How old are the DC-9s flying today for airlines?
 

There seem to be quite a few jokes about how old the DC-9's are that are still flying for carriers in the U.S. How old are the oldest of these -9s that are still being used for airlines here in the U.S.? I just looked it up on wikipedia, and it says that the prototype first flew in 1965, but Id find it hard to believe that the ones still flying today for airlines in the US are really that old! Just as a guess, Id assume that the oldest airliners flying in america today( excluding maybe some small charter outfits and "antique" airlines) were made in the early to mid '80s. Any info would be great!

I flew one a couple days ago with a birth date of Jan 1968. It flew great :) They sure dont build em like they used to!! ;)

There isnt anything wrong with an old airplane as long as it is maintained. The standards on airliners today are very strict so while the DC9s may be old they are in great shape for their age and have LOTS of character.;)

Guess they were FUN!
YouTube - Ozark Air Lines DC-9 Commercial 1966

Prime example; NW still has the 50th DC-9, built in 1966. Older than most of the guys on this forum, I'll bet.

I flew on one back in '94 and it was a '67 vintage. The interior was not well maintained, which had me thinking that there was probably places on the plane that you couldn't readily see, that were also being ignored. Far from fact, but as a paying passenger, that was the first thing that entered my mind: if they can't even keep the seat tray from falling in my lap, and fix the missing trim above the windows,etc, then are they even looking at the tough stuff? I swore off flying that airline, until they improved - which they have.

Not a DC-9, but a nice commercial that could not be made today.

YouTube - Southwest Airlines commercial circa 1972

DC-9 rocks always has.......

A beatifully painted pice of sh*t stinks just as bad....... but the PAX think it is great.

I'll take a 40 year old Douglas, Lockeed, or Boeing over the stuff built today. (Sorry W.E.B. but they don't build 'em like you did)

I'm confused...I saw the "DC-9" logo on the fuselage..
What is the aircraft?

He was talking about the link he had posted, which was Southwest, which obviously do not fly DC-9's!

I got it! Severe lack of caffeine...

I like the smokeless engines in both videos!

I've got to give the SW F/A (or was she a stewardress then) credit- she didn't flinch when that plane went over- and you know it was loud!

Haven't you heard, old is in!

No matter if it is an old plane or an old pilot

Or old F/A

The oldest ones are over 2.5 times past thier designed cycle limits... compared to a 727 they are made out of styrofoam.