Why This Air Canada DC-9 Existed in 2022

[@mitna357]

My first aviation job was as a flight attendant for San Diego based PSA after they purchased four Air Canada DC-9 32 aircraft in 1983. They were great to work on short but full flights between LAX and SAN, but also to LAS from all the SoCal airports. I also remember flying with a newly hired Sully Sullenberger as First Officer on this aircraft. Time really does fly.

[@alexfinns6162]

Wow no way. Sully?

[@HekateMGO]

I went to school here for aircraft maintenance. The DC-9 would still have been more relevant as a training aid to my actual career than the Cessna 172's and 182's we mostly worked on. Really sad the school basically just let it rot away. =(

[@Someguy0013]

I went to school here too. Though when I was there it had both engines and a full flight deck. The cabin hasn't changed since I was in it.

[@av8tor261]

I went there 1983-1985. Now retired.

[@daveshondel5108]

They don't rot away, I was enroute to my Learjet 23 to fly it out to Augusta and donate it to an A&P school. The road was dead! Not moving at all, I knew something was going on ahead because I saw the rotating beacon and a crane working. I got out of my car and walked a little ways and suddenly saw the most amazing sight. A DC 9 was being hoisted over the fence and pushed across the four-lane highway by the crane. several wing walkers with walkie-talkies and a plethora of Miami police. The old lady was a Delta and the paint job was remarkably well preserved. I don't know if it was one of the northwest birds or what. they had to remove the chain link fence in order for this game to work and they had done a wonderful job because when they set her down the tug came over and backed up, pulling her right up to the gate! For a minute there it looked like an auxiliary airport.

[@HekateMGO]

@@daveshondel5108 well, this one wasn’t put in proper storage and pretty well no effort was made to preserve it. They’ve started scrapping it this week.

[@Angry.General1461]

​@@Someguy0013It's been replaced by the CRJ-900LR!

[@jetpylot7523]

The DC 9 was my first aircraft at AC . I last flew TLT on January 1, 1998 . Thanks for posting this video !

[@tomb4568]

LUV the DC-9s!!

[@ccudmore]

I have some bad memories of having to sit in the smoking section at the back of an AC DC9 when I was a kid. Toronto to Halifax.

[@danbaxter4690]

Thanks for the video! Sad to hear it's being scrapped.

[@joeschenk8400]

My first flight in a jet airliner was an Air Canada DC-9, Montreal to New York! Thanks for the memories,

[@egpx]

Reminds me of the British Airways Trident fleet. Back in the 80s when the fleet was being withdrawn, any airport in the UK worth its salt received a Trident to be used by the fire department. Consequently they all gradually fell to bits and were scrapped, except one which is in the process of being restored.

[@slukas1375]

Amazing find, Alex. The DC-9 was, by far, my fav aircraft. I flew her often between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Halifax (YHZ) back when I lived in Nova Scotia. The spool-up sound was pretty exciting. Also loved the 2-3 configuration, and I was happy to see that in AC's new A220's. Rgds from YLW.

[@CenTexAviation]

Fantastic video, Alex! Really cool that you got to see this piece of history! It’s a shame that it’ll soon be scrapped, though :(

[@brianball6670]

Between 2015 & 2021 I flew in & out of Thunder Bay several times. I remember seeing that aircraft but never got a photo. I also remember the chopped up Chrysler Neons that Bearskin airlines used for baggage carts.

[@mikenb3461]

This brings back memories! Air Canada flew them into my hometown (Saint John, NB - CYSJ) during my childhood and I grew up loving the look. As you note in the video, I was one of those people who had their first flight on a DC-9-32. I remember that this was before deregulation (and I think Air Canada may have been a Crown corp at the time) but these flew in and out of CYSJ with not many passengers. That Air Canada livery remains my favourite.

[@stefanbaldwinson908]

My first flight was on a AC DC9 in 1974 Winnipeg to Calgary. My family was moving to Calgary and I was so excited to take my first flight. Later we would return to Winnipeg on a DC 9 or bigger DC 8 to visit. I remember it used to do milk runs routes Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Toronto.

