LAST VISIT? Detroit Red Wings McDonnell Douglas MD-81 at Calgary Airport

Since 2011, the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers have been flying on this McDonnell Douglas MD-81, operated by Olympia Aviation, based at Detroit Metro Airport.
November 682 Romeo Whiskey has been a highlight for plane spotters across North America during each team’s respective seasons, especially since it is the last flying MD-81 on the continent.
However, with it being 43 years old now, Olympia Aviation has reportedly acquired a 737-800 to replace it, and that’s rumoured to enter service fairly soon.
So, when the Red Wings came to play the Calgary Flames last month, that was likely the last ever visit of this airplane here.
As a lifelong fan of the MD-80, I am sad to see this go, but I’m glad to have seen it here quite a few times over the years, and especially on this last visit. Enjoy the video!
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FLIGHT INFORMATION
Airline: Olympia Aviation
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD-81 (MD81)
Livery: White with blue and red
Engines: 2x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217C
Registration: N682RW
Route: Vancouver (YVR) - Calgary (YYC) - Seattle (BFI)
Callsign: NOVEMBER 682 ROMEO WHISKEY
Runway used: 35L / 17R
Date filmed: February 2024
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Outro song - "Take Flight" by Nyhtian: • Nyhtian - Take Flight ...
© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2024
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission. Contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.

[@tbrazeil]

Prior to this MD-81, the Red Wings and Tigers used a DC-9-51. I use to see it at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York when the Red Wings were in town to play the Islanders.

[@eaglerare1273]

Hello from KCLT. Beautiful bird. Didn't realize what a nice looking city Calgary was especially with those mountains in the distance. Cheers

[@erichyde766]

Holy crap, they’re gonna have to send a crew out to clean all that GREASE off the runway after his landing 😮

[@coreymcdonald7745]

Certainly a butter landing, for sure.

[@CongressSux1776]

Who wants some dinner rolls for all that butter?

[@Kam_MD11]

LOL.. he did float it like he meant it though.. caught this beauty in LGB couple of months ago. I hope if they do decide to let go of it that one of the current MD80 cargo operators would snatch it up . Great video @Alex

[@britannia079]

If that is the last time she lands there what a fantastic way to capture it, you have certainly done her justice. Exceptional filming, cinematic in quality, brilliant Alex

[@Mark-pp7jy]

Transplanted Michigander here. I saw this aircraft several times a year at MSP, when the Wings played the "Wild". Delta had a whole fleet of MD's, and none of us shed a tear when they retired them. They're a pain in the ass to load and unload. Especially with a sports team, as the cargo doors are too small for some of the hard sided equipment cases. 😉✈️

[@m.hstudioproductions6642]

I loved the MD aircraft as a kid, they were some of the best airliners around.😔💔

[@rogerwalnut]

I miss flying the MD-80. It was a great ride, beautiful to watch and listen to as well!

[@jessemillington5988]

Well that over top view was amazing! Glad we got to see her go. Also I still think this was the longest and smoothest landing roll I have ever witnessed.

[@sheilasembly-crum8447]

I enjoyed that smooth landing too!

[@m.hstudioproductions6642]

Seeing the last of its kind getting phased out is just straight up sacrilege. The McDonnell Douglas brand will always have a special place in my heart no matter what anyone else says. They might be old, but they're golden and reliable pieces of engineering. Airbus A320NEOs and the newer Boeing 737 MAX jets will never top the DC-9, MD-80, MD-90 and 717 when it comes to authenticity and nostalgia (same goes for the A220).

[@nitylokaojki]

Based on some speculation and a bit of research (very little information provided), the B737-800 replacing this MD81 is N313TR. This airframe's first two operators were the Brazilian airlines Varig (2008) and GOL (2008 till 2016) before returning to the US to serve for Miami Air International from 2016 till 2020. It was stored from that point until September 2023. It was seen flying around the Detroit area in the colors of its new operator around the same time this video was filmed.

[@FNAF_2231]

It'll definitely be sad to see this bird go, a gorgeous piece of aviation history that will go down a legend, godspeed

[@jcbaily5559]

It is a beautiful aircraft...I only got to fly on them a few times and I enjoyed each flight and they were so quiet when I got to sit in FC...thanks for the memories!

[@grantp.5700]

Such a cool old aircraft

[@kurtboginski507]

Still a graceful beauty both on the ground and in the air. Thanks for posting.

[@american101]

I’m a lifelong fan of the MD-80 series myself hence the profile picture! Great video as always Alex!

[@andreworiez8920]

At least the MD-95 (um.... Err 717) will be flying for a little longer.

[@greggirons67]

Love those Mad Dogs ...! My late Dad worked at McDonnell Douglas 60s-89, the DC-9 program was a major piece of his time there and it put allot of meals on our table ...! ❤❤❤

[@davidcole333]

That was a real treat. I have many fond memories of flying on the mad dog, going back to the 80s. The JT8Ds are so sweet to listen to. Old school.

[@matthewwelsh294]

8:38, is that Canadian North with its old livery? Oh my and what a rare find!!

[@That_Kidfire.]

Great video Alex! LETS GET ALEX TO 100k!

[@michaelbruchas6663]

I have never heard of an 81! We learn stuff on this channel!

