British Midlands last dc9 flights

[peachair732]

When were the last BD dc9 flights? was there any special last flights or anything. The DC9 was such an asset to British Midland serving them so well over the years as the sole DC9 carrier in UK.

[Buster the Bear]

Back in the mid 1980's, on G-BMAA we did Luton-Jersey wheels to wheels in 28 min! I think the -32 varient left the fleet last in the mid 1990's.

[skip.rat]

As far as I am aware the last flight (non-revenue) was on 12/04/1996;
(G-ELDG) Acceptance flight for Valujet.

Edit: No pictures for last arrival that day; 1200m in snow 09 EMA - apparently there was a camera outside the hall but vis not good enough. Shame. BTW 'quickest' flight I "witnessed" was 28min Airborne / 37min chock-to-chock LHR 27R-MME 05 (I think). ("direct tango delta no speed restriction" I seem to remember):E:E:E:E:E:E

[Stu707]

Peachair 732
The DC9 farewell flight took place on the 10th April 1996, the flight from EMA to what was then Teeside was on board 9-32 G-ELDG, the aircraft was full of enthusiasts and retired DC9 crew, upon arrival at Teeside the aircraft was parked so that anyone wanting to disembark for photos etc were welcome to do so, after approx 1 hour at Teeside we took off and performed a low flypast before heading for EMA.

On approach to runway 27 at EMA we once again did a low flypast before banking over Donington Hall and then back around for the landing, once on the apron we were all given numerous goodies along with a certificate to commemerate the occasion.

Sadly the DC9 or the airline now exist, the aircraft was broken for spares at Orlando in February 2004

[N707ZS]

First DC9 was American followed by BFIH.

[jetstar.8]

N65358 DC9-15 C/N 47048 26/8/76 which became G-BFIH 7/4/78 then to G-BMAA 26/3/80

N48075 Dc9-15 c/n 45723 17/ 2/78 till the 15/6/78 was the second leased from southern Airways

[N707ZS]

Thanks Jetstar. skip rat, think a viscount holds the record for the fastest LHR to MME.
Sorry for the tread drift.

[Groundloop]

British Midland serving them so well over the years as the sole DC9 carrier in UK.

Any airline that operated MD-80s (British Island for instance) were also DC-9 operators as the MD-80 series were certified as DC-9s (eg DC-9-81). MD-80 is only a marketing term.:ok:

[Get me some traffic]

A Viscount does hold the LHR - MME record. Capt Joe Sharps, one Boxing day, howling southerly gale, 09 (10?) departure to a 05 (06?) arrival, direct track. I may be wrong but I think the time was 24mins airborne. No doubt one of my (ex) colleagues will correct me. There were numerous attempts to beat the time but it was never bettered. BMA, sadly missed.

[sealink]

I started working for BD March 1996 and travelled on a DC9 BFS EMA to collect my uniform. Good days.

[groundhogbhx]

Fastest airbourne I remember is 14 mins BHX-LHR including once round the hold for the hosties to try and clear up. Happy days and an airline that is sadly missed :(

[Heathrow Harry]

there are still far too many of these things flogging around the skies - especially in the USA (as MD-80's etc)

Avoid!

[Phileas Fogg]

But atleast they don't need airport/handling agent steps, or lack thereof, to off/on the punters.

And the MD87 was a fine little beast on the CPH/BHX/CPH route, reminiscent of a BAC1-11 minus the noise :)

[Midland 331]

Yes, I jump-seated on a 38 minute LHR-MME. "Present position direct Tango Delta" :-)

Joe Sharp broke the speed rules in the London TMA to do his speed record, so I've heard.

Great times. Some of the characters have gone to The Big Crew Room, but some vagabonds are still with us.

[N707ZS]

Think one of the Teesside memorable moments was when one of the main gear doors fell off on about 4 mile final to 23. Bad roumour was the engineers took it back and had it back on by the morning! One house needed a few slates.

[Get me some traffic]

For ever after that Capt Brian Griffiths was known as "Bomber Griffiths!" A mean box player and a pleasure to know.

