I Flew On Europe's LAST MD-80s!
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- Опубликовано: 16 дек 2023
- The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is, arguably, one of the most iconic looking airliners out there. With almost 1200 built between 1979 and 1999, it was one of the most popular airliners ever produced by McDonnell Douglas.
Sadly though, they are being retired quite quickly around the world in recent years, especially with American and Delta retiring theirs in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
However, in summer 2023, there was one last remaining operator of the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 in the European Union - Bulgarian charter airline European Air Charter!
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FLIGHT INFORMATION
Airline: European Air Charter (BUC)
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (MD82)
Flight Number: BUC6106/6135
Seat: 32F/30F
Livery: Standard
Engines: 2x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217C
Registration: LZ-LDJ/LZ-LDP
Route: Dresden (DRS) - Burgas (BOJ) - Vienna (VIE)
Callsign: EUROCHARTER 6106/6135
Runway used: 22 (DRS) - 04 (BOJ) - 16 (VIE)
Date filmed: July 2023
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Outro song - "Take Flight" by Nyhtian: • Nyhtian - Take Flight ...
© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2023
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission. Contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.
Fantastic video! I’m glad that my post on the FB page helped you by booking this trip😊
You're an absolute LEGEND for helping so many people get flights on these!
Last Flight of LZ-LDJ was Frankfurt to sofia on October 1st. And stayed there ever since ... 🫡
Im so happy i flew on this plane last year
I never flew it
🫡
@@BlueDot149 no they don't
@@alex-aviation9890 i saw it on flightradar24 for some reason
Quite rare footage, not only because of the type of aircraft, but also because you can really feel how the engines push the aircraft forward during take-off thanks to the throaty, vibrating sound.
I miss flying on these wonderful old Douglas/McDonnell Douglas jets.. I traveled a lot on them when Finnair, SAS, Swissair and Iberia had them, they have just so much more character than the modern stuff.
My father is working in the weather department of Sofia Airport for 30+ years, he is currently in the new terminal 2 Tower and he went to couple of destinations flying the MD of European Charter. To this day this is his favorite plane and him and many of the pilots he knows from the company miss it big time. And that is a person who pretty much flew on everything besides A350 and B747. He traveled the world yet this old bird was the only plane that made him REALLY excited.
I lived one year in Sofia, really love the Tu-154 parked in front of Terminal 1. Hope he managed to fly on it too :)
Love the applause on landing! As a 64-year-old who's flown for the last 63 years, it's hard to imagine the skies being free of MDs. Thank you for sharing this one--it brings back a lot of great memories of trips gone by.
The MD80 will always a special place in my heart! It was the first ever aircraft I ever flew on when I was about 4 years old to visit my grandmother who was living in Florida at the time. This plane basically cemented my love for aviation as a whole! Great Footage Alex!! ❤
Thank you so much for making this video! I worked as an MD82 pilot between 2016 and 2022 and I have the fondest memories flying it. I did also flew their 320s and went on to fly A330 for another company, but this plane is my favourite one. Once again, thank you for bringing back some nice memories!✌🏻✈️
Whats all the company's you worked for ????
You'll have to visit Australia in the next few months before QantasLink retire their 717s!
Delta still use a lot of them as they have been by far the largest user of them but will be retiring their fleet by December 2025. I flew on one from JFK to Tampa in 1A and being so far in front of the engines it was really quiet and relaxing. Great aircraft.
Nice to see that you found a reason to fly to my homeland country of Bulgaria. 🙂 Back in 2005 I flew an Altalia MD-82 SOF-MXP . I remember it well because that's the only time I've entered a plane through the tail section door. Back then I wasn't very impressed by the tail entrance and the plane. 🙂
The tail exit is awesome. Such a unique aircraft.
Sad to see such characterful aircraft disappearing from the sky. I never got to fly on an MD, but I was lucky enough to sample a DC9 many many years ago and it was quite a beast! Back in the day when we were served actual sandwiches on a 1 hour flight! I'll also miss the 757s which are becoming rare these days. Used to love the roar and the sheer power of these things as they took off!!
