I love the MD-80 now.

I want this guy to do a series where he shows us the weird quirks and cool features of different airliners. He could be the Doug DeMuro of aviation.

I have an interesting story on how this plane captured my heart. This was the first plane I flew on. Well, I was 3 so it could've been a dc9 and I would have never known the difference. Anyways, I was flying with my aunt to PA and had assumed that my parents were getting on after us. But they were going to NM. I quickly realized they weren't there, and I was DEVASTATED. I was that kid on the plane that everyone hates flying with. Then the captain came out. I was awe struck. He told me he had something that would cheer me up. Then he picked me up, took me to the cockpit and put me in his lap. (this was pre-911, 1996 or 97.) He put my hand on the throttles and pushed them forward. The plane started to move. He and the copilot were running the checklists while we taxied. I distinctly remember looking up and seeing the panel with all the different switches. We stopped and another plane turned left and passed by us, like a massive road. We got to the runway, this seemingly endless (to a 3 year old) tan strip and he told me "It's time to go back to your seat and buckle up". Then we took off. That experience is one of the only ones I still remember from those early years, and it resonates with me hugely to this day.

Anyone here after AA retired the MD-80 or “Super 80”?

I have 21 years and 14,000 hours on the 80! I'm flying the 787 now, but miss the 80 every day. It was literally a part of me. Kurt, thanks for honoring the Mad Dog, Stupid 80, Long Beach Sewer Pipe. She proved to be a solid, reliable aircraft, despite all the nicknames (including the K-Mart Special).

I was a student pilot the first time I watched this video. 2500 hours later and I’m currently getting checked out on the MD-88 for USA Jet. This video was such an inspiration, thank you for making it.

I like how at 8:40 when the lights go out, both flight crew just instinctively reach for the overhead switches. Autonomous professionalism.

7:58 that speedbrake switch is satisfying

Some may find it boring but I found really awesome. Thanks for posting.

Fun fact: The compass on the MD-80 actually has the letters printed on it normally, not in reverse. When you look at the compass directly in the little window on the wall behind the first officer, you are actually looking into yet another mirror that is showing the reflection of the compass, which is facing aft towards the tail. So the mirror on the instrument panel is a reflection of a reflection!

This thing might be a dinosaur but at least there's no faulty software nose dive mode on this baby, that's for sure...

Farewell Super 80! You did so much in your 36 years of service. You will be missed by everyone. Thanks for your service👍🏼 1983-2019

It's really good to someone loving his job so much! I can really see the enthusiasm in his eyes, like a kid talking about his favorite toy or a sport, awesome!

I have been a Pilot for over 37 years and am still flying for a major carrier. Its refreshing to see a normal Pilot for once just chatting about things we all can relate too instead of some aircraft geek trying to amaze us all. Great Job ...thanks P.S. I flew the DC-9 for 12 years and loved it so I can relate !

Worked on and Inspected the DC-9/MD-80 A/C and always loved them. I also worked on the Boeings and never liked them except the 777. After 40 years of aviation I'd still prefer flying or working the 80's.

This guy had a talent that not many have, showing excitement, passion and knowledge all in a video. And now thanks to this guy i'm gonna go download the MD-80 for MSFS lmao

The MD-80 is very special for me too. I graduated as an aircraft technician 25 years ago in Venezuela, and the school had the entire set of service, overhaul, and parts manuals of this plane. I managed to read them all!!

That electro-mechanical speed brake handle is by far the coolest thing I've ever seen in a cockpit.

I'm glad this pilot finally sees my point. The MD-80 and many of it's variants front nose DOES indeed look like the space shuttle.

Thanks Mr. Kent for this I formative video and review of the MD80. The MD80 is especially interesting to me because I worked on just about everyone that was built in Long Beach CA. If only this video were available back in 1988. At that time, this aircraft was the most quiet, efficient, and economical of all its competitors. We built 100's of them and I was privileged to work on the flight ramp delivery team. Anyway, I really, really appreciate your review and comments.

