Miss The Midland 9's [Archive]

BYALPHAINDIA

1st Feb 2007, 23:00

I am still mourning after the BD DC9 was retired from service.

I spent many days at LBA to see & hear the BD 9'S roar off the runway!!

When R14 (cemetery end) was in use you got the full 'Blast' from both the engines, and if it was a hot day - well you got it all.:D

On a Sat there would be 2 or 3 9'S in sometimes together and would often depart after each other to LHR & JER.

The 9'S had a tendency to sit at the end of the runway awaiting T/O clearance and then ...3 2 1 push the throttles forward generating awesome 'Blast' down the runway, Like the pocket rocket 1-11's.

I loved the 9, It was always my ambition to fly a 9 but sadly not.:ugh:
I was fortunate to fly on G BMAH, the 9 with the most airframe hours.

BD411 was nicknamed the 7' Oclock 'alarm clock' by the residents of Leeds & Otley & beyond.

You could always tell if the pilot flying was local to LBA because his/her landing would be in the same position.

According to my records the last DC9 14 - G BMAH was retired in October 1995?
The last DC9 32 - G ELDH was retired in May 1996?

Most of the 'Diamond Nines' ended up in Columbia, With a couple of 32 versions going to Africa.

I miss them all.

Those were the days!!

Regards.:ok:

HEATHROW DIRECTOR

2nd Feb 2007, 08:45

I'm a retired controller and I miss them too!! Many controllers get used to pilots' voices and several BM pilots immediately spring to mind.. I don't know their names but their voices are engraved in my head.

My other recollection of BM is the breakfasts! One ofmy fellow ATCOs knew a Midland pilot and if he flew in early in morning he would ask "How many breakfasts?" Half an hour later we'd be talking to the jets with mouths full of bacon and sausage!!! (It's back in the 70/80s if anybody wonders).

Happy days......

cjhants

2nd Feb 2007, 13:50

i was lucky enough to fly in a MD super 80 about 5 weeks ago DEN-ORD with AA. had not flown in the type (OK i know its not technically a DC9) for about 20 years, when i flew BM and SAS quite often.

i had forgotten how smooth and quiet it was inside.

Midland 331

2nd Feb 2007, 16:02

<Most of the 'Diamond Nines' ended up in Columbia, With a couple of 32 versions going to Africa
I think NW got one. Ironic, as some of the early series 10/15 came from the US.
Having spent a large chunk of the '80s/'90s flying on them as non-operational staff, I couldn't speak for emotion when I borded one at MSP a couple of years ago. Yes, they seem to have an attraction.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianfuller/114987111/

Breakfasts. Oh yes. Back in '83 we used to get them on the ground at Teesside following the first southbound. Utterly gorgeous. They were all the better for having sat in their foil trays for a bit. The hash browns were super.

The jump seat on a "nine" gave a super view - the occupant's head was around a foot higher than the crew's, feet placed on two fold-out steps astride the centre console. I can understand why crews preferred postioning female cabin crew to occupy them. The 1-11's office was positively spaceous in comparison.

Some controllers may recall the measured, "upper register" German tones of Capt. Popp, a fine gentleman and outstanding aviator, so I understand.

r

IB4138

2nd Feb 2007, 16:40

Ah yes, those breakfasts!
Superb sausages.
Always used to try to get an extra when flying early morning ex LHR in those days.:ok:
Flew on all the Midland 9s. Superb aircraft, far better than the 732s of BA.
A couple of years ago flew on a Boeing 717 AGP-MAD-MAH of AeBal. Brought the memories back it did.

GK430

2nd Feb 2007, 18:18

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/Emirates/178_1240.jpg

Apologies for quality - just a quick digital of an old print - have some great slides of 'AH, but no slide scanner.
Capt. Millington......where are you these days - you were :D :ok: entertainment

Talkdownman

3rd Feb 2007, 23:31

I once did a jump seat ride with this gent:
http://www.freewebs.com/barne/
on BD334 with on-limits SRA into Teesside, all recorded for posterity on Super 8 with sound. Imagine being allowed to do that now. The BD 9s were, in the 70s, about the only dependable Bovingdon Stack-jumper. First call on 128.9 " We've got our climbing boots on!". Great sport!