Sadly I never managed to fly on an MD-80 but I'm glad I spotted some of the the last flights with European Air Charter at my home airport in Stuttgart.
Love from Germany
I worked on these for years as a flight attendant for TWA STL to SEA to ANC
Happy days 👍🇺🇲
i always loved these. both flying on them, and seeing them. and this is a wonderfully clean example.
I’ve never doubted your bona fides but in case there were any doubters, sitting next to an engine on a Mad Dog on purpose certainly clinched your standing as a true av-geek! I’m glad you got to use the tail stairs, these were on the DC-9s and their offspring as well as the 727s and were commonly used before jet bridges were everywhere. The boarding and deplaning process took only half the time of using a single door, plus you got some great views of the plane from the rear that way. Great video trip report, as always. Thank you.
Indeed. The tail stairs were a trait of that Era.
I remember that "weed whacker" sound of those engines from when I used to ride in these... the first time I was like, "is that... normal?" Apparently it was.
@@samkass9039 It was.😃
I had the opportunity to fly on the MD-82 from Billund to Varna. I feel fortunate, especially considering there were two flights-one to Burgas operated by an A320-that were closer to our hotel. However, the tour agency for some odd reason put us on the Varna flight instead. Imagine my awe when I saw the MD-82! I had no idea we would be flying on it. Unfortunately, I was very sleep-deprived that day due to a 4-hour trip from Copenhagen to Billund. As a result, I slept through the entire flight, but I made sure to stay awake for the takeoff and landing.
14:55 - many times used Tu-154 in my life. Very cool airplane!
Thanks for reminding me of the trip that I also took in 2023
BHX-BOJ - Sunwing B738 C-FYJD
BOJ-CGN EAC MD82 LZ-LDP
CGN-LHR Eurowings A319 D-AGWM
👍
I flew on many Maddogs back when they basically ruled the US airspace...flying on mainly DL, AA, AS, G4 and QQ (Reno Air). My first flight ever on as a solo pax was on an AirCal MD-80 (DC-9 Super 80). Back when we took the existence of the Maddogs were taken for granted.
Thank you for your video. I live in Europe and in 1980 I had a night flight from Luton to Rome Ciampino on a Itavia Flight, DC-9. At one point, the captain dimmed the cabin a lot and he just told us, "Hey guys, take a nap" and we did. I travelled a lot in MD-80s and DC-9 but my favourate airplane was the Boeing 727. Climbing from the back stairs was thrilling and unforgettable.
Wow I wasn't aware of those tail exits, super cool!
Flew Eastern Airlines DC-9s many times in the late 70's early 80s. Great airline and great airplane. Good memories. Thanks Alex!
It's used to fly on an MD 83 as a child with airtours and SAS. They were like a rocket ship upon take off
For me it was Delta MD88 from Cincinnati to Orlando near the front and a Northwest DC9 with power back from Detroit to Buffalo.
That was so iconic Alex... :):):) Thank you for sharing this with us...:):):)
McDonnell Douglas aircraft in general are pretty much gone from Europe. Last MD-11s flew with Lufthansa Cargo in 2021, MD-90s and Boeing 717s are also absent. So these are pretty much the last McDonnell Douglas planes in Europe apart from maybe a few preserved Dc-3s.
Wonderfully made video!!
You got to use the air stairs in the tail!!! Epic! xD
Aw man... That was pretty awesome. I love these planes, many fond memories from summer holidays across Europe.
4:35 - They literally changed that last week (10-17 december 2023). Rest of Schengen finally voted it through and BG is gonna be border crossing without ID checks. But you'll always be asked to show ID to get on an EU flight, even between Schengen countries.
I worked at Munich airport until 2018 and I remember these planes well.
You could always tell when one was taking off.
Recently I did some plane spotting with my son and I remember two of them taking off.
The MD82 is a good example why it is important to have modern jets.
Many A320 are older than many of the last MD82 that were retired and the A320 keeps on flying.
Lufthansa has kept some of their A320 for over 30 years
Yup I use to fly on The MD-83 back then when I was kid so Alex I'm glad you get too fly on them man keep going 100%
Count me as a fellow nerd, I love sitting in that same spot on the 717 for the exact same reason. The Rolls Royce engine has a slightly different timbre than the P&W but still great. Looking at finding a Delta flight on one before they’re retired in 2024.
