I flew on one of American’s MD-80s a few years ago, and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had on aircraft. Incredible sound from the PW JT8Ds! A truly legendary aircraft.

Blessed to have flown a number of times on MD-80... Fantastic experience. Really powerful takeoffs, silent cabin.

This is like comparing a A321 to an A318. The MD-80 was never meant to compete with the MD-95. They have different missions.

I haven't flown on an MD-80, but have flown on Hawaiian Airlines' 717-200s multiple times on inter-island flights.

The occasional Douglas related video is a wonderful way to break the A/B monotony we have from our industry oligopoly. The DC-9 design and all its variations are my all time favorite narrow body type. The MD-80, in particular, is missed dearly.

I've flown on both types and as a passenger, I love the fact that they offer minimal widow viewing obstruction due to the rear mounted engines and slender wing designs. I always try to book window seats with a clear view, and these types were easy to accomplish that in. They also ride very smoothly and are rather quiet if you sit forward of the wings. Great machines!

I was privileged to captain 717s for AirTran, retiring in late 2013. This comparison is apples and oranges, with the two planes designed for different missions. Of greatest interest to pilots is the cockpit. The MD-80 series cockpit, designed decades ago, is a little beyond the sweet old DC-9, from which it descended. The 717, OTOH, was designed much later, and it sports automation gizmos and other safety enhancements that MD drivers can only dream about. We could fly the 717 all day and still feel fresh. Also the 717, being shorter than the MD, had a better power/weight ratio and maneuverability, especially in landing. The 717’s pilot seats are relatively hard; otherwise I dearly, dearly loved that airplane.

As the video says, Iberia used to have MD-80 (the -87 and -88 variants) for their regional flights. I still remember when they flew to my local airport, their takeoffs were so incredibly noisy that the whole city could tell when one of those little beasts was departing!

MD-80 series Austrian, SAS & Finnair. B 717 Olympic & Blue1 !! Miss them all!!

Used to fly AirTran all the time out of Milwaukee when they were around, and flew on their 717's plenty of times. Love that aircraft.

Thanks for the video. The DC9 model has a strong and robust structure so we experience flying more comfort compared to B737 . Less corrosion found during a heavy maintenance visits. Another advantage of the tail engine is less FOD during take-off. This is the legend in single-aisle jet

Miss the MD-80's & 90's. Have not seen a 717 in a while.

I loved the MD-80. My most favorite was the Boeing 727.

Good video information on these smaller aircraft. Thanks!

I used to fly on the MD80s regularly in West Africa with Air Burkina and Air Mali. No complaints!

When Cebu Pacific started flying in the Philippines, they used dc9 and they were loud but not as loud as the Philippine Airlines BAC111 with RR Spey engines.

I am so old I flew several times in the DC-9 wow was it loud if I remeber well.

1993 DC-9 into Daytona beach, from the east to west. Really bad summer storm. Coming home from south Korea, flight crew was getting really nervous. All belted in, some belts tighter, plane lost the altitude and dropped for about 4 seconds and alot of us, were military and we screamed with joy loving the ride. The crew could have killed us. It was 1 of the best approaches, I have ever had. I love flights and crazy thermals. All were fine after landing and few crazy looks, but showed a few, enjoy the time and and a roller coaster ride.

Flew on OY-RUE 15th december as a last hurray for the Mad Dog

I have flown in the 88, 90 and 717 and they are all great! Avgeeks sit in the back near the engines for the best experience!

Flew on a ton of American and Northwest MD's. They're great! Very quiet unless you're in the back. lol

I flew on both so many times pre-COVID I honestly can't tell you there was much of a difference.

I miss Midwest Express. Not sure if they ever flew MD-80's, but they did fly DC-9's and 717's. The entire length of the cabin was 2-2 seats in leather with ample legroom. Hands-down the best passenger experience in the industry.

I liked the seat configuration of 2 seats starboard and 3 seats port side, they were great for a small family of two or three.