[@robm3074]

Loved the take back in time. Thanks for the memories. I never flew an Air Canada DC9 but I have flown over 200 DC 9s of various other airlines.

[@paulrenny4801]

I flew that particular airframe as a Captain in the early 2000’s. One interesting feature is the periscope located in the floor at mid wing. It could be used to visually check landing gear position in the event of a gear malfunction.

[@jacrain9396]

Hi. I ended up with a window from C-FTLT after they cut her up recently. I was wondering if you also flew C-FTLM (712) and C-FTLL (711)? I did a video walk around of 712 a few years before they scrapped her, which leaves 711 as the only 32series survivor. kzbin.info/www/bejne/laGpi2t7f7yImZI

[@duffbiker]

C-FTLJ was also donated to John Abbott College in montreal towards their now defunct AirCraft maintenance program!

[@LowsJuan]

I experienced dc-9s as the final leg of YEG to YQM from YYZ to YQM during the 90s. Always fun sitting at the back, being barely able to hear over the whirling of the vacumn cleaners outside the windows and having the rolling coal of cigarette smoke migrating towards the back of the plane. I remember a trip to the cockpit to see all those fancy gauges. The pilot remarked that the plane was probably the same age as me as it was introduced in the 60s and, as you noted, was not far off. The thing I remember about the cockpit was the exposed superstructure of the plane and it is painted in very industrial-looking green paint. Not something you would see flying through the air, but an electrical motor sitting on the concrete floor of some 50's era industrial plant. I was ambivalent towards the dc-9s but I do recall my experience on what would sometimes replace the dc 9s later the CRJ or was it the fokkers, not a fan.

[@northernlight696]

I grew up in Fredericton and for many years flew the DC9's. My first DC9 was flight was in 1970 and I fell in love with these cool planes.

[@davidcraill9701]

My first commercial jetliner flight was on a DC9. I'll never forget the experience of being pinned to the back of my seat, as it accelerated down the runway. I didn't know at the time that it was rated as the second fasted commercial jetliner in the world, second only to the Concorde. It was truly an awesome plane to fly in.

[@W1ldTangent]

Well loved by the pilots for being the hot-rods of their airlines' fleets I'm sure.

[@marcmcreynolds2827]

By design, twin-engine airliners will always be more "overpowered" than trijets or quads. That's due to the engine-out climb requirement.

[@cameronjm9114]

Seeing those green/blue/grey cloth seats reminds me of taking my first flights as a kid in the early 2000s. Love it

[@jessemillington5988]

Thank you Alex for giving her one last show to the world on this beautiful plane. We at the Time Air Historical Society wanted to add it to our saving list but shes just to hard and expensive to move back to Alberta. ANYTHING is possible but we need donation help in general so we can only save so many unless we get more donations. One last salute to this beauty!

[@donaldbest1295]

Thank you so much for documenting bits of current and historical aviation history as you do. In my days as a student pilot in Hamilton, Ontario in the mid-1960s, we had so many interesting aircraft at the field that I never photographed.... Kenting Aviation and Austin Airways aircraft... B17, Canso, Avro Anson, Lodestar, Fleet Finch, Tiger Moth, Fleet Model 60 Fort, Fleet Cornell.... and so many other aircraft - all working, no showpieces at the time. How I wish I had appreciated what was disappearing before my eyes. Good for you for documenting aviation history.

[@mattman6461]

Used to see AC DC-9 30s at ORD regularly. They flew to YYZ YUL and YWG. 832 and 833 were the flight numbers for YWG if I remember correctly. ORD-YYC was a 727-200.

[@brianmcdonald6519]

Thanks for this, Alex! I flew on a DC-9 several times, and can attest to the noise at the back of the plane! My very first flight was on a 747 from YYZ to YVR, followed immediately by a continuing trip to Victoria on a DC-9! Flew several time YYZ-YUL or YOW on a DC-9. Thanks for the memories!!