Thanks for the behind the scenes cockpit tour. I'm going to miss flying in the Super 80s--one if my favorites. Every time I fly in one I wonder if it will be my last.

My dad flew the MD-80 for years and always spoke so highly of it over the 737. Thank you for your in-depth video!

I'd let that pilot fly me anywhere. Very knowledgable, and I've been on tons of MD-80's. BTW, I'd love to sit in one of those cockpits!

That was really cool. Definitely like the old school controls. Its still a bird when systems fail.

I was an FE on a Boeing 727 for six years. I'll always prefer the old school way of flying as opposed to all the automation in today's aircraft. Great video!, Thank you Kent for sharing that with us. It will be a sad day when the last of the MD-80's are pulled from the line.

As a passenger I've always loved the MD-80. Usually a smooth ride, and pretty quiet as long as you're not sitting too far aft of row 20.

One of the best videos ever for aviation geeks. Love to see more like this. KZfaq at its finest.

I thoroughly, thoroughly loved this video. Thank you so much.

It's a living breathing machine! I love it, so cozy and full of life.

This is a very good video made by a pilot who truly loves the airframe. It's refreshing to hear the enthusiasm in his voice as he explains the many components of the MD-80. This is a good video.

By golly Capn', you have an A&P mechanic here and I can do nothing but AGREE WITH YOU on this beautiful aircraft!!! My personal favorite is how easy it is to change tires and brakes!!! Good job sir, press on with pride...

Bought the Rotate MD-80 for X-Plane and absolutely loving it. A very unique aircraft. I love aircraft that are half glass cockpit and half analog.

Thank you so much for doing this.. One of my fav old school birds..! Enjoyed every second of it.. I would've wanted to fly it so bad.. Sadly im doomed to die as an airbus pilot..!

"McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Chief Designers: R. Goldberg, H. Robinson." I'm in love with this plane after this vid. That window mechanism. Different switches are genius. That mirrored compass is the definition of "If it's stupid and it works, it ain't stupid". And I want that Speed Brake switch - no electrical "Bing!" will ever be as good as a solid mechanical "Click".

I lived in Milwaukee for a time and flew Midwest Airlines right up until their demise. This aircraft was the bedrock of the airline, nonstops from coast to coast. I have a soft spot for this plane.

It is one of those legendary planes you really regret that they are gone.

Being a pilot is a blessed career :)

I just flew on a MD-83 in Argentina and I remembered this video when you said that the landing lights cause extra drag. It is very noticeable if you are paying attention. It was a very "old school" but awesome plane to fly on!

I love the flight deck on that plane, it looks EXTREMELY well designed, and all the mechanical stuff looks fun to play with. A true pilot's ride. You really look like you earn your paycheck vs the quite boring and generic look of a glass cockpit. THIS is what aviation is all about.

I was one of the maintenance guys (from Canada) who maintained the MD-80 simulator at Long Beach. I never flew the real aircraft, but I could loop the simulator(and a few other tricks) ! Happy (and sometimes challenging) days.

Thanks for the post!! After 15 years flying the DC9/MD80, I definitely have a biased fondness for the airplane. While the 737 may have advantages of newer engines, longer range and upgraded electronics, MD80 crews become attached to the airplane, even though they may appreciate newer mounts to which they are assigned. The "baby DC9s" were fun to fly, more like sports cars, and moving into the MD80 was akin to driving a truck in comparison. That said, the airplane is solid, and has no bad habits, but requires planning and airmanship to fly it properly. The normal flying workload in the MD80 is high, as the systems are 1950s and '60s vintage, and definitely NOT as automated as modern jets, and mastery comes with 50 or so hours of flying the airplane. Because they must manage all the systems when flying the airplane, most MD80 pilots have a sense of accomplishment when a flight is completed. Departure flight profiles are fairly standardized, but the final phases of an arrival may not be, and require airmanship to configure the airplane in a timely fashion and complete the arrival and approach smoothly. I second the Captain's observation about being QUIET... Fatigue from noise is not an issue. Timing on crosswind landings is a challenge, as anything more than a 7 degree bank can cause a dragging wingtip, requiring good timing to straighten the airplane out on the runway without excessive sideways drift. On takeoff, new pilots need to be cautioned to hold the nose pitch attitude to 10 degrees until the mains leave the ground, since a tail strike will occur at around 11.5 degrees. Since the airplane was designed to be as tough as a bridge, when airlines park Airbuses and Regional Jets, the pilots will likely get a ride home in the MD80...