I never flew on a MD-80 or 717, but I did fly on a DC-9 from YQR to YVR in the late 80's. It was a great flight, and quite quiet as the engines were at the rear of the plane. I also flew on the Fokker F-28 which had a similar engine placement on a much smaller, regional aircraft. It's a shame they've gone away from engines mounted at the rear of the fuselage, but with the high-bypass engines we have today it just makes more sense to mount them below the wings. I'm guessing the airlines flying the B717 would have to go with an Airbus A220 or Embraer E-Jet for a similar range and seating capacity.

I've flown on the B-717-200 with Hawaiian Airlines from Kahului to Kailua-Kona

I flew on a Delta MD80 in 2008. We were sat next to the engines in the very back of the plane but that wasn't that bothersome once you were up to cruising altitude.

I’m not sure but they are cool planes! The MADDOG and MADPUP!

Qantas Links still operates 20 717s. Incredible seeing the rate of climb after takeoff. Have been lucky enough to fly on one, now one of my favourite aircraft.

I was waiting for a photograph of the iconic Alitalia MD-80. A top three operator in the world, once upon a one time.

I got to fly a 717 on ATA out of Indianapolis. I went to Houston I believe. Only onboard entertainment was sat radio, and every seat had it. I didn't know better and got a seat near the back, and it was a little loud. Still loved the experience.

volotea still uses 717's also meridiana was quite famous for it's md-80's fleet

The MD-80 is such a smooth flier. Like butter! Last flew one in 2012 from DFW to SMF. Loved it!

I’ve been on a md 80 from Boston to Orlando in 2008, and I’m going to go on two 717s this summer in Australia

Flown on MD-80 with SAS. Very nice

Pretty big fan of both. Last time I flew the type was on a AA flight between La Guardia and Denver and then in South America with discount airline Andes between Buenos Aires and Bariloche. I always thought the ride was smooth and the take off felt pretty powerful.

Reminds me of the time when Klm flew with the f100/f70

I have fly on both of them I love them they can get to any airport out there

I flew on a airtran 717 in 2013 and I loved the sound of the br715's

I understand MD-80 being replaced by more modern aircraft, however it's a shame the 717 wasn't successful despite being quite modern.

I like both, the best part is the powerful and steep climb. 😍

I wish you would have looked at technology also. The 717 was WAY more advanced in the cockpit being all glass. I was fortunate enough to visit the cockpit in the MD-83, MD-90, and 717. 717 was the most modern of all of them, but had a fondness of the MD-83. I have also flown first class in all 3 variants. The MD-83, I believe, in first class, was the quietest, since you are so much further from the engines. How ever, all variants suffer from quite a loud wind noise in first class due to aerodynamics.

I had flown Wings Air Mad Dog MD-82 from Surabaya to Denpasar. This is my first and only experience to fly with Mad Dog. After landed in Denpasar, I left through the aft door. One of the most unique features by Mad Dog. But now, Wings Air no longer operate jet-engine airplanes. They operate propellers instead, especially ATR 72-600. They used to operate Dash 8.

I flew on the Boeing 717 for Delta to Florida

I've flown both, I like both!

I flew between my parents every third weekend from age 10 to 18 with SAS in Norway. First with the Fokker 50, and it was a rare occasion with an MD-80. And later the MD-80 was the normal aircraft. So I have had my fair share of hours in one. And I loved it every time. I remember the cabin as being almost silent compared to the 737s got later.

Flew on a American MD-80 and a Delta 717 before in 2020 [before the virus] And it was a hard pick.

The Boeing 717-200 is widely used in Qantaslink, so anyone in Australia (including me) has flown on the type many times.

I flew on a delta md88 best experience I've ever had

with all the business travel around the world I've done. I've always liked the MD80 planes. I've always told my friends and family the MD-80 is the plane I like to fly the most, and I don't like flying. I always hve thought they were trustworthy and reliable and safe.

