The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 serial is one of the nearly widely produced rear-engined airliner families in aviation history. Yesterday marked the 42nd anniversary of the blazon's showtime flight, which took place on October 18th, 1979. Despite the blazon's age, information technology remains relatively widespread in terms of active examples. Let's take a look at where yous can find these.

The Dr.-80 family in a nutshell

Across two decades of production, McDonnell Douglas built virtually one,200 aircraft from its Md-lxxx family unit. This airliner series was various, and it offered different models for dissimilar purposes. McDonnell Douglas produced the following five different variants.

  • MD-81 -Original production version.
  • Md-82 -More powerful engines for 'hot and high' operations.
  • MD-83 -Increased fuel capacity for longer-range operations.
  • MD-87 -Brusk fuselage variant.
  • MD-88 -Features electronic instead of analog instruments.

The Md-lxxx was developed from McDonnell Douglas'southward DC-nine series, with which information technology shares its twinjet rear-engined configuration. Owing to the timing of its launch, the family's main rivals were aircraft from the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 Archetype families. While production ended 22 years ago, you can all the same detect the type at a various range of carriers today.

DHL DC-9 Getty
Apart from the Doc-87, Doc-80 shipping are longer than DC-nine (pictured) models. Photo: Getty Images

The largest operator

According to information from ch-aviation.com, in that location are still virtually 100 active examples of the MD-80 family left in the earth today. As is common with crumbling aircraft, some of these have been converted for employ every bit freighters. Amid these are those belonging to Mexican carrier Aeronaves TSM, which even besides nevertheless flies planes from the older DC-9 family.

In terms of Aeronaves TSM's Physician-eighty models, the carrier flies four converted MD-82SFs. These have an average age of 32 years onetime, and joined the airline betwixt 2013 and 2018. Before flying for Aeronaves TSM, they besides served Alitalia and US Airways.

Withal, the Mexican carrier's about numerous pattern is the Medico-83SF, of which information technology has 10 active examples. These aircraft are slightly younger, clocking in at thirty years old on average. Prior to their time at Aeronaves TSM, they flew for the likes of American Airlines, Avianca, Trans Earth Airlines (TWA), and US Airways. The commencement example joined in 2014.

USA Jet Airlines MD-83
USA Jet Airlines flies a single cargo-configured MD-83. Photo: Eric Salard via Flickr

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Other non-passenger carriers

Aeronaves TSM isn't the simply current MD-80 family operator to deploy the type as a cargo shipping. Indeed, Everts Air Cargo likewise flies iv active examples of the MD-83SF. This carrier is known for having a classic fleet, and, at 28.9 years erstwhile on average, its 'Mad Dogs' are really among its younger aircraft. Like Aeronaves, Everts also flies the DC-ix.

On a smaller scale, U.s.a. Jet Airlines has a unmarried active MD-83SF. As seen in the photograph higher up, it ears the registration N831US. Clocking in at 32 years old, it previously flew for AeroCancún, Oasis International Airlines, and Spanair.

Erickson Air Tanker MD-87
Erickson Air Tanker deploys the MD-87 on firefighting missions. Photo: Glenn Beltz via Flickr

Of course, flying cargo isn't the merely purpose for which non-rider carriers tin utilize the Medico-80 family. Indeed, Hillsboro, Oregon is home to Erickson Aero Tanker, which uses its half-dozen active MD-87Ts in the domain of aeriform firefighting. The operator states that this curt-fuselage rear-engined twinjet is "the nigh versatile burn bomber available."

Islamic republic of iran: an Doctor-80 hotspot for passengers

Moving onto the use of the Md-80 family in the passenger-carrying sector, Islamic republic of iran is the identify to go if you lot're subsequently a ride on ane. As Simple Flying explored in August, the series accounts for more than 40% of the country'southward domestic capacity. But with which airlines?

The largest Medico-80 family operator in Iran (in terms of active examples of the series) is ATA Airlines. This carrier's fleet features six active Doctor-83s, which have an average historic period of 26.four years old. Iran Airtour Airlines is close behind ith a five-strong agile MD-lxxx family fleet. Four of these aircraft are Doc-82s, with the fifth being a 27.two-twelvemonth-erstwhile MD-83.

ATA Airlines MD-83

Another Iranian operator with five active Medico-fourscore aircraft is Kish Airlines. This carrier'due south fleet includes iii agile MD-82s, supplemented past a further two MD-83s. Moving down in terms of armada size by one aircraft, you can find four active Doctor-83s at Caspian Airlines. These are relatively young at 26.5 years sometime on boilerplate, and joined between 2012 and 2017.

Meanwhile, ii Iranian carriers fly three active MD-80 family jets apiece. Taban Air has a unmarried MD-83 on its books, every bit well as beingness a rare operator of two examples of the MD-88. Beingness a more modernistic iteration, these are just 24.5 years old on boilerplate. Finally, Zagros Airlines flies two active examples of the Doctor-83, alongside a single 32.half dozen-yr-old MD-82.

Kish Airlines MD-82
The presence of the MD-80 family at carriers like Kish Air has seen the blazon command a potent domestic market share in Iran. Photo: Alan Wilson via Flickr

Pregnant MD-80 operators elsewhere

The popularity and versatility of the MD-lxxx family have seen it used all over the earth. Even today, its geographical spread remains significant, despite the number of active examples having at present dipped below the 100 marker. Let's conclude past taking a look at some of the largest active Physician-80 family unit fleets that operate elsewhere in the world.

Starting in Republic of bulgaria, European Air Charter before long has six active Doc-82s in its fleet. This airline was known as Bulgarian Air Charter until May this year, and its Mad Dogs are 29.vii years former on average. This is exactly the same boilerplate age as its Airbus A320s.

Bulgarian Air Charter MD-82
European Air Charter's Dr.-82s seat 164 economy passengers. Photo: Jake Hardiman | Simple Flight

You lot tin too find a six-stiff active Doc-lxxx family armada at Laser Airlines. This Venezuelan operator flies three Doc-82s, ii MD-83s, and even a single Md-81. According to ch-aviation's data, the but other active Doc-81 left belongs to Olympia Aviation.

At that place remains a wide selection of smaller fleets, only let's terminate by touching upon the The states's largest active passenger Physician-80 operator. Based in Miami, Florida, charter carrier World Atlantic Airlines has v agile MD-83s at its disposal. These aircraft are thirty.2 years quondam on average, and seat betwixt 146 and 155 passengers, depending on their exact configuration.

What do you brand of the Doctor-80 family? Have you lot ever flown on i at one of these airlines? Let u.s.a. know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!