Kent nice job! Besides the 727 & F100, I spent 10yrs. as an MD80 FO & 15yrs. as a captain on it. I still miss flying the 80 till this day! I enjoyed flying it so much I spent most of my career at AA on it. When the MD80 left I did as well, but those great flying memories will last a life time! Thanks for the trip down memory lane Kent. Nice Job!

Really love the MD-80. Sad to see it replaced by more modern aircraft.

I knew absolutly nothing before you spoke and now I know what you told me, thanks great video!

Old jets are amazing!!

When I flew as a passenger on the MD-80 to me it was the loudest plane when it came to landing. But It is cool seeing and knowing how cool and old school it really is.

I worked as a maintenance technician, specialized on electrical systems in the MD-81/83/87 for almost ten years, I now work on ERJ-190. I can't explain how much I miss the 80 sometimes, it is such a wonderfully built machine, and it flies like a charm. Thank you very much for this video, it brings back so many good memories!

I bought 6 new MD-82s for our airline from Douglas/Boeing years ago. As a resident representative, I had the opportunity to learn how these fine aircraft were built from the ground up and flew them away! Fantastic!

The external cockpit look of this plane always reminded me a bit of the space shuttle. It looks like it belongs in space :-) Great vid - Thanks Captain !

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief also deliberately used different shaped knobs and switches throughout the cockpit. That way, a pilot could keep his eyes focused outside the cockpit, and still have confidence he was manipulating the correct control.

I hope pilots know how much we appreciate them not only learning about the hundreds and hundreds of devices, but their MASTERY of these devices when something goes wrong or acts odd. Thank you for the pilot's time to show us this stuff.

This vid made me remember being a kid growing up in SoCal during the late 70s, and seeing lots of ads for PSA featuring their smiling MD-80s. I know they flew lots of other types, but they are always associated with that plane in my mind the way Southwest is the "737 airline." My memory of being a passenger in them was that I was more aware of the speed of travel than other types, and that it wasn't always the smoothest ride. You felt as if you were in a bit of a hot rod.

Watched this so many times absolutely fantastic such a wonderful aircraft .

American is finally putting them out to pasture in September but I jumpseated on one a couple of months ago. Glad I got to got to jumpseat on one before they went away. I was completely blown away by how quiet the flight deck was.

Sad that these are gone now. They were so much better than any 737 I've been on.

The Dc 9 and the Md 80 Series are the best Planes ever.

I truly admire the passion in describing this plane's unique features, many thanks.

I have no idea why but this might be my new favorite channel. :P

As an aircraft mechanic working on Embraer ERJs, I really enjoyed this! Thanks for posting!

I miss McDonnell Douglas. My uncle was a test pilot for M-D until his passing in 1979. My first flight ever was a test flight from Long Beach to Yuma so they could test the landing computer system. Had the opportunity to fly the bird. Great memories.

I have watched so many aviation videos the past weeks, but this one truely is a gem. Never had a look at the MD-80 but this little video already made it one of my possible future favorites to have a deeper look into. Thanks a lot for sharing this!

Awesome video captain. Very well explained and the video footage is fantastic. I love this analog old school cockpits, My uncle (RIP) flew many years for Mexicana airlines time ago and I just fell in love when he gave me a guided tour of the 727 simulator. Subscribed!cheers from Mexico city

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen! I love this stuff!!!