Fantastic! Seeing this brought me to tears. I’m a big fan of this plane in general and knowing how rare they are. ❤
I flew my last MD80s in 2011…I certainly didn’t think anything of it at the time but that’s how it worked out. I’ll always have a soft spot for them.
Thank you. Miss these and appreciate you sharing
Commuted on MD-80s for many years, good ol' canoes and fine memories!
What a great video! I too am a fan of the Mad Dog and also the DC-9! My second flight was on an Eastern Airlines DC-9-30 back in the early 80's the first being a TWA B-707! I have flown on the DC-9-10, 30, 40, 50, MD-80, 87, 90, and 95 (B-717). Every model except the hot rod DC-9-20! I always liked the 5 abreast seating and that they were so quiet when sitting toward the front plus the fact they were built like tanks!
That engine sound is fantastic!
Love the video especially uesing the stairs at the back
I noticed the clapping from passengers after they landed on first landing i just got home from Mexico on a dream liner west jet and i clapped and stewardess says they dont like that the captain i always did it because i appreciated getting me there safe
Im i wrong to clap lol
Hawaiian 717s all day long still going strong 💪 (I enjoyed your HA video ❤)
Excellent video. I have flown with this very same aicraft myself in 2010 when it was still Alitalia. Reg. I-DATM. Good memories, the MD-80 is by far my favourite aircraft!
Great video. My second favorite jet (second to the MD-90) It was such a sad day when Delta dropped the 80s and 90s. You flew on the classic MD-80 configuration with a few rows of seats behind the galley. Always loved hiding back there on a late flight. All my MD-80 flights never got to go out the back, as you commented how great it must have been to take the DB Cooper exit. On second look it appears that I was wrong and your MD-80 did not have seats behind the rear galley. I see the 2nd flight you took did have the classic two rows behind the galley
What a thrill to get to walk inside the TU-154, amazing video Alex
From 2014 to 2016 I worked for AA in IAH. All of our DFW flights and occasionally ORD flights would be MD-80's. One night we were parking the last arrival from DFW at our last available gate. The jet bridge would not work even after maintenance worked on it for about an hour. The pilots finally asked if we had opened the AFT stairs yet. We told him we have, so he asked us for a ground power unit and an air conditioning cart. He wanted those because he knew how insanely loud it was in the tail cone. We provided those and we proceeded to deplane using solely the AFT stairs. Lots of people taking pictures and video. Never saw any of it on YT though. Cool to see them used though! Especially in the USA who LOVES their jet bridges.
Have flow 3 times on the B717. Absolutely my favourite plane to fly on.
I took a flight from MD-83 back in 2004 from Toronto to Newark. Sure it was built by McDonell-Douglas, but It was the only Douglas designed aircraft I had ever flown.
Had not realized they retired the last one in October 😢
There goes my chance to still fly a mad dog
Thanks for sharing. I’ve flown with ex Mad Dog pilots and they all said they loved it. Apparently it could join the ILS at 10nm at 3000’ flying at 320kts and still be able to slow down as it has extremely effective speed brakes and you can even partially deploy the thrust reversers inflight. i didn’t even think that was possible.
Hey Alex if you want to fly another MD-80 a bit closer to home you can try red air of Dominica!
Thank you for this fantastic video! I haven't even finished watching, but I very much enjoy your way of depicting this awesome experience and your commenting. I had the pleasure to fly on a Delta MD-90 as well as on their MD-88 back in in 2018 during a school exchange with the US. The departure out of Milwaukee on the '88 was incredible with that JT8D roar from seat 30A followed by probably the steepest climb I've experienced. Greetings from Germany!
This brings memories of my childhood flying (many times alone) the Swissair MD-80's. Also left many times the plane trough the rear exit. Great video!
Good grief, I remember KLM using them in 1966, I was 19 imagine. The tail stairs were on my all time favorite aircraft
the Caravelle. Why KLM bought Electra's was beyond me, I had hoped they would buy the Sud Aviation Caravelle.
