'm sure I would have really enjoyed it.

Grant

Dash8King · Wed Jan 02, 2002 12:13 pm

I don't think they plan on replacing the DC-9 right now becuase they are trying to downsize am I right?

CanadianDC10 · Wed Jan 02, 2002 1:10 pm

I will miss Air Canada's DC-9's. Too bad they had to retire them earlier than expected. They still would've been around for another year or two, since AC was planning to retire them throughout 2003.

If AC were to choose a plane to replace them, they would probably choose the A318 because most planes in their fleet are Airbus for fleet commonality.

fallingeese · Wed Jan 02, 2002 2:09 pm

He we go again another what will replace the DC-9/F-28/737...lol

the answer...
With what money!!!!!!!!!

quebecair727 · Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:31 pm

To McDougald,

I have no doubt in my mind that Hawker-Sideley and Dassault came knocking on AC's purchasing department door. But frankly, I doubt they were even consider as potential supplier.

Yes, I remember that Trudeau's Government was incline to favour Airbus over Boeing. But I think that Air Canada had a lot of problems with the last european made aircraft (Vanguard) and they did not want to experience that kind of problem again.

When it came time to replace the 727, Airbus had made their proof. The weakness of the CDN $ against the US $ certainly played a part into the decision process. I think Airbus was then cheaper.

UALPHLCS · Thu Jan 03, 2002 12:58 am

Does anyone know what will replace the NINE on the PHL route. Ive been seeing more Canadian 737-200's but I hope we get A319's. I guess I'll find out when I get to work today. I Worked AC last night. Watched as we pushed it. I never realized it was the last flight I would work with a DC-9.

Guest · Thu Jan 03, 2002 1:36 am

Indeed, a fond farewell to the Air Canada DC-9.

I have very fond memories of this aircraft. In high school, I played hookey one day, and flew to Halifax and back the same day on a DC-9. (mom never suspected a thing, as my plane landed at Pearson in time to get me home from "school" for dinner! LOL). That was 1982, and I believe I paid a total return fare of $142.00, or something like that.

I also flew the DC-9 in January, 1987, when I flew from Toronto to Timmins (stop at North Bay), on a DC-9 to visit my O.P.P brother, stationed in a town called
Hornepayne, Ont. (200 miles North of Timmins). I will never forget the sight of the beautiful Canadian forests, covered in snow, from 17,000 feet, where I sat on the DC-9, eating the breakfast of an omelette and grilled tomato.

Farewell to a great Canadian workhorse.

Canadi>nBoy
YYZ

trintocan · Thu Jan 03, 2002 1:40 am

I flew on the AC DC9s twice, from Winnipeg to Saskatoon and from Saskatoon to Toronto way back in 1979. They were reasonable flights - after all I was familiar with DC9s having flown BWIA's examples several times before that. I have myself been amazed by how long they have hung around in AC's fleet.

It is sad to see them go.

Trintocan.

YWG · Thu Jan 03, 2002 2:04 am

Lucky me

, when I was in YYZ on Dec. 29, I got a pic of one and the cn tower in the back.

lymanm · Thu Jan 03, 2002 3:43 am

I've had a few experiences on an AC DC-9 over the years, most notably was a jumpseat into YOW (my hometown, although I currently live in Montreal) from YHZ and the crew sarcastically joking about the 9 being 'almost a glass cockpit' referring to the electronic TCAS/VSI. A friend's brother tham flies them loves'em cuz they were AC's only 'steam driven' airplane.

yow · Thu Jan 03, 2002 4:14 am

Great to see all the fond memories of the nines. My last AC DC-9 flight was back in 98 flying YOW-YYZ.

yyz717 · Thu Jan 03, 2002 4:35 am

YYZ-PHL will now primarily be the 732 on AC.

markk · Thu Jan 03, 2002 4:51 am

My last memory of this bird will be on a flight from YQM to YYZ on Dec 5th. I was sitting on row thirteen and shifted my legs. My feet tore half of the wiring(that was already loose) up for the isle path lighting. Old bird. Lots of history I am sure.

Mark

AC_B777 · Thu Jan 03, 2002 4:55 am

Hey all,

It's great to read all the remarks of AC's DC-9's, I know I have many memories of them.
However, we have taken C-FTMV fin #747 out of retirement. She will be paying a visit to YYT in an hour or so. It will be doing a flight that was supposed to be done by an A319, but something went wrong and they had to take a Nine from the fence line at YUL to do the flight.
So, have we actually seen the last flight of our DC-9's? Maybe these planes will pop-up every now and then. Who knows, they might not be fully retired afterall.