Thank you for showing this awesome video, Please make more, I love it !

Great video! Good old MD-80 is a technical miracle bag. Very fascinating!

Awesome video. So informative and serves a great reminder how awesome the older flight decks are. Long live the MD80! :)

Love this plane I am 40 years old and I can still remember when I first flew this plane. I still fly to MOT on Allegiant and still get to fly on one. I loved the video too, I can relate to the lights going on and causing drag I could always feel that when on approach to land. I would look out the window just to see that happen, even loved to go to LGB and go to the employee store and get stuff like the MD80 Towel which I gave to my flight instructor lol. Thanks for all the hidden likes about the plane, I love this plane!!

Kent, i really enjoyed this video, it's the first of your videos i've seen, many thanks for making it. I have flown jump seat in an MD82 and loved it. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.

You're a very engaging speaker - great video!

I flew this type airplane for many years, and ya know what I enjoyed most? I loved flying an approach at night in rain. Do you see (at 4:10) how the landing lights extend, one on each wingtip? I loved to leave them retracted until time to extend them, then turn them on at once, rather than extend the bulbs first and then turn them on. This technique turns on the bulbs and the extension motors at the same time, with the result that at first the bright beams are shining straight down, and then they smoothly rise to straight ahead, as the motors raise them. Very cool, space age-y, and romantic, as the raindrops whiz through them. Side note I'm sure Captain Wien knows: Few feelings are more rewarding than watching your passengers deplane safely after you brought them through a wet, challenging, low-visibility approach. (That's off the subject but... Hey!)

Love the tempo, pace and delivery of your video. Makes me interested in parts of the cockpit I would have never cared about.

Fantastic! No software no cry, the best airliner ever!

Love this video! I feel it's gruelling unique to have a pilot tell his feelings about a plane in such great detail. It was highly informative and inspiring for a person who loves all things that fly like me! After 19 years of doing my job, I really hope to have the opportunity to leave behind 18 wheels that roll for two wings that fly as a career. Thanks so much for a wonderful video such as this!!! :-)

it's cool posting videos like this...really affirms how some pilots are really loving and engaged with flying and makes passengers who may see videos like this really feel trusting with pilots...i've actually flown in that aircraft a few times and it's always been a pretty good experience...it does seem to feel more smooth flying than a boeing...boeing is pretty smooth also but there's something about that one...hard to explain since my knowledge of aircraft is limited since i stopped using flight simulators years and years ago...good video pilot

You speak so well, so calm, such knowledge. You are the Grand Master Captain!! What a brilliant video thank you!!

Man, This was Awesome, Thank you Captain for a great tour, You are well seasoned and I appreciate a Real Pilot that knows his plane, Great video!

My mom worked for Ozark and we would fly on the DC-9s. So, there will always be a place in my heart for it and its derivative, the MD-80. I recall sitting in the rear of the plane which was my favorite place and I could hear the two motors crossing frequencies. My physics teacher in HS was talking about resonance one day in class and I mentioned my experience in the DC-9 which he discussed with the class. I can't think of a better looking airliner than the DC-9 in the Ozark Airlines colors.

i still love MD-80 they awsome planes

The people who were lucky enough to build these planes, the workers, engineers, cleaners and managers, all who were involved at whatever level, must feel so chuffed to see how appreciated their efforts were. I think this is the best video of an aircraft, its systems and personality by a pilot extant. Like everyone else I so wish this guy had a channel full of similar excellent uploads. 11 out of 10. Beautifully filmed, written and presented. Should be the next President. I'd vote for him.

That was a terrific insight into the cockpit of the MD80, Kent! Thoroughly enjoyed that.

