NWA DC-9's - how is it to fly?

[Patriot328]

Which is more fun to fly...DC-9, B737-200, or 727?

You forgot the 320!?!?!??

 

[Simon Says]

The only thing new in the second picture was the seat coverings....even the pilots are old!

 

[Fly Astar Jets]

Which is more fun to fly...DC-9, B737-200, or 727?

727-200 freighter. More fun, leg in leg out, than you can imagine playing with someone elses toy

 

[castle bravo]

DC in the DC9 stands for direct cable. Everything has a cable attached to it.



It even has a cable operated circuit breaker- the battery direct bus feed breaker is cable operated!

Look closely at the black window crank knobs (not visible in the pictures)- claimed to actually be DC-3 throttle knobs.

The radar in the third photo looks like the old monochromatic black & white version.

Altitude alerter- but NO altitude pre-select. Every level off in VSI- or by hand!

CAT II capable.

 

[Captain Jeff]

A DC-9 is a whistling, sshhiitt can. You and everything you own will smell like blue juice.

 

[Otto77]

I can only imagine the fun after flying a plane with an FMS that is taken granted for...being in the -9 and getting direct to a point only to have to dig out the charts and fly it manually without a box..old school skills..sounds like fun though!

 

[Dizel8]

727-200 freighter. More fun, leg in leg out, than you can imagine playing with someone elses toy

Not true, DC-8 freighter is mo' better!

 

[starvingredtail]

Great airplane. Goes fast and will slows down quick. They are all bent so work the trim. I really liked the -10's! What a sports car.

 

[exeagle]

Looks like one of the last real man's airplanes:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Nort..._id_DESC_&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=1129277

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Nort...C_&photo_nr=5&prev_id=0843912&next_id=0721206


http://www.airliners.net/photo/Nort...C_&photo_nr=9&prev_id=0574743&next_id=0108392


Is there an FMS? Looks like a CDU, but only on the right side?
What are the guys flying it saying? What are the positives/negatives?
Autoland?
Noise?
Space in the cockpit?

Thanks

I love the way it flies, but you will definitely feel like a zombie after a 5 day trip. I feel lucky to have flown it before it's gone!

 

[Clacker]

As pointed out earlier in this thread, the DC-9 is hot in the summer, leaks around the windows when it rains, and pure drudgery to fly when you're being vectored IMC for an approach. The aircraft are old and bent. Many have intermixed engines which can't be synched and are a throttle knob or two apart all of the time...

But, on a nice day and cleared for the visual (especially when you're a little high and/or fast with no RJ to follow), it''s pure joy!

Is it worth it? Probably not, but it's the last real stick and rudder airline flying, and I'll miss it in a perverse way when I leave it in a few months.

 

[OPECJet]

An airplane that requires thought to fly. Bet that eats a lot of guys' lunch these days.

 

[dbrownie]

An airplane that requires thought to fly. Bet that eats a lot of guys' lunch these days.

"The last job in America where you have to do math

in your head"

Not my quote but quite accurate.


DB

 

[F/O]

"The last job in America where you have to do math

in your head"

Not my quote but quite accurate.


DB

Any pilot who does not always do the math in their head, regardless of what magic is on the panel in front of them, is a numbskull...

 

[Superpilot92]

An airplane that requires thought to fly. Bet that eats a lot of guys' lunch these days.

Most people at this level of flying do just fine with the transition. I went from glass/fms to steam gauge and it wasn't difficult to go back to the round dials. It was actually alot of fun, especially the hand flown NDB approaches we had to do in training.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Which is more fun to fly...DC-9, B737-200, or 727?

Ask me on the 15th when the paychecks are published.

 

[OPECJet]

Most people at this level of flying do just fine with the transition. I went from glass/fms to steam gauge and it wasn't difficult to go back to the round dials. It was actually alot of fun, especially the hand flown NDB approaches we had to do in training.

I went from steam to glass. I've never been so dumb in my life.... I think I turned stupid as soon as I turned on the avionics the first time.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I am very, very excited about the prospect of leaving the DC-9 for something, anything, glass.

I'm tired of trying to keep the oxen moving, and on track, on the long trail to the promised land: The Tillamook Valley, OR. And, I haven't even been an Oxen Driver that long!

cliff
YIP

 

[Diesel-9]

Spent over 9 years in the left seat. Was great to fly. Rewarding for the challenges of landing on alot of snow/ice packed 6000' runways. The Canadian and Montana layovers were great. Loosing those cities I finally bid off to the 757. Staying with the F/A's also a plus. Very social vs. the other fleets. Use your own brain keeps you engaged. The 757 brain acts like an 80 year-old. Certainly a part of the resume that will contain most of the fond memories of real flying in the airlines. I have had more fun in the smaller cities pubs. I'd go back if longevity pay ever evolves. If the -717's show up I'd think about it.

 

[timmay]

The 9 does not sound like it would be good for my ADD, and another question how do you guys manage to space out for 20-30 mins at a time in that thing?

 

[SpauldingSmails]

ATC: "Northwest XXX, cleared direct Eau Claire, Eau Claire 8 arrival."

CA: "Roger, direct Eau Claire, Eau Claire 8, Northwest XXX."

FO: "But, the VOR at Eau Claire is out of service."

CA: "See that town out over there around our 10 o'clock?"

FO: "Yeah"

CA: "Fly to that, that's Eau Claire."