As an ex TN LAME I have had many flights in the DC9 jumpseat. One evening going to CBR the captain was RK, (copilot NH) who said we will see how accurate the trim sheet setting was. It was a perfectly still evening and his hands hovered beside the pole on takeoff. At the correct speed the aircraft rotated and climbed away; I was quite impressed.
Every day now at work I am reminded how noisy the DC9 really is, as there are 3 or 4 operating here as passenger aircraft. They are DC9-30. A couple of months ago I nearly had to hitch a ride on one to get back to LAD.
I also have fond memories of Swissair MD-80 flights, usually seat 1A, from Zurich to Tripoli and return and the captain with an Aussie accent. They were nearly silent on takeoff, and looking back down the tube on rotation into bad weather, did they ever flex!!! (Grandpa's tales from the olden days Sonny)