Kiltie

4th Feb 2007, 01:18

Does anyone remember F/O DP who flew the DC9 and Fokker 70 for Midland?

shack

4th Feb 2007, 09:18

The BD 9s were, in the 70s, about the only dependable Bovingdon Stack-jumper.

Sounds as though you and I could have been working on TMA (N) in the same era.

Midland 331

4th Feb 2007, 12:05

So, off 27L/R, what could a "nine" make by BNN on a good day?

r

HEATHROW DIRECTOR

4th Feb 2007, 13:35

Dunno... but one quiet evening round Christmas one year I was the Air Dep controller at Heathrow and a Midland 9 asked me to tell the TMA that he would climb well. I told TMA, who rang back almost immediately having had a word with ACC. As soon as he was off the deck I said: "Recleared FL310" (or something to that effect). The sound of his voice stays with me to this day!!

ndegepilot

4th Feb 2007, 19:51

Sadly didn't fly the 9's as I went on to the 737's, but remembered one wet and windy evening aroud Christmas we did a hooligan 1 alpha departure out of LHR on our way to BFS.
Later I told a Wise (there's a clue!) old Captain who had flown the 9 that we had managed to cross Burnham at about 13,000' (with ATC permission of course), his reply was that he had managed to to get across Burnham at 16,000' in the DC9-10, and they were body angle limited! Respect!
(Burnham is about 7 miles from LHR IIRC)

Little Blue

4th Feb 2007, 20:31

GK430...
Captain "Millington" is still flying, though he tends to travel a bit further than BHX these days !
He's a Skipper on the 330 and hasn't changed one jot !
Top bloke and a top beard n'all !

DC9....G-BMAC was the 1st a/c that I ever dispatched, back in 1990.
EMA-JER.....
Who remembers Capt Dave Marshall?

Talkdownman

4th Feb 2007, 22:35

"Sounds as though you and I could have been working on TMA (N) in the same era."
We were, Jack.....
Off 27s/28s on a good day a BD 9 could make about 180 at BNN. I vaguely recall one crossing BUR out of 105. Always dependable. Other types would catch you out. SAS 9s were usually good for jumping the BNN leavers whereas the TRIs would stay at 6. Any Gatwick 9s were good for jumping ONGAR / LAM whereas the 111s would struggle and have to stick at 5.

HEATHROW DIRECTOR

5th Feb 2007, 07:29

I recall the very distinct voices of two Midland guys - one, an American Captain who visited ATC once. Was he Jimmy somebody? The other one was the very quietly spoken guy who finished sentences with upward tone - hope you understand... likes Aussies and northern Ireland people. He left Midland and went to one of the European mainland airlines. Both great people to work with.

Talkdownman

5th Feb 2007, 08:06

Yes, me too HD, as you say two great guys to work with.The second guy was Ian something (Fraser?). Total mutual co-op. Great when pilots and controllers on the same 'wavelength' esp when it was to mutual benefit. Ask for 'best rate' these days and you get a bean-counter's rate of climb and grey hair instead of high performance.

shack

5th Feb 2007, 09:39

How true with these climb rates, one normally had to ring the Daventry sector to get higher than 130.

Thread jump, one was never surprised with the 9's climb rate but the big surprise I got one day was a KLM Electra going through the Park out of 210.

Midland 331

5th Feb 2007, 09:44

I hazard to speculate that this mutual respect may have been one of the reasons why the last northbound Teesside used to be offered unsolicited direct routings to "TD" early on from Daventry Sector (Excuse me if I've go the title wrong!).

(Sure, there was also the minor issue of lack of traffic, and the military having taken an early night....)

Of course, the "9" was steam and clockwork, so the intial heading was, I guess, a bit of a challenge. I have a vague recollection of a controller gently helping out on this, but may be totally wrong....