Alex, this was for me just one of THE best videos, the sound, the endless take off roll, I thought you guys were going to drive to Vienna. When I saw the stretched to the max DC-9 for the first time, I found and find it amazing that the thing can
actually fly. the huge forward fuselage, tiny wings and right away the engines.
Thanks Alex, I was 19 again for a little while.
Greetings to all from YVR
KLM used the standard DC-9, not the later MD-80, although the MD-80 is officially certified as a DC-9. MD-80 is basically a marketing name.
Thank you very much for sharing your Remembrance! I must confess I flew only two times in my Life on a Mad Dog: Back in 1997 from Hamburg to Helsinki and back with MD-87 of Finnair. Finnair was for Decades a loyal Douglas and McDonnell Douglas Customer before switching to Airbus when MD was bought by Boeing in 1997.
Great video as usual Alex I had the pleasure of working on DC-9 in the US Air Force in the early '90s it was a dream airplane to work on so easy.
Another great video and I, like you, enjoyed flying the MD-80's...I happened to work for an airline that flew them so I got to ride them often. I enjoyed your trip to the museum of airliners very much. Thanks! Take care and have a great day!
Outstanding Video, Alex! Thanks for making the trip! I remember sitting at the back of AA Mad Dogs and AC DC-9s to enjoy the JT8Ds. Great memories.
While visiting the beaches of Dominican Republic in October, I was able to admire a daily takeoff of a stunning MD-82 from the pool. Laser Airlines still seem to operate with MD-80s from Caracas to several cities around the Caribbean Sea, if somebody wants to have an experience of flying in one.
RIP gorgeous girl ... did some shots from her while spotting this summer already fearing it might be the last time.
One of the best Airliner ever ! Only a few Airliners had a climb rate like the DC9
I am from Burgas and here planes li this land every day!
So funny that you are amazed at using the rear exit! I dis this dozens of times when I was a kid, in the 70s and 80s, and never thought twice about it.
My dad was working for Swissair, so we were flying for free. The DC-9 was our usual pane to travel in Europe. I also took the Caravelle many times: it also had the rear exit if I remember well.
Also took Tupolev and Ilyushin from the Romanian airline, Tarom. I remember taking one with a glass nose (to allow conversion to bomber) when flying from Bucharest to Tel Aviv.
This makes me feel so old, and I'm only 52...
Thank you for the video I enjoyed watching it. I’ve also been to the Burgas air museum and absolutely loved it for the same reasons as yourself! My flight there from Manchester (England) on a 737 was entertaining as we had an emergency landing in Hannover due to a medical emergency so watching the emergency procedures unfold was very interesting as it was my first experience of that.
I’m pretty certain I’ve flown on a few MD80 family aircraft but it was before I was particularly interested in aircraft so bore far less significance back then. Thanks again!
I had the pleasure of previously flying on an MD 80 out of Great Falls Montana to Mesa Arizona on low cost Alegiant airlines. Pretty cool considering that no airlines in Canada fly the MD 80 anymore or haven't for a very long time. Of course my flight was back in 2015 so don't know if Alegiant still Flys them or not.
Sadly, Allegiant got rid of them pre 2017 i believe
Hi Alex I thought I was the only one that enjoyed the MD80 and DC9.My first flight from long beach to San Francisco was on a BAE-146 Wisper Jet.Top wing Four engines.i thought Wow I hit the jackpot right off the bat flying.Than on my way back to Long Beach I was scheduled on the same type plane.When I arrived looking out I saw a DC9 Super80 at my gate.I thought oh this day is getting better.I boarded and sat in the back.It took of like a Rocket and seamed to go straight up towards the sky.I loved it.Than a a week later I was changing planes in Cincinnati to Baltimore and again I was changed to a DC9.But this time I was the only passenger besides two flight attendants and two pilots.I had to sit in the front between the two ladies but this time the pilots left the cockpit doors open so we could see out the front.Wow what a trip that was.Thank you for sharing your story I enjoyed it very much ..