[@mikejackman48]

Some of my lockwire, and blood, still on 719. I started in Dorval maintenance in ‘67 and saw the -9s from start to finish- line, A,B,C, D checks and mod programs. It was my first TC M2 endorsement. Thanks for the video. Mike J

[@CuteSealYHM]

This video has inspired me to go to the airport when the dc 9 arrives

[@maxtidman569]

You should do a video on all the abandoned planes at Kelowna international

[@andreforcier97]

Thanks for the memories! This was the 1st aircraft I flew on YYZ-YQY in 1975. Thus my love for aviation began!! BTW coming home was with Eastern Provincial 737-200 YQY-YHZ(when the reverse thrust buckets deployed I thought the engine was coming apart, then a L1011 YHX-YYZ… that felt like such a huge plane! Great memories! 👍✌️🍻

[@deadfishparty]

This plane was indeed my first flight and will always be a personal favourite.

[@jonc4719]

This was terrific, Thanks You!

[@kristofyyz9525]

I’ve seen her in YQT a few times, always kept an eye out on arrival. Never seen the interior, thank you for posting this vid.

[@jeremymurphy7320]

First passenger jet I flew on was a Northwest Airlines DC-9 from KSUX Sioux City, IA to KMSP Minneapolis-St. Paul way back in 1994. On the next leg of that same trip, I knocked off some good aircraft- DC-10 from MSP to KSEA Seattle and a B747 returning from SEA to MSP. The return from MSP to SUX was a Saab 340. I ended up flying the DC9 out of SUX several times and enjoyed every one of the ~45 minute flights to MSP. Good little airplane.

[@W1ldTangent]

Can confirm, my very first flight was an Air Canada DC-9 in the late 90s. Back when you could still get taken up to the cockpit for a tour and a chat with the captain, in flight. I'll never forget that.

[@DOMINICAAVIATION]

Amazing video! Thanks for the historical background of the type's purpose in the fleet.

[@robertschulze7995]

Flew on several of these a number of years ago. The statement "the further back you go, the louder it gets" is soooo true! Sitting close to one of the rear mounted engines was a very noisy experience!!

[@srowley85]

I remember flying an Air Canada DC9 from Toronto to JFK in 1971. We sat in the back row and my view out the window was obstructed by the engine. I loved the noise of the engines and that trip started my interest in aviation.

[@schnuurtchke]

Love the DC9 I miss those airplanes ✈️ 🇨🇦

[@Flies2FLL]

In 1998 I was a 727 first officer for Express One International, an airline run by a Dallas socialite that doesn't exist anymore. I was cleaning dishes in the sink in my house in Orlando, Florida one day when the phone rang. It was crew scheduling: "If you are interested, we have a first officer trip out of Atlantic City to Pittsburg....." My landline answering machine said. I called them back out of interest. "Well, it is with Captain XXXXX, and it is in aircraft XXXXXXX. " Hmm...... I didn't recognize the Captain or the airplane. What? I asked the scheduler: "What is this? I don't know the Captain or the airplane. And Atlantic City?" "Oh yeah, it is a DC-9 trip" "You.....Know that I'm on the 727 right? I think you've called the wrong pilot" "No, we have approval from the Chief Pilot himself that you can fly this trip. Since you are a pilot at this company and this is a part 91 ferry flight, you can do it" Me: "What.....?" "Oh I can put you on the line with the Chief Pilot if you want, but he will ASSURE you that you can do this..." Yeah, right! I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. I saw how this could go way wrong about 27 times, and despite the fact that I was being offered a chance to fly a DC-9. (!)...I turned it down. "I....Just can't do this. Thanx for the offer", and I hung up. -I have asked FAA inspectors on subsequent line checks about this about a dozen times and nearly all have said that I could have taken this flight. But they have all said that since it was such a gray area, they would have done what I did....

[@CoastToCoast_Trains]

Thats a very interesting story! To see old Aircraft that no longer fly is quite a surprise. Its interesting to see the history of the airline through still existing aircraft!

[@KILOZERA]

that dc-9 can be a resturant too just move the seat and put foldable table and ecc

[@Greeningdon]

We have one of those yellow engine covers. Got it from an airline mechanic neighbour, we used it as a paddling pool for my son when he was small.

[@rivetandbrodie]

Thanks for the update, I visited this plane last summer and was disappointed that it was looking so weathered

[@evilsmartdude1692]

Awesome!

