Farewell: Revolutionary DC-9 Takes Final Flight

Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- A long era in U.S. aviation is ending. The last Douglas Aircraft DC-9 airplane in the U.S. commercial fleet makes its final journey Monday. The DC-9 was a revolution when it was unveiled -- fast, comfortable and functional -- and one of the first commercial jets able to take off and land on short runways. It may be retiring but the DC-9 leaves behind a legacy. Bloomberg's Matt Miller reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

[shawnstanley]

The DC-9 is my favorite plane in the world!!! There just so graceful, especially in the mid 1980s Aeroméxico livery!!! Farewell my beauty, you will live on in my heart 🧡🧡🧡 (I’m weird) lol 🤓

[websurfin]

The DC-9 was a pleasure to fly on so many times! The Boeing 717 is equally a pleasure to fly on!!

[tonycritcher]

In the 90's I flew from Heathrow to Cairo, refuelling at Rome. My first ever flight and I loved it. Returning on the same plane three weeks later.

[TheComputergaz]

I had the pleasure as an 18 year old trainee private pilot, to have had the chance to fly one of these old birds from Townsville in Queensland Australia to Cairns Queensland, in those days we had access to the cockpits, (no terrorists back in my day).The old captain just basically took her off auto-pilot and handed me the controls, and sat in the back seat watching my every move, I will remember that moment forever. I never did advance further than single piston engine qualification, but I don't have any regrets:)

[RyanBomar]

Great video! It was cool to see some of my channel's footage make the cut.

I'll definitely miss the classic nine! 

[miaviation-railway]

farewell DC-9. you will always be remembered as on of the best airplanes in history. Happy retirement!

[DCDouglas]

Thats so sad! I miss the Midwest Express DC-9's I used to fly on! At least the Mad Dog 80's/90's are around for a few more years yet!

[MagicDragonKatt]

They're not dead yet!!! Ameriflight still flies them as a cargo plane. I saw one in Oakland last July :D.

[HeritageElevators]

I've been on the DC-9/MD-80 countless of times with Scandinavian Airlines. My dearest childhood memories

[NakulDalakoti]

It is really sad to see DC-9 going. But I dont know why Boeing didn't work further on this design. I mean they had the MD-90 and 717 so they should have made some improvements to this design and it could have pitched 717 as a niche airplane or a business jet .Like, I mean a competition to Bombardier CRJ or Embraer E jet family. I think Boeing should seriously consider about reviving the 717 design.

[terrysullivan]

Perris Valley Skydive has one and it is really fun to jump out the tail door. It is down for servicing but will be taking jumpers aloft again late this summer or fall.

[DMSDrummer]

Lots of aircraft were retired in 2014. Wow. DC-9, DC-10, MD-11, 707, etc

[Dcfan]

I knew this day would come, this is almost too sad to believe.

[virgojoe]

WOO look at that smoke, that's why it's called a diesel 9 :)

[NonPremiumID]

The sound of the ship traveling through hyperspace comes from two tracks of the engine noise of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, with one track slightly out of synchronization with the other to introduce a phasing effect.[6] To this, sound designer Ben Burtt added the hum of the cooling fans on the motion-control rig at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).[

[DustinJones]

A DC-9 landed at my airport earlier this week.... They're not 100% gone yet.

[ruzzelladrian]

The DC-9 was the first airplane I flew in

[mcdonnelldouglasmd-]

There is actually one DC-9 flying at East African Express.

[TJK]

They arent dead Amerijet, Kalitta Charters, and USA Jet still fly the original DC-9-10 series and -30 series

[martinda]

I just adore the DC9, it looks so gorgeous...And I am on a mission to correct the fools who call it a