A heavy hitter. A friend and I went out of our way to fly the last flight on an MD out of KIAG - KSFB on allegiant in 2018. Second hand MDs built that airline into what it is today. An emotional experience. The captain was very kind in letting us sit up front for a pic at the end. He wasn’t looking forward to the airbus transition…
Yeh some people just love to risk their lives with old crappy technology
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 allegiant never had a single serious incident, but nice try. Stay scared under your rock buddy.
@@chiefrainingstereotype.4184 MD80s have had lots of accidents and are inferior in every metric to an A320. Sorry to burst your bubble
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 I would hope so.. they were from a completely separate generation of airliner development… good apples to oranges comparison tho! Good luck finding an aviation loving pilot who prefers an airbus over an md btw..
@@chiefrainingstereotype.4184 Yeh I'm sure the pilots much prefer having more workload on an older less reliable,less safe aircraft.
Once again, a wonderfully enjoyable video from my favourite aviation enthusiasts. Even though I worked for nearly thirty years as cabin crew, flew the MDs several times as passenger (January 92 DUS-ADB-AYT and retour with TUR, a few times DUS-ACE-TFN with Aero Lloyd and Aviaco, and BOG-CTG in 1998. Oh and Spanair BCN-MUC on a B717. But I never worked on one.
I haven’t taken a flight since my retirement as a passenger - I have enough of travelling for the time being. I am not missing it at all. But I do like to watch your videos. Thanks Alex!
Beautiful planes. Remember the DC 9's. Tail stairs always fascinated me.😊Glad you had to opportunity to use tghem.
Amazing Video Alex! Loved seeing you depart from my home base. Dresden
Great video- thank you so much for sharing your Mad Dog experience!
I love this video! I'm a big Mad Dog fan and flew on these growing up. Great seat selection and loved the engine view as you exited in the rear. Thanks for posting!
Loved that video, one of my favourite planes.I flew the 80 series with Inex Adria Airlines from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik in the late 80's and with Airtours from Gatwick to Malta in the early 90's and also went on the flight deck.
Geek-wise, that was a fabulous treat for both you and your fellow online geeks. Thanks for sharing!
You can still fly on the Delta Boeing 717, which is basically a short MD80 with turbofans.
Cool video! Thanks for sharing. 😊
Funny enough, I'm from Long Beach California. Was watching this video at work when a customer leaned over the counter and said "McDonnell Douglas? Between myself, my dad, and my grandpa, we had 110 years of experience working there." He said he was there in 1995 worked on manufacturing the MD80 series of aircraft. Very likely he saw both of these aircraft on the production line during his time working there.
It could have been so. They were all former Alitalia-Aircrafts, which Alitalia sold then to Bulgarian Air Charter/ today: European Air Charter between 2010 and 2013. All-in-all 90 MD-80ies were delivered to Alitalia in the 1990ies, from which 25 were sold then to Bulgarian Air Charter, which retired their last six of them in October 2023 - the very last flight was done on Oct 21st, 2023 by the exact same plane with which Alex flew in July from Burgas to Vienna.
As you said Alex, the MD 82 design began as the DC 9. In the 70s I flew weekly for business mainly on Air Canada who had a big fleet of 9s. They were efficient and less noisy than airliners with wing mounted engines. A retired Air Canada pilot told me the 9s were the "race cars" of the industry and great to fly. I never flew the MD 80 series but I imagine the experience was similar.
Very nice video! I was also supposed to fly on one of these, but our flight changed, and i flew on a 737, I wish i had flown on that one also:D
As far as I'm aware, TezJet in Kyrgyzstan is still flying an MD-80, registration EX-80003. I flew on it in the summer of 2022!
Amazing video as always!
The first jet I every flew on was a DC9...thankfully in the no smoking section, lol. Thanks for sharing this awesome content.
'Same for me, fellow geezer AvGeek!
I'd flown on radial and turboprop types with TCA by then (Tans Canada Airlines). 🇨🇦
During 1965, there was the name change to Air Canada and their first DC-9 flights.
During early September of 1966, I flew the final leg back from FOX-3 (Dewar Lakes) DEWLine station 200 miles north of Montreal Arctic Circle from Montreal to Toronto on a brand new, first generation 'MAD DOG'!