[@davidcole333]

The DC-9 series including the MD-80/90 were always a pleasure to fly on because of the lovely 2-3 configuration. However, if you were in the last row or two...you needed ear protection lest you deplane with a headache 🙂

[@waitotong9590]

Headache by JT8Ds, worth it!😏

[@viscount757]

I flew on dozens of DC-9s and always found rear seats on early 737-200s, 707s and DC-8s louder on takeoff than the rear seats on DC-9s. In constrast, seats near the front of DC-9s (and all rear-engine aircraft in general) were notably quiet, most noticeable on MD-80s and 727-200s due to their longer fuselages with the engines a long way away. On takeoff, they were almost silent in the front rows until aerodynamic noise increased as speed increased.

[@peterbodifee]

@@viscount757 A former DC-9 pilot told me they could not hear the engines at startup and had to rely 100% on the instruments. Even at full throttle the engines were barely noticeable. I had once the opportunity to be in the cockpit during a short flight, and yes, very silent. Also that same pilot told me the DC-9 is like a sport car compared to other jets at the time.

[@jacksons1010]

I do miss the 2-3 configuration. If you’re flying with your spouse nowadays with almost all coach being 3-3, that stranger in the 3rd seat is always awkward.

[@johnwillcott3566]

Update: The DC-9 is now gone to the scrap yard.

[@robyoungquist5803]

Strangely enough, my favorite Air Canada aircraft to fly on were the Vanguard’s and the DC-8’s which operated out of ORD. Good times! Fond memories 😊😉👍🏻

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Flew in an Air Canada DC9 from Toronto Pearson to Thunder Bay in 2000 to visit relatives there. Must have been in its last week or so of service. Was impressed with the amount of legroom.

[@JuniorAviation2017]

When I saw the title, Why this Air Canada DC-9 still Exists. I knew it would be in Thunder Bay. Also Alex, are you to be able to do Plane Spotting in Thunder Bay? 😊 it’s great for plane spotting here, various planes and airlines here. Small and big carriers.

[@user-vf3fg1gl7pMsSandy]

Very cool Alex..Thank you!🥰👍💯

[@thephotoyak]

I remember flying on a AC DC-9 in the mid 90s. I would have been about 7 or 8 from Toronto to Halifax. Back in the era where they would let the kids come into the cockpit and chat/see the controls. Those experiences sparked a life long love for aviation.

[@W1ldTangent]

I had the identical experience, down to the destination and age range. Got my PPL through cadets and unfortunately haven't been able to afford to keep it current over the years.

[@Angry.General1461]

​@@W1ldTangentIt's been replaced by the CRJ-900LR!

[@richardkallio3868]

I did the same thing as a young boy in the mid-1970s, flying between Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec and Quebec City on an AC DC-9-32. I visited the cockpit and the stewardess (that’s what they still called them in those days) gave me a set of plastic wings and a tiny plastic model of a DC-9.

[@mitchwinder1204]

I logged a lot of weekly miles in the ‘90s and ‘00s on NWA DC-9s. My favorite airplane.

[@niktheref]

Hey Alex - could you do some digging into the group of abandoned planes to the east of YLW's runway?

[@marriedGary]

As soon as I saw the title I knew it had to be Thunder Bay! Thanks for highlighting my home airport. (Even if I don’t live in the city).

[@johndemerse9172]

Great video Alex. Not sure if I flew on that exact aircraft but flew on at least 50 AC DC-9 flights from CYYB to CYYZ and back in the late 70's and early 80's. Cool old airplane.

[@Johnny0Zanni]

I’ve been working at the airport working on runway 07-25 so got to see this plane a lot this summer. Unfortunately about a month ago the college had a company come in and scrap the aircraft.

[@jacrain9396]

I just purchased a window cut out from C-FTLT. Thank you for your years of service fin 719!

[@CYQT]

gotta ask, how?

[@jacrain9396]

@CYQT When they scrapped it, a gentleman near MTL was down there just to cut out windows and retrieve some parts for resale. There are Plane Chains coming out too from what I've been told.