Some of the names mentioned above are memories from the chinagraphed movement board of twenty years ago!

r

shack

5th Feb 2007, 10:02

I hazard to speculate that this mutual respect may have been one of the reasons
How true, as it was the last Northbound Caley and Brit. United 111's at night out of Gatwick who would be cleared direct to Pole Hill out of about 80. (mind you you had to give them a heading to start with as they were too low to pick up the VOR

Midland 331

5th Feb 2007, 10:12

I used to smile at the BCal 1-11 Glasgow-bound chaps who used to come "on frequency" and announce "heading towards the GOW". Nicely non-incriminating!

r

HEATHROW DIRECTOR

5th Feb 2007, 10:19

Sorry for slight side-track.. but anyone remember the Learjet out of Heathrow asked if he could make 210 by the boundary (meaning the FIR boundary) said he'd try.. but he though they meant the Zone boundary!!

GK430

5th Feb 2007, 11:36

Glad to hear that Capt. "M" going strong - I wonder if he has learned to slow a 330 down in a hurry - he sure used to slam on the anchors at about 4 DME in the -9.
Guess I'll have to try and scan a slide or two.

HD - remember seeing a G.II level at 6,0 off 10L when he went back past the 28 end going westbound - that was impressive as he was headed across the pond.

Midland 331

5th Feb 2007, 13:33

>he sure used to slam on the anchors at about 4 DME in the -9.

Living close to EGNV, I certainly miss the short turns to finals of the 'nines. There seems to be much less "stick and rudder" these days. I guess that the nine was a responsive machine.

There were a small number of locally-based crews who, I suspect, were the culprits, including a captain with a local accent who had come up the "self-improver" route via Air Antique DC3s. His name escapes me.

r

IB4138

5th Feb 2007, 15:15

Who remembers Capt Dave Marshall?

Did Dave go onto the 737s after the 9s ?

BYALPHAINDIA

5th Feb 2007, 17:56

I visited Barney Concannons site, But was surprised to not see anything on his RAF/Airline career, It was just poems and the odd tale about Teeside Airport Hotel.

I can only pressume He doesn't want to remember or talk about his previous career? I know people in different professions who don't like to talk about their work too.

Regards.

WHBM

7th Feb 2007, 12:18

Several memories of the BMA DC-9s as pax over a surprising number of years. First was in one of the pioneers, still Finnish registered although BMA paint, from Heathrow to Teesside in 1977, while last was subbing for a 737 on Edinburgh to Heathrow one evening in the mid-1990s - my last ever DC-9 flight I suppose.

Remember arriving at Teesside one day and hard deceleration, my briefcase which was under the seat in front bounced out and whizzed forward out of sight up the aisle. And as it was one of the ones with slippery leather seats, it felt if it hadn't been for my seatbelt I would have followed it !

Strange. When BMA did their Diamond Service, full hot meals for all on domestic services, Heathrow to Teesside was 5 times a day and always good loads. Nowadays it is buy-on-board, some seasons down to 3 a day, and always half empty or worse. Does anyone at Donington notice the connection ?

DC10RealMan

8th Feb 2007, 09:42

Liverpool was also a base for the BD "pocket rockets" to LHR. BD581 depart LPL0700 for LHR came back as the BD582. That would be about the late 1970s. Happy Days!!!!