Outbound in June on an Arctic Wolf Research project on west central Baffin Island, we'd done the first leg by Rapido Turbo Train, as I recall, but on our return to Ontario at the end of the Arctic summer, there was a railway strike effecting both CN and CP passenger rail services, so we became a part of the pioneering Jet Set for the first time! I.e. Our several Arctic legs of each passage to the Arctic and back were on Locheed Super Continentals as well as on C-47 Douglas Dakotas (DC-3s)!
'A wonderful video once again ALEX!!
🐺 🦊 🐺 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦 🐺 🦊 🐺
Thanks for sharing! As a kid I used to fly the MD-80 several times, as these were the main workhorse of the national Austrian carrier Austrian Airlines! The climb rate of these things was insane!
It’s the boarding and disembarking from the rear stairs that probably made it all come together. The best. Last time I remember doing so was when jetbridges wasn’t a thing back home prior to 2004.
In the early 90's, I flew on these every summer to and from Greece, Spain & Portugal. I loved them, especially taking a seat in the rear to experience those engines. The only thing was, back then, the rear of the aircraft was for passengers who smoked cigarettes. It's a shame these beauties are being retired. I loved your video. 10/10.
What an awesome video and experience ❤️🛩️
Thank you for your efforts and aviation passion.
Amazing video Alex. Love the “Mad dog” great engine sound! Last time I flew the Tupolev 154 was in 97 from LHR-SOF! Great experience. Growing up in Bulgaria in the 80’s I flown many of the former Soviet planes, the ones you saw in Burgas museum.
MD 80's are iconic designs. I loved flying on them, on old model DC 9's too.
Alex you are bagging all sorts of interesting aircraft. Go get 'em!!!!
The last time I flew a MD 80 was February 6 2017 from DFW to IND on American airlines. I always loved flying v the DC 9 and MD80.
New York Air was one of the early airlines taking delivery of the MD-80, late summer 1983. I remember that we were still uncertain about what to call it...DC 9-80, Super 80, or MD-80. Always featured on the timetables and our ads until we got the 737-300. NYA ad manager 1983-1986.
What a fantastic video. I have been on the DC9 / MD 80 many times in the past. Brings back good memories. Keep the blue side up (from another RUclipsr...) Regards from Denmark /Adam
Lucky you! Never had the chance to fly on any type of DC-9.
Loved the video. The DC9s and MD8X series have a special place in my heart. I flew a lot on both during the late 80s, 90s, and part of the 00s on Aeromexico and Aero California to visit family in Mexico. We'd usually fly LAX-CUL or TIJ-CUL. I did get to fly some of the AA MD-80s during my grad school days in the Midwest. I think my last flights on these were AM CUL-HMO-LAX on an MD-87 in 2001 and AA ORD-IND on an MD-83 in 2005-2007.
Took me back to the 1980s flying from LGW to Corsica with British Island Airways on a BAC1-11. The emergency exit row seats turned out to be two rows of 3 seats facing each other where you were guided in by the crew to sit arranged sardine style with your opposite neighbours for the entire flights. BUT the exit was tail stairs 😁. Boarding the return flight was interesting being blasted by a taxiing aircraft passing by as we were being boarded back aboard across the pan. Great memories but would I do iytnow? Errrr yes but skip the sardine exit row travel.
11:41 - Me being used to seeing RyanAir dump 'n drive landings, being very impressed. Looked like butter.
Outstanding video!! As a St Louisan who flew on these back in the TWA days it's pretty great to see Mad Dogs still providing passenger service. Last time I enjoyed one was on Delta in 2017 from Atlanta to Flint.
Such a bittersweet video. Thank you Alex!
❤
Alex Praglowski nuff respect to all your Videos on Aviation and Travel keep going and Dream Big on Aviation Man 100%
Another GREAT video. Thanks, Alex! I totally agree that this day trip to eastern europe to experience some of the last Mad Dogs was worth it!
Brought back memories from when i flew these birds in the 1990s for SAS 👌👌👌👍👍👍
Wonderful video man!