I flew on the Midwest Airlines 717s with their 2x2 “Best Care in the Air” seating throughout the aircraft. Also scored a SLC-LAX extra-section over 2017 Christmas which was flown by the Delta MD95. This is going to be the last of a long line of DC-9 flying by West Coast Air, Bonanza, AirWest, Southern, North Central, Republic, Northwest, Norrtheast and now all together as “Delta”

Blown on the 717 a few times going between MSN MSP. Wonderful small jet and really a true relic from the past! I'll definitely need to try grabbing a seat between the wing/engine next time. What a dream seat for aviation nerds.

Thanks Peter! I literally felt the thump of gear down just as flaps were extended. Your commentary on runways/headings, atc, and aircraft experience is always appreciated. But today not only did you explain the "what's below" but you visited! And also brought us downtown with you, the complete package! Thanks again for not only the aviation aspect, but the entire travel experience today 🙂

Amazing sound on takeoff!

Love the 717! It reminds me the DC-9's and MD80's! Happy and safe flying!

I used to fly on the 717 all the time from Atlanta to Harrisburg when I would go there frequently. I’m flying on the delta a330-300 next week to Las Vegas from Atlanta and was lucky enough to catch the a350 coming back which I’m super excited to experience.

im a delta employee and the 717 is my childhood favorite aircraft so ill occasionally nonrev just to ride one on the weekends lol

Thanks! We are excited to have an upcoming trip which will put us in B717, B757, and A350! Also, like any good avgeek, we purposely arranged a nearly 9-hour layover in Detroit, just watch operations!

Thank you for sharing ypur flight.😊

Thank you for the explanation of this airline! 😃😊

I think the last time I flew a 717 was JFK-SAV (one of my last flights out of JFK before I moved away from NYC). I was basically in the same row as you, but on the other side of the aisle, and I also got beautiful video of the engine. I didn't even know that they had air service to Appleton! I will have to check that out as an alternative to my local airport. (When you live in a dinky town, sometimes you drive a long way to get on a flight because there's not much room...)

Love this video. Makes me want to fly again.

I work in Appleton and live in Kaukauna...you visited Little Chute which is one town over. You flew over my work and storage units. My work is in the flight path of planes flying into runway 21 from the west and south.

Despite the name, the 717 was not introduced between Boeing’s original 707 jet, and their updated 727 trijet. In fact, the 717 was actually introduced after McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged. It’s visual similarities to the DC9 and MD80/90 are no coincidence, because this plane is essentially an updated MD90 with modern engines and cockpit, but closer to the original DC9 in length. It was originally named the MD95, but Boeing took over and renamed the plane the 717. Chronologically, it came after the 727, 737, 747, 757 and 767. Funnily enough, it shares this trait with the similarly sized, more modern Airbus A220 that Delta is starting to fly in favor of the 717. The a220 was originally the Bombardier C series, but when Bombardier shifted their business to private jets only, Airbus took over, and it has the lowest model number of all Airbus jets despite being the latest Airbus model. Despite not being an original product of either manufacturer, I really believe the 717 and a220 are extremely nice jets.

I flew a great flight from Phoenix to CLE. I. 1999 on a Mad Dog 80. MD80. We had a tail,wind and made it gate to gate in less than 4 hours. The pilot said I’m going to put the hammer down on this Mad Dog.

Great video Peter - I was in the last window seat in a dc9-50 in 79'. The toilet was the only thing that made it unbearable - but the jt8d's were glorious.

Hey Peter I missed the premiere but great video 😊

The 1997 MD/Boeing merger destroyed both companies. MD executives applied their “magic” to Boeing. The MD95 (717) and MD90 could’ve become formidable competitors to Airbus. But, because of the merger, the new company shut both lines down.

Now that’s how you show a takeoff!!!!!

Peter- you're a geek, but my kind of geek! The 717 is a great little jet. Never flew it, rode jump-seat a few times and flew on it as a passenger too. Its roots, the DC-9 and successors are evident. It's simple, rugged and reliable. The cockpit is really quiet, and the pilots love the jet. It has loads of power and following an engine failure just past V1, the 717 would likely out climb a DC-4 with all engines operating. The 72 cockpit was further from the engines, but the rounder Douglas nose of the DC-8/9 apparently disturbed the air less. The 72 cockpit was almost unbearably noisy due to the aerodynamic (wind) noise. Finally, in addition to your aeronautical comments, the geographical narrative really adds to the experience. Keep it up!

Love that turbofan hum on takeoff, same as the CFM56 engines on a 737.

Thanks flying Peter ! I do not know the Boenig 717 . In japan B727 is faster than fighter phantom , so that breaking in air , the B727 not attention behind and touch a fighter,so break out in air ,past time.

AirTran’s was acquired by Southwest and didn’t go out of business.

I think the 717 is basically a refresh of the DC9/MD80 that happened after Boeing’s McDonnell Douglas acquisition in 1997. Funny, I used to love flying the MD80 up front because it was so quiet. It felt almost effortless to climb on takeoff.

The clarity of that full approach into Appleton, in low light, was amazing. Also, none of the bouncy camera I get with my phone! Did you use a GoPro, affixed to the window? Looked soooo good.

I grew up in the Appleton area. If you need any recommendations, let me know. Also, when I worked for my first airline, Midwest, we had 717s. Fun airplanes.

My flights on the 717 was with Hawaiian, HNL-OGG-HNL.

Hi Peter! Do you have any notes that says which row number this ideal seat was? I think I remember a row or two that are too far back, and basically alongside the engine (no good for avgeeks)?

I have flown on the 717's before. Mainly from NYC-FLL.

Actually yes I’ve flown on the 717! From TLH to ATL, then the a321 to LGA. Several times! Although the flight to Tlh has also been an 737, and an A320.

Does it feel a bit like flying on a CRJ?

Slightly offtopic, I wonder what happened to TWA's 717s after departing from American''s fleet (pun intended) back in the early 00s.

Wow, I thought we were not happy with Delta, any more?

No talking over much of the flight, +++++. Sidebars +++++++. What little music there was still was an irritant.