Rhys S. Negative

10th Feb 2007, 21:12

From a little on- and off-line research:
G-BFIH/G-BMAA (DC-9-15) to Intercontinental Colombia (HK-3827X), stored Bogota Jun-04.
G-BMAB (DC-9-15) to Intercontinental Colombia (HK-3958X), stored Bogota Jun-04.
G-BMAC (DC-9-15) to TAESA (XA-SZC) stored engineless Toluca Jan-03.
G-BMAG (DC-9-15) to TAESA (XA-SXT) stored Toluca (Feb-00?)
G-BMAH (DC-9-14) to Intercontinental Colombia (HK-4056X), wfu for spares Bogota Sep-97.
G-BMAI (DC-9-14) to TAESA (XA-SXS) stored Toluca (Feb-00?)
G-BMAK (DC-9-32) to Sun Air (ZS-NRA), current with 1Time Airline.
G-BMAM (DC-9-32) to Sun Air (ZS-NRB), current with 1Time Airline.
G-BMWD (DC-9-32) returned to Adria after lease (YU-AJF/SL-ABH/S5-ABH), current with Cebu Pacific (RP-C1537).
G-ELDG (DC-9-32) to Valujet (N949VV), Air Tran (N849AT), stored Orlando Jan-04.
G-ELDH (DC-9-32) to Valujet (N964VV), Air Tran (N847AT), stored Orlando Oct-03.
G-ELDI (DC-9-32) to Valujet (N948VV), Air Tran (N848AT), stored Orlando Nov-03.
G-PKBD (DC-9-32) to Valujet (N941VV), Aero California (XA-THC).
G-PKBE (DC-9-32) to Valujet (N940VV), Aero California (XA-UDC).
G-PKBM (DC-9-32) to Valujet (N942VV), Aero California (XA-THB).
Aero California suspended operations in Apr-06, but have since resumed some services - status of the above aircraft not confirmed.
Hope of interest,
Rhys.

Midland 331

11th Feb 2007, 16:01

Cheers, Rhys!

I recognise lots of old friends there...

r

GBALU53

12th Feb 2007, 21:54

Yellow Sun

13th Feb 2007, 12:40

Quote:
Who remembers Capt Dave Marshall?

Did Dave go onto the 737s after the 9s ?

No, he went on to the F100/70 and then retired.

YS

jethro15

13th Feb 2007, 13:20

What about Pat Cunningham??

Yellow Sun

13th Feb 2007, 13:24

What about Pat Cunningham??

I'm sure that a lot of people would like to know the answer to that question!

YS

gooneydog

13th Feb 2007, 13:54

WHBM

13th Feb 2007, 14:48

I started watching a/c at LHR when British Eagle flew the baby -9 One Christmas '63 I think actually flew LHR/GLA and had a lovely seasonal dinner on board Never then did I imagine that I;d spend the last 10 years 96 -06 flying the baby and the -32 Been great >> pity I got old !!!!
Gooneydog, sorry to spoil it for you but British Eagle never flew the DC-9, and there were no jets at all on UK domestic services in 1963. My guess is that you were on a British Eagle BAC One-Eleven and it would have been Christmas 1966 or 1967, the two Christmases they had the aircraft. Eagle went out of business in Autumn 1968.

Little Blue

13th Feb 2007, 14:51

Pat Cunningham.....Pet cemetary Pat?
Now there's a name I haven't heard for a very long time.
Any clues?

Yellow Sun

13th Feb 2007, 16:12

Pat Cunningham.....Pet cemetary Pat?
Now there's a name I haven't heard for a very long time.
Any clues?

Anyone know where the bodies are buried? :uhoh:

YS

WHBM

13th Feb 2007, 17:33

Every Saturday morning in the summer a flock of them would decend down on Jersey at 0800 and go back and forth all day till they departed back home between 2000 and 2030 if only these days were back long line the Midland nines.
Well the heyday of the BMA DC9 at Jersey ws surprisingly short. I'm looking at the BMA summer Saturday timetables there for 1985 and 1990. In 1985 the Viscount was still well in the lead, with 11 departures, the F27 (remember BMA had those) did 7 departures, and there were just 7 DC9s. Five years later and although the turboprops had gone there were 9 DC9s and 7 737-300s, on a notably reduced schedule.

Here are the DC9 departures in 1990.

Time Flt. Dest

0930 1316 MME
1120 1238 LPL
1250 1736 LTN
1305 2716 LTN
1530 1652 BHX
1535 1558 EMA
1810 1668 BHX
1825 1578 EMA
2030 2372 MME

BYALPHAINDIA

13th Feb 2007, 18:31

Thanks for that WHBM, I also have that Timetable along with nearly all of BD, BMI from about 1977 - Current.