[@nathanlembke9026]

Man I still look back at the old videos I took before Covid and there were so many cool planes but now it’s just nothing Covid ruined aviation thanks for the video Alex love the old birds❤

[@davefields3020]

Beautiful photography, Alex!

[@DUmB-AVEgeeK]

What does old aircraft looks extremely good looking

[@dalemcscurvey714]

Came cmh yesterday sadly missed it

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Will be a shame to see her replaced. What a beauty !! And my favorite all time airliner. Flew on quite a few of them, all good. Had an Allegiant captain tell me it was his favorite to fly and probably the safest of the old style airliners. They had the rear staircase open - I love it !! D.B.Cooper !!

[@Chickenhitman527]

As I have gotten the chance to see 2 of the redwings MD80s it was awesome being able to see them before they go!

[@kurohone]

From the sounds of what sounds like very expensive equipment, it seems you weren't the only one with the thought it might be the last chance.

[@williamm3691]

Fantastic video. Thanks for documenting! ✈

[@tvflight7858]

Not long ago MD-80s and MD-90 were a common sight, and now that's the last one left flying? That must have been the fastest phase-out of any airframe in the modern days. Sad I'll never get to fly on one. I love that turbojet engine sound, so juicy!

[@theEagleBeagle]

the wings will be in town later this month. will have to go scope out RDU and see if they bring this bird with

[@JayNeature]

Love the videos! i would like a video of the setup of camera!

[@myownfairytale]

This is so cool. I had no idea. Great videography.

[@myownfairytale]

Okay then I got to the end and shed a tear. Those camera clicks.

[@CJetsPlanespotting]

I’m glad I finally got to see this beauty for the first and last time when it came last month! Got to see the plane and the game on the same day.

[@Thehotglueguy]

im gonna miss the mad dog. i live near detroit so seeing it was common

[@SFAviationn]

amazing video as always, what camera do you use?

[@happycanayjian1582]

Floated so long, he almost ran out of runway. Only had about 6000’ left. 😜

[@ADHD64]

Aww, snap! I gotta remove this from my list now! I always messed them up for 727's, though

[@andreworiez8920]

Any chance of the Mad Dogs finding a 2nd life on far northern gravel runways?

[@mattw8809]

Pretty pain on a nice looking aircraft ! Sleek !

[@coreymcdonald7745]

So… what happens if both the Tigers and the Red Wings need to use the aircraft on the same day… NHL playoffs can go well into June if the Red Wings make it. Or do they coordinate that in their respective schedules?

[@jayrivard]

As a life long wings/tigers fan, I’ll be sad to see her go. I loved the Little Caesars guy on the tail when they flew that paint. I work with the guys at YVR’s south terminal. I’ll have to ask them if they’ve ever fueled it.

[@TheSkidrowyachtclub]

What a beautiful aircraft, in such mint condition. What will happen to it next?

[@nordisk1874]

717 is truly the last of her kind! Soon besides the freight DC10s and MD11’s only the Buffalo DC3’s and the Baislers will be all that is left.

[@schnuurtchke]

What day was this filmed on?

[@Adriatic1290]

I saw N111RE at CYLW. It is an MD-80. I took some pics of it too

[@calgary.flames_legend459]

Alex how does one get permission to be on the tarmac?

[@checheyyoung5704]

Fly southwest next

[@swiss113]

sad rip md81😢

[@WindowsNie]

This is really sad

[@matthewclark1674]

I'm old enough to remember when those MD's were ubiquitous. Sadly nothing lasts forever.

[@fomfom9779]

I'm old enough to have been employed by McDonnell Douglas, Long Beach, and to have worked on the MD-80 program, for a portion of my career with them.

[@leezinke4351]

Nothing replace the MD-80.

[@benderandownz]

Go Wings ;)

[@dennis2275]

What are the gizmo's on the tire area of the front wheels???

[@CongressSux1776]

Wrong direction for towing, if I had to guess, in case a tire blows at high speeds, it would swing up and hit that, instead of flapping up into the fuselage, but I’m an idiot so don’t take my word for it.

[@legendsgamer5218]

That landing was buttttter

[@glenlaughlin6547]

Is there still a future for this plane

[@ytzpilot]

Adios Mad Dog, you will be missed

[@cobra646]

Maybe it'll come back for the playoffs in Calgary 😂😂

[@Enthai21]

Does anyone know which aircraft the baby was born recently? Apparently a baby was born on an air Canada 777 on route to Toronto from st Lucia😂

[@NW255]

Red wings tigers old plane is parked at DTW and used for police training

[@jmstransit]

Detroit Calgary in the Stanley cup finals let’s go HAH

[@machintrucGaming]

Surprised they don't fly private jet. Aren't those players making millions each ?

[@jonmchang]

It is a private jet, the whole md-80 is a big private jet for the team.

[@rorytippett8345]

U think they would have a nicer plane

[@johnsmithson5376]

Previous to this …They used a BAC -111. RR Spey Engines…underpowered Noise Machine. A Nightmare to Load, and reliably British Electrics. Hope it’s scrap somewhere.

[@m.hstudioproductions6642]

The BAC 111 was a marvelous aircraft in my opinion.😢

[@alexg3588]

lgrw

[@seriesofaqrobloxoffcial]

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