Don't forget the ridiculously large engines for its size. Back in the days of Ozark Airlines (spelled backwards is KRAZO!) which operated nothing but DC-9s and MD-80s, there was a joke that the pilots were frustrated former military fighter jockeys who loved how overpowered both jets were. And if you were on an Ozark flight, you probably experienced one of their F-15-esque tail-drop takeoffs.

Great video, great explanation of the oddities of the MD-80. I flew many AA MD-80s across the country connecting to/from DFW and ORD when I my travel agency used AA SABRE system. I flew to DFW many times for training. I have always been a fan of the DC-9 family, taking my first flight in August, 1968 on an Eastern Airlines DC-9-14 Whisperjet from STL to my hometown of EVV. The JT8D engines have a awesome sound. I always loved sitting in the rear listening to the startup. I always enjoyed the steep MD-80 climb outs. The bird could really soar!! Its always sad to see an aircraft go into aviation history. Thanks again for posting this great commercial airliner video.

I gotta' share this. As a new hire AA pilot, I got the jumpseat on an MD-80. At cruise, it was so quiet in the cockpit that it was surprising. I listened past the usual, subtle noises we could hear from the gyros, and I noticed a ticking sound. When I asked the guys what that was, they responded "the clock"! No kidding, the ticking from the large mechanical chronometers on the panel was noticeable. Decades later, I was a sim instructor on the MD-80/-95 series, and it was always quirky fun.

Nice video! Thank you! After 27 years in DC-9s and B-717s, this look at the (basically same) cockpit is a wonderful trip down memory lane. Every switch an old friend!

That was a great video. Thank you so much I learned so much.

Love the MadDog will miss it when it's retired.

I like your style and attitude...and very informative... I have always loved the DC-9 and The 80-series as far as being a passenger, back in the *good old days* ..and learning from you fly boys is fun. Thanks much!

Awesome description Thank-you !! I flew the DC-9 until 2001 and this video brought back a lot of memories. As I progressed in my flying career, I continued to recognize DC-9 innovations in other aircraft. The fuel system and priority electrics were the same in the CRJ and the A320. It remains my favourite aircraft of all time. Like an old friend. BTW, we always flipped those mirrors up during boarding so we could watch the pretty girls walk by.

Thank you so much for posting this video, I found it so fun to watch. I was always a fan of the 727 but now that they are pretty much extinct the MD80 has caught my attention. Maybe its the engines, maybe its all the landing lights at night, maybe its the graceful takeoffs. Either way, I've enjoyed my many flights on the MD80, nice to see the pilots think the same.

it'll be sad to see this go...much like the 727 and dc-9's, which are largely retired and gone from this country, this airplane is beginning to age a bit and they certainly won't be around forever...I guess we'll have the 717's for quite a few years but still...nothing beats the dc-9s and md-80s with the older jt8d engines...the first time I ever flew was on a tiny dc-9...probably a -10 and I'll never forget how cool those engines sounded

Thanks, Kent, for a great video!!!

Outstanding...great video! Love the real world look at the cockpit quirks. Thanks

Great video ! Thank you very much for this video .... I've been flying the B717 in my past pilotlife that is quite similar and I am still in love with him ... I'd like to fly the mad dog one day ...

The MD-80 and the L-1011 will always be two of my favorites

Kent, They did not forget about the compass, in fact the way it is done is pure genius. Remember your days of flying partial panel during IFR training and how the comnpass works? It moves opposite of the direction of turn. Douglas's solution to putting the compass in the back and write numbers in reverse so when viewed through the mirror the turn direction of the compass actually is the same as the direction the plane turns. Less confusing for the stressful situations when you're down to flying with just the compass..

I have old photos in this cockpit and I see everything so clearly now thank you

Outstanding . The Mad Dogs are thirsty airframes , but are definitely a workhorse .

Vey nice.... Thanks for your reporting...Continued success.

I passed over this video a few times. Finally watched it. Very fun, educational, and entertaining presentation by the Captain!!!

Love your videos... keep them coming! And stay safe Kent!