Going slightly off thread, It was annoying that the Timetables after around 1995 did not state the Aircraft type, Whereas the older ones did.

I still prefer the older Timetables, Especially with the BD 9 on the front in the old colours taken air - air.

The timetables were also alot smaller and made a good 'Pocket' companion.:D

Staying on this subject Captain Hunt had amassed a large amount of 9 flying before his unexpected and unfortunate end in G-OBME.

Has he or will he ever fully recover?

Regards.;)

cvt person

13th Feb 2007, 18:39

I agree with whbm if anyone flew with British Eagle on the LHR -Glasgow route in 1963 it wasn't in a twin jet of any sort, would have been a britannia or a viscount. British Eagle introduced the 1/11 in 1966, the first a series 200 on lease from Zambia ( it should have gone to central african airways but events in Rhodesia stopped that) was delivered on 18th April 1966, flew a proving flight on the LHR-Glasgow route on the 2nd May being the first jet to land at Abbotsinch and entered revenue service on the route on 9th May. British eagle ceased operations on 6th May 1968 so as whbm said the Christmas period in 1966 and 1967 are the only possibilities.

WHBM

13th Feb 2007, 18:54

British Eagle ceased operations on 6th May 1968
Actually 6 November 1968. A trivial point but there you go. And nothing to do with BMA DC9s

Very slightly memorable to me as about 4 weeks previously I had left my school hat in the seatback pocket of a One Eleven on Liverpool-Heathrow (first jet flight ever, I still remember the notable acceleration down the old short runway at Liverpool, doubtless this excitement led to the forgetfulness 40 minutes later). Forcibly directed by my mother I was engaged in correspondence with Eagle to see if it had been found when they went under. I wonder how much the receiver got for it ! :)

gooneydog

13th Feb 2007, 19:52

Ahh well guess the memory plays tricks >>>>> Glad the FAA don't test THAT each 6 mos It does still fly well tho

Buster the Bear

15th Feb 2007, 09:04

G-BMAB, flew from Luton to Jersey in 1985. Wheels to wheels in 28 minutes! AWESOME!

Midland 331

15th Feb 2007, 09:15

I wondered when the "speed record" posts would start...

I jump-seated one night on BD340 (final northbound to Teesside).

Heathrow were on easterlies, we got an early turn north, then got a direct routing somewhere early in Daventry Sector, and the captain "went for broke" (his words!), keeping some power on in the descent.

Airborne to landing around 38-ish minutes. Apparently, a Viscount did about the same (written in a book about Midland), but did it by being slightly liberal with speed in the TMA, and a few other issues, so I have been told.

Ironically, when the "East Coast" routings via CLN and OTR-ish were introduced circa 1990, they seemed long and drawn-out compared with a decent direct routing. Yet, they were introduced to save time, (and, admittedly, to ease pressure on Daventry Northbound.) Nice views of Norfolk turkey farms, disused airfields, and The Wash, though!

r

GBALU53

15th Feb 2007, 09:55

To try and do Luton - Jersey now under 45 minutes would be good.

With Lutons location north of London in those days to do it in that time was fantastic.

Sometimes it take as lond to do an inter-island flight in that time doesn,t matter if it is a Trislander or a BAE146 if you time it at the inter-island rush there can only be number one and it does depend on which runways are in use RWY 27 Guernsey and RWY 27 Jersey are what they call the long way round.

Many years ago there used to be the race between Bristol and Cardiff to see what is the shortest time rthat could be done between these two points.

Unfortunately safety comes into play a lot more now a days so you must be seen to operate with a proffessional approach to everything.

How boring never mind bring back the good old days.:ok:

Get me some traffic

15th Feb 2007, 13:26

I believe the LHR - MME record is 28mins held by Cpt Joe Sharps in a VC8. Boxing Day many years ago, strong south easterly gale, 10(!!!) dep LHR and 06(!!!) arr MME. 6000ft all the way, straight line. Cpt Tony Zotl came close a couple of times in the DC9 but never made it as far as I know. Those were the days!!