[Hotel Tango]

Fastest airbourne I remember is 14 mins BHX-LHR including once round the hold for the hosties to try and clear up. Happy days and an airline that is sadly missed

And it included a full hot English breakfast for the entire cabin! Fastest for me was 21 mins though.

[rog747]

Tony Smallwood in -15 dc-9
did EMA-IBZ or PMI, can't quite remember but i was in jump-seat one Friday night with him and flying time was around or less than 1hr 35 mins

LPL-LHR was often around 20 mins and we served a hot breakfast at first
on the DC-9 on the first morning's flight out of LPL in 1979.
don't think that lasted long...

RE:
A Viscount does hold the LHR - MME record. Capt Joe Sharps, one Boxing day, howling southerly gale, 09 (10?) departure to a 05 (06?) arrival, direct track. I may be wrong but I think the time was 24mins airborne. No doubt one of my (ex) colleagues will correct me. There were numerous attempts to beat the time but it was never bettered. BMA, sadly missed.
I THINK I CAN RECALL THAT,
i was with BMA ops at LHR from 1977-85

G-BMAA first had 85 seats then had 90 Y
we often operated the BD332 and 338 MME with 92Y with 2 full fares on the jump seats! puzzled looks from the caterers when i asked them to uplift 92 hot dinners for the 338!
G-BMAB
G-BMAC
G-BMAG
G-BMAH
G-GMAI

G-BMAK i cannot remember config in 1984 110Y rings a bell...
G-BMAM

i vaguely remember the -32 series we first got,
only the ones were painted like this in the old scheme was it AM and AK only
Photos: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/British-Midland-Airways/McDonnell-Douglas-DC-9-32/0745427/L/&sid=7353d0eb183c6b0eea59c27e414b79ef)

the only original names were Dovedale on N65358 (later G-BFIH then AA)
darleydale on YB which was changed to Merseyside
Ulster on AB

forgot we also leased Finnair YC and YD -14's in our colours
in addition to YB which became AH
and YA became AI

also Southern -15 N48075 also painted in full BMA c/s

we subleased a Martinair DC-9 33RC (with cargo door) for a while to operate out of LHR as well but BMA flight deck crews did not fly it.
it may well have been PH-MAO
it was hard to trim with few/no bags on the business time MME flights as it was very heavy forward CofG due to the cargo door etc...

the BEST ever hot breakfast BMA ever had was on the down BD331 from MME to LHR which back then was supplied by the hotel St George near Middleton St George airport MME...
big sausages, mushrooms, smoked bacon and KIDNEYS yum it was delicious:O

[dc9-32]

I'm hoping to bring an MD83 to UK soon (airport to be decided), watch this space :ok:

[rog747]

and paint it in a BMA retro livery?:ok:

[DaveReidUK]

I'm hoping to bring an MD83 to UK soon (airport to be decided)SAS still send an MD-80 to Heathrow most days, though probably not for much longer.

Here's today's (SE-DIK on SK503 from CPH):

http://heathrowcam.net/Images/329960w.JPG

[G-ARZG]

and paint it in a BMA retro livery?

Silly question, why would you want to see an MD83 in BMA scheme ?
Never flew that variant, did they ? Might as well paint a Trident in BMA..:bored:

[rog747]

could be nice no?

i seem to think Mr Bishop was thinking about the Super 80 at one time when i was at LHR with them...

something negative was the Bravo cul-de-sac at T1 at LHR and also some of the Alpha stands...
i do not think it would fit and/or be able to be pushed back or turn on several of the stands at that time...

[Mooncrest]

I seem to remember BMA were considering the MD87. Similar size to the DC9-30 so unlikely to present any ground handling problems at LHR. All academic anyway as the company opted for the F100/70 and a fleet of 737s.

[wet wet wet]

A couple of memories of when DC9s were substituted for the based turbo props at BHX. The first was a flight from LHR that I recall was all of 18 minutes airborne. Still time for a cup of tea though! The cabin crew were not quite so slick on an other occasion when we had a DC9 back from BRU rather than the usual ATP or F27. The full Diamond Service dinner was served, and we landed with some passengers still holding meal trays, a trolley in the aisle and rubbish bags blocking the exit := Happy days.