Been on both jets before and I they are both great aircraft. The MD-80 while has the older technology, can be a comfortable plane to fly; every time I fly delta I would pick the MD-88. The 717 on the other hand, is the latest updated version of the DC-9 most of the technology coming from the jumbo jet MD-11. On top of that the 717 is a little more quieter than the MD-80 thanks to its BR-715s developed by Rolls Royce & BMW. When it comes down to choose which one I like the most, it would be both planes.

Flown on delta from from Atlanta to Toronto on the and-80 and noise of the engine in the back was kinda loud. It was a good flight overall.

I have been on Qantas’s B717-200 and it was great. Additionally, been on American Airlines’s MD-80 ... it was also enjoyable.

In terms of passenger comfort, Delta's 717's reign supreme. The MD-88's were a decent 2nd with thicker, older seats but a extremely outdated cabin. The MD-90 is my favorite in terms of looks, but a nearly 3 hour flight from MIA to DTW in coach was excruciating. Tight leg room and super thin, rock hard seats.

Md-80 for sure

I’ve been a passenger and jumpseated on both. The 717 has a much improved ride. It’s really quiet. The flightdeck also doesn’t look like someone shot all the instruments out of a shotgun.

Years ago, I was a frequent Delta flyer and often flew on their MD-88s. Once and a while, if I flew American Airlines, it would have been on their MD-82 or MD-87. Perhaps it was just the difference in service between the two airlines, but I mostly enjoyed flying on Delta’s MD-88s. However, when AirTran added the Boeing 717 to their fleet, that was the best!

The 717 still has a high percentage active of the total production run, as of late 2021.

I have flown with the B717, but never had the occasion to fly the MD.80

The MD 80 series and Boeing 717 are just warmed over DC9s. None of them were comfortable because they were crammed with seats, single aisle, small overhead bins and small lavatories with folding doors.

I am a regular with Qantaslink’s B717 and always found that it’s far more comfortable than those b737-800 and they are pretty quiet at the front plus pretty airy too

Fantastic aircrafts

Flew on USAir MD-80 series in 1990's.

I flew AirTran for while and American. The MD-80 was a cool plane to fly on. However, it seem like Boeing stifled this aircraft as it could have interfered with the 737 sales as the MD-80 used to be a competitor.

I don't get the love for the MD-80 (and related) aircraft. I used to fly on these more than any other aircraft back when I travelled for work frequently. I grew to hate them. Maybe it's just because American's fleet at the time was aging, and it showed. The seats were not terribly comfortable, the aircraft were usually dirty, they were noisy (and deafening if you were near the back), and just all around not a pleasant experience. Any time I could get a flight on a different aircraft type, I would take it. Unfortunately, flying American through DFW, opportunities on other aircraft were not very common. I always see so many people in comment sections like this one saying how they loved these planes and loved flying on them. I just don't understand it. My experiences were very different.

Over many years of flying I’ve flown in them all... DC-9, MD-80, MD-90, MD-95, and the Boing 717. The only way I knew what I was riding in was when I’d read the passenger safety info card. 🛫 🛬

I have flown on both many times. The airport in my city is a smaller one. So both fly out every day. Or use to. I think only the 717 does nowadays.

I have flown on both the Delta MD-88's and the Delta 717-200's. I personally prefer the louder, older, classic MD-88's...they have a classic feel to them and I personally love that. But the 717-200 is just as good of an aircraft, just with that 2000's style to them

Prefer md-80. I have some great memories on the md-80. Oh what about the md-90 series?

I have flown in all three of them, DC-9, MD-80 and Boeing 717. They are all the same, difficult to differentiate. MD-80 is bigger but Boeing 717 is newer. DC-9 is the noisiest.

8 have flown on the md-88 but have not flown the b717 yet, which is odd because delta has a ton of them. That said for the passenger the flight is probably identical.

I’ve flown on a Delta MD-88. I’ve gotta say I prefer other short haul airliners to it.

The 717 can do ILS category 3b landings, whie the MD80 is in the holding pattern waiting for the weather to improve.