Midland 331

15th Feb 2007, 13:33

I understand from Teesside contacts that he was a bit naughty in the TMA, although I'm surprised, as the VCV can't be much faster than 250kts in the climb.

There are stories of him literally appearing over the hills near Bilsdale mast, and going for a very short final.

r

Mooncrest

16th Feb 2007, 09:30

I have fond memories of BMA DC9s. There was quite a buzz at LBA when Sir Bishop announced the aircraft would be taking over from the Viscount on the LHR route in March 85. Nice, noisy little aircraft but it only lasted one season before it was pulled and replaced by a not so nice and rather noisier little aircraft, 1-11 G-WLAD. We got the DC9 back again in March 87 and progressively more flights were operated by the series 30. I was lucky enough to fly on one to LHR and it was a real pleasure. I believe some of the current LBA Airbus crews were on the DC9 back then.

The Viscount continued to appear sporadically but that's another story. Proper aeroplanes, both of them !!:) :)

Yarpy

16th Feb 2007, 10:14

Cpt Tony Zotl came close a couple of times in the DC9 but never made it as far as I know. Those were the days!!

Not called 'Zotl the Throttle' for nothing!

Great guy and very nice to work with.

Yellow Sun

16th Feb 2007, 10:52

Not called 'Zotl the Throttle' for nothing!

Correct, but that had absolutely nothing to do with the DC9! He acquired that suffix somewhat later. Anyway it sounds a bit snappier than "Tony, I learnt about Alpha Floor from that, Zottl".

YS

BYALPHAINDIA

16th Feb 2007, 17:10

Mooncrest, Yes I know of some of the original DC9 Captains who are now still flying into LBA on the 320/19.

Does anyone know what date the last DC9 flight was - anywhere in the UK?

Regards.:ok:

WHBM

16th Feb 2007, 17:34

Does anyone know what date the last DC9 flight was - anywhere in the UK?
Seems to have been BMI's G-ELDG, last service into East Midlands on 9 April 1996. The last ones were replaced by Fokker 100s.
That's for UK airlines. Odd ones still turn up, the DC9-50s of UM Air in Ukraine (ex-Finnair) can arrive on odd charters or subcharters to Eastern European carriers.

DCDriver

20th Feb 2007, 11:06

Ironically, when the "East Coast" routings via CLN and OTR-ish were introduced circa 1990, they seemed long and drawn-out compared with a decent direct routing. Yet, they were introduced to save time, (and, admittedly, to ease pressure on Daventry Northbound.) Nice views of Norfolk turkey farms, disused airfields, and The Wash, though!

This route could be fun, in fine wx an early descent off the N Sea allowed one to go sightseeing over the N.Yorks Moors. One weekend a crew discovered the Red Lion at Blakey Ridge, and a fast flyby was effected the next day which delighted pax & locals alike.
BTW, he was "Zottl the Throttle" long before the 'bus.

Yellow Sun

20th Feb 2007, 11:59

BTW, he was "Zottl the Throttle" long before the 'bus.

Err, I don't recall anyone mentioning the 'bus. Yes it was long before that, try the Fokker.

YS

BYALPHAINDIA

20th Feb 2007, 21:27

WHBM, Cheers, It probably was G-ELDG as on the CAA database, It last flew around May 1996 time.

The last DC9 - 14 was G -BMAH if my memory supplies me right?

In all the years of it's service I never read or heard of any major technical or serious incidents in the DC9's service with BM.

Regards.;)

Regular Cappuccino

20th Feb 2007, 21:35

"Seems to have been BMI's G-ELDG, last service into East Midlands on 9 April 1996."

I was on 'Tower' for Capt. John Robertson's last approach and landing in the DC-9 at EMA. We were on 09 and he was supposed to break off to the left and perform a 'fly-by' at Donington Hall, but in the event it was too claggy, so he couldn't do it.
Last tx as he taxied into the maintenance area was "End of an Era".

