NWA DC-9s

[CWI]

I just rode on a NWA DC9 from DTW to EWR.

There was more than enough room for all the carry on baggage. The seats were comfortable. There were 2 lavs in the back. The air conditioning was fine and it was quite in the cabin.

Considering that the aircraft are not worth very much, probably buy 20 DC9's for the price of one 90 seat RJ, sounds like NWA should keep those DC9's around for a few more years.

Who cares how old the Good Ole DC9 is, they were built to different standards than todays aircraft.

I would fly on a DC9 any day, especially with a NWA crew at the controls.

NWA thanks for the GREAT flight and getting me there on schedule.

 

[airplane wizard]

Will the 717 still be flying in 40 years or did Boeing cheapen up on them?

 

[PCL_128]

Will the 717 still be flying in 40 years or did Boeing cheapen up on them?

No, airframe is still built like a tank. Basically the same old -30 airframe. I doubt it will be around for 40 years, but it certainly could be if Boeing was willing to provide support for it. But Boeing would rather give everyone sweetheart deals on 737s, so the 717 probably will be long gone in 10-15 years.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Boeing cheapened it up...

Will the 717 still be flying in 40 years or did Boeing cheapen up on them?

....my understanding is that the Boeing engineers took out some of the metal from the wing spare design. They only wanted the airframe to last 15 - 20 years, not 30 - 50 years like the DC9.

The B717 is great airplane. They could have made it RJ size to MD80 size with one type rating. Bad timing, though.

 

[inline]

....my understanding is that the Boeing engineers took out some of the metal from the wing spare design. They only wanted the airframe to last 15 - 20 years, not 30 - 50 years like the DC9.

The B717 is great airplane. They could have made it RJ size to MD80 size with one type rating. Bad timing, though.

Boeing also took out the cool eyebrow window.

 

[PCL_128]

Boeing also took out the cool eyebrow window.

Only on the later serial numbers. Most of the planes have them.

 

[inline]

Only on the later serial numbers. Most of the planes have them.

I stand corrected

 

[airplane wizard]

Did SWA remove the eyebrow windows from some of their -300's? I thought I saw a pic of a 300 without them.

 

[LARRY H. JUNIOR]

they covered them up. there was a #4 or #5 window that shattered in-flight. we did the same thing on our 727's. cheap fix