AC_B777

gmonney · Thu Jan 03, 2002 5:00 am

Are you going to post it on A.Net or could you send me a copy for personal use.....have as my desktop!!!

I think it would be a great toronto pic by the sounds of it!!

Grant

USAFHummer · Thu Jan 03, 2002 7:14 am

Im gonna miss the AC DC-9 at PHL, thats two operators at PHL that have dumped their nines in the past few months (US, AC), but Im looking forward to the AC 732 at PHL since they will be the only scheduled 732 operator into PHL now I think, since FL retired theirs...

Greg

Guest · Thu Jan 03, 2002 7:27 am

Correct me if I am wrong, the retirement of the Air Canada DC-9s means they will no longer have McDonnell Douglas built airliners in their fleet. They will have only Airbus and Boeing built aircraft.

quebecair727 · Thu Jan 03, 2002 8:50 am

Answer to TEDSKI:

Your observation is incomplete. They will have Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier.

yow · Fri Jan 04, 2002 12:47 pm

Yeah can't forget the CRJs.

Cessnapimp · Fri Jan 04, 2002 1:30 pm

'bout the nine's future...

I work at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa and I believe our curators are working with AC for the delivery of a DC-9 to the Museum. (It would arrive by road, of course, the runway being 3500 ft long) I sure hope it works so I, and the visitors of course, can see one every day!

It would make a fantastic addition to a collection which, as rich in its diversity as it is, lacks modern day commercial aviation examples.

Cheers!
Grégoire

yow · Sun Jan 06, 2002 4:59 am

That would be awesome if that were to happen. Smile

AirCanadaGuy · Sun Jan 06, 2002 5:07 am

Re Dc9 retrieing!!

Well folks there still flying!!!!!! Go figure that one.. Once they will be parked. There going to a hanger in North Bay. They sure are a work horse of a plane! I'm sure we will see them back in service in the near future!

AC

crank · Sun Jan 06, 2002 5:26 am

I can't believe I will not hear the loud engines of the 9 departing for New York as I walk to school, it makes me feel so bad.

Luckily I flew one of them this summer for the YYZ-YUL leg, It was at night, and I especially remember that particular smell that is not found in the newer planes. At the end of the flight I went to the cockpit to take a picture and I had a chat with the pilot, it was so great.

I'll miss you DC-9.

hugo · Sun Jan 06, 2002 10:43 am

You can continue to fly some ex-AC DC 9's with Cebu Pacific.

SafeFlyer · Sun Jan 06, 2002 10:52 am

A so great a/c. I remember back in the mid-90's, my first flight ever was on a DC-9,YOW-YYZ, the first remark I made to my father was; Wow, it's small, but I think that when the engines are at the back, I'll feel safer. I was a bit innocent at that time. But, I can remember that I just felt safe on that small bird!
GoodBye DC-9.

(Hey YOW, you can add a 6th person who lives in YOW area!)
Cessnapimp, are you still drawing pictures of L-1011 C-FTNC, at the museum? or A310's of Aircanapêche Laugh out loud

Cheers and Happy Flying, SafeFlyer.

Guest · Sun Jan 06, 2002 1:01 pm

How many YOW people are there in total?

Cessnapimp · Sun Jan 06, 2002 2:19 pm

SafeFlyer,

What can I say...
once an AT F/A, always an AT F/A!

Ha!
Back to the subject though, now that DC-9 are "officially" retired, the F- 28 reigns supreme at YOW for turning JP7 into noise!

H. Simpson · Sun Jan 06, 2002 3:00 pm

why don't you tell me early man, so I could go to LGA and weep. Crying

yow · Tue Jan 08, 2002 4:49 am

Actually F28s rarely come into YOW anymore. Only for DND flights operated by CRA. As for the DC-9s I have read that 3 will remain as backups until the 12th of Jan.

yow · Tue Jan 08, 2002 12:32 pm

I see flightarrivals.com lists the 2200 YOW-YYZ Rapidair this evening as being a DC-9.

Boeingfan · Tue Jan 08, 2002 5:16 pm

Oh too bad, the AC DC 9's were configured very comfortably! 33 inch pitch in coach and plenty of leg room in F! Very comfortable aircraft. They will be missed.

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