On an earlier occasion I had a fam flight in the cockpit from LHR to EDI and back, and was regaled with the story of how, for a while previously the BMA DC-9s were left at the SID level out of EDI and not 'lifted' early, because someone else in a BMA 707 had apparently run over the tower cat. No idea whether it was true or not, though.
RC

Midland 331

21st Feb 2007, 08:57

>because someone else in a BMA 707 had apparently run over the tower cat. No idea whether it was true or not, though.

:-))

I'm (wildly) guessing at a certain maverick Capt B., first name Anthony.

Also infamous for beating up the old Midland admin. block in an Argonaut, back in the days of shorth skirts and Sgt. Pepper. My sister, working in the block, witnessed folks throwing themselves under tables as the four Merlins approached.

I understand that he later ran a 2CV garage.

r

tinpis

23rd Feb 2007, 03:38

There was a story about a Capt lassooing a passenger boarding at Speke....?

Apparently apologised saying he thunk it were the FO ?:hmm:

kala87

23rd Feb 2007, 09:36

The DC9 series was always one of my favourite aircraft to fly in as pax or jump seat. I had the privilege of flying in most of the various marques. My first DC-9 flight was way back in September 1968 on a brand-new series 30 of Iberia, Barcelona-Valencia. I remember thinking that the 9 must have been rocket powered compared with other aircraft I had flown in!

My last DC-9 flight was in Mexico in March 2003, on an AeroCaribe DC-9-30, flying Villa Hermosa - Tuxtla Gutierrez - Oaxaca (well, it makes a change from LHR-MME!) I had the privilege of occupying the crew jump seat. The crew flew VFR, I seem to recall, at around 12000ft cruise on the short first leg, and we had a spectacular view of the active volcanic crater of El Chichon.The Capt. flew into Tuxtla like a fighter with a tight descending turn on to final to keep us clear of the surrounding mountains, rolling out over the approach lights and touching down on the numbers seconds later, followed by a healthy blast of reverse thrust, finally rolling to stop at the end of the short runway. My hands were sweaty and I was only in the jump seat! Viva Mexico!

I can recall a memorable flight on another AeroCaribe DC9, a series 10, on a night flight from Colima to Mexico City, again in the jump seat, with no pax in the back. The Capt. had a hand-held GPS and hand flew the entire sector, including the VOR/DME arrival into Mexico City (he had to as both autoplilots were u/s!). Viva Mexico!

I've also got fond memories of the BMI DC-9's, both the series 10 and 30, flying between LHR and MME in the early 1990's. As previous respondents have commented, the dinner and breakfast served on these flights was superb for such a short sector, far better than any equivalent offering on BA.

What a superb aircraft.

reverserunlocked

27th Feb 2007, 08:57

My first experience of the 9 was a couple of years back in one of AZ's 'Super 80's' from Milan to Malta and back. Apart from the garish green seats and the oddly omitted row 13 I was incredibly impressed with the lack of noise near the front.
Having punted down to Milan on an A321 the Doug seemed almost silent up front. Got stuck down the back on the return leg though, and the narrow taper of the fuselage with the very pronounced engine noise was less fun!

the former gk

28th Apr 2007, 01:47

My first ever flight was on July 7th 1987.BD081 Belfast International to Heathrow DC9 32 G-BMWD.The captain was Ian Patterson whom I got to know after joining BD in 1998.

Talkdownman

8th May 2007, 23:57

Post no 46: GMST Wrote
"I believe the LHR - MME record is 28mins held by Cpt Joe Sharps in a VC8. Boxing Day many years ago, strong south easterly gale, 10(!!!) dep LHR and 06(!!!) arr MME. 6000ft all the way, straight line. Cpt Tony Zotl came close a couple of times in the DC9 but never made it as far as I know. Those were the days!!"

Being on the DTY Sector at the time this had a familiar ring about it so I spoke to Joe today, he confirmed 28 mins but New Years day '76 and at FL70 (which was ODL). Primed up everybody on the way. For the BD boys Tony Kingham was his F/O. Then he jumped into his Boeing and was off again, at Mmo.......