(LAST OF ITS KIND) Skydive Perris McDonnell Douglas DC-9-21 operations 5-8-24

After 16 years, this work of art returned to the sky. I've been eagerly waiting for it to return to the sky for over 5 years when it was teased in 2018 of getting new engines and doing taxi tests. I'm not too sure as to why it hasn't flown since 2007, but I heard it's because the engines needed to be overhauled or replaced, and they didn't have the money, so it sat parked since then. I believe also within these past 5 years, it needed to be recertified as well.
On May 7th, 2024, it officially took to the skies again and flew to SBD to do a few take offs and landings before returning to L65, later that day, Skydive Perris announced that on May 8th, 2024, it will be doing 3 flights with professional jumpers, which also is the first time in 16 years.
I had to make sure to get out here and document this historic day of the last and only DC-9-21 still in one piece and operational. It truly is incredible to be this close to a DC-9 at max power, and to be able to live close to likely the most important DC-9 in the world operating.
Excuse the shaky and occasional over exposed footage, it was especially hard to follow it climbing and flying overhead dropping jumpers. Please enjoy almost 30 minutes of the sights and sounds of this Real Jet and truly an important piece of aviation history make a HUGE comeback!
Info:
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-21
Engines: 2x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-11s
Flight Number: N127NK
Route: L65 to L65 x3
Date: 5-8-24
Departure times: 10:27 AM, 11:44 AM, and 1:16 PM PST
Arrival times: 10:48 AM, 11:59 AM, and 1:33 PM PST
Timestamps:
0:00 1st flight
12:39 2nd flight
20:24 BONUS: Omega 707 on final into March ARB
21:10 3rd flight