I flew on an American Airlines Md 88 and it was much more fun and comfortable to fly than an a320 or 737. I also flew on a Hawaiian 717 and it was not as comfortable because the plane was made for very short flights. I love the dc 9 family, Md 80 family, the Md 90 and the 717. I wish that Boeing would make a new 717 that is larger and has more range.

Flew on Delta B717 N943AT once sat in mid-back and I felt every bump. I also recall it was a very noisy flight, not the passengers, mind you, but the hum of air inside the cabin and engines. That and the crew aboard really made this flying experience unpleasant. I was really looking forward to flying in it too.

I don't feel like this explained it all that well. The MD-80 series, like the DC-9 before it, was competing with the 737. Both started out as basically regional jets but grew into larger mainliners, the 737 with it's wider fuselage and underwing engines generally did better in this role and was more popular, part of what lead to MDD's demise. Trying to keep up, shortly before the merger MDD developed the large long-haul MD-90 and the small regional jet MD-95 with more efficient engines. When Boeing bought MDD (or MDD bought Boeing with Boeing's money, as some say) they decided to discontinue all except the MD-95, which they called the 717. Larger versions competed with the 737 series, having both in production would be more expensive than focusing on one design, and the DC-9 derivatives were pretty obsolete. MD-90 orders were changed to 737-800s. They kept the MD-95/717 though as it was smaller than the 737, or at least made more sense than the 737-600 which was quickly discontinued, it was a good regional jet offering that Boeing lacked. They discontinued it but now seem to be regretting that as the Embraer E-jets and Airbus A220 (Bombardier C-series) are rising with Boeing now having little to offer in that market.

MD-80 took off like a rocket and droned like a hornet in the back seats.

1:48 BR715, to be accurate

Love the 717 it's the only one with RR engines instead of Pratt's.

I have flown on both and if I had to choose ,I prefer the MD80 family.

The 717-200's forte is high-frequecy relatively short-hop operations, something that Hawaiian Airlines have found them very useful for "island hopper services." Delta is only slowly phasing them out in favor of the Airbus A220 on routes like the Boston-New York City-Washington, DC "shuttle" service.

I want to try the 717.

I remember Aeromexico's MD-80s, use to fly a lot CJS to GDL, also with AA and Delta on other routes, these are gone and were very noisy aircraft. Comparing these two, the 717 is not that noisy.

ive flown on both, prefer the 717

Currently MDs dominate Iran's domestic flights market, they are pretty decent for short flights and according to my experience they are faster that A320 and 737s.

Which is better the McDonnell Douglas MD-95 or the Boeing 717?

i have flown in both aircrafts sas md-80 and blue one 717

I might have!

Flown AA MD-80s . Have sat in the last row seats and the engines droning noise puts you to sleep. LOL!

It’s gonna be sad not seeing any T tails in the skies when the time comes I already miss seeing the silver birds from American

why the boeing 717 was not preserve in the museum

I been on a cinn- LGA on delta

I would love to fly on mad dog

I've flown on a volotea 717 from Heraklion to Athens

Not a fair competition. Why don't you compare the MD-80 series with the 737 Classic Series (i.e. 737-300/400/500) Given they were developed the same time and were direct competitors..

Different airplane [ well still A6WE type] design for different mission. 717 is high freq short haul. MD-80 intermediate range. normal out and back per day. I have dispatched and flown both before engineering mods to both. Both have no life limit on the airframe like Boeing and Airbus NBs. All efforts to modernize the MD-80 were scrapped. BR715 was tried x3, last by my group, and last was even PW6000. Boeing killed over 100 orders for the 717 after acquisition and MDC before that killed the MD95-10 and then Boeing killed the 717-300, all of which had sufficient launch orders. There was also an effort to re-design control system with hydraulics to reduce drag further. All attempts were killed by Management [aka Stonecipher & Co]

I have flown on the md-80 which is rocket on take off.

Aight aight, but if you’re at an airport, and see you one, how do you tell if it’s an MD80, or a 717?

Isn't this a moot point with both pretty much finished?

Boeing 717 is the Safest old airliner