[@3vann5567]

They better not scrap it, that plane is a staple of the city!

[@dmitripogosian5084]

In my first decade in Canada, in the 90-s, I manage to never fly Air Canada, and missed their DC-9'th. But flew plenty of them with Northwest, well into 2000nds

[@petkez]

i flew on them several times back in the early 90's

[@JoshD08]

I live in Thunder Bay and always wondered why that plane was just sitting there never knew the story behind it

[@mikejackman4416]

I have looked out over the area from the waiting room from the Thunder Bay airport and often wounderd about her thanks

[@Enthai21]

Ah damnit! Im watching this while the title says “existed” 😤

[@marielleberube6060]

I have a picture of myself leaning out of the cockpit window when the DC-9 was retired at the Air Canada base in Montreal and met some of the retired pilots who had flown the Montreal-Winnipeg-Vancouver route.

[@skarabraeranch2093]

Sweet. When I was in my teens I was occasionally a passenger on one of these venerable aircraft between Windsor and Toronto. These days it's often a beater of a Jazz Dash 8 (if you're lucky you'll get a Q400). It's one of the few routes that I can think of where air service has actually regressed from what it was 50 years ago.

[@danielwolf7494]

I was in the flight program there, sad to see it rot away. Was always an inspiration and goal to fly big planes like that when you’re bombing around in 172s.

[@ChevyBM]

Hope that old DC-9 will be saved!

[@gcorriveau6864]

AWESOME! Those AC DC9s "taught me to fly" jet transports in 'heavy' IFR conditions! I have thousands of flight hours on that fleet and I specifically recognize all three of these fin no's / Reg. Idents shown here. It's cool to see where they've ended up. I wrote about some of "our" adventures together in my book, "Uplift - A pilot's journey' . ;-) Thanks again.

[@gcorriveau6864]

FWIW AC (at one time) held a record for the longest scheduled flights on the DC-9-32s ... I recall long over-water legs between Toronto or Montreal and southern Florida (KMIA; KFLL etc.)... Also fwiw: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKDSZZWwic59oqs

[@mattd1142]

Why scrap it? It’s not bothering anyone there

[@peterbrown8521]

My first jet ride was an AIR CANADA DC-9 back in the early 1970’s, very exciting as a kid.

[@michellevesque2130]

Still to this day my favorite aircraft !

[@bayanicustodio3998]

You will find one in almost all schools that teach aircraft maintenance. There is also one in Winnipeg’s Stevenson. At their airport school. Loved doing A and B checks on those aircraft.

[@marsgal42]

My last DC-9 flight was Calgary to Vancouver in the late ‘80s. Those things were little hotrods. 😎 I wonder if this was a prop in the Mayday episode about AC797? That would explain the quick and dirty anachonistic paint job.

[@jobbiejew]

Sounds like a project for @Rebuild Rescue

[@naturallyherb]

Wow, someone really needs to restore this piece of history in some sort of museum!

[@eqplanes]

Certainly sad it will be gone but at least there is still one left

[@OllieRamone]

Alex, DC-9s were built before Douglas merged with McDonnell hence the DC title

[@crushingvanessa3277]

I go to go into that one here in Winnipeg at some college open house thing, to bad it was scrapped, it was in nice shape. To bad everyone's so bent on scrapping these. Maybe the last one could be made into a taxiable plane.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Looking really nice..

[@rickyboy1947]

I hope they donate it to a museum for preservation of Canadian Aviation history somewhere in Canada indoors

[@PlumpTravelers]

My very first flight was in 1980 with Air Canada. From YQM - YUL (Dorval) on Mcdonald Douglas DC9.

[@bone6000]

Love that livery!

[@adrianclifford5133]

Hey Alex, i was wondering if next time you are in montreal, you could check out the airline air creebec possibly. Thanks

[@codlive2904]

Hi Alex, are you going to go see the edelweiss a340 coming from Zurich today?

[@_conor]

Hey Alex. You should make a video on why there are a bunch of old planes on the grass at YYC just south of runway 26/08. I fly out of YYC all the time and am always curious why they are storing a bunch of old retired planes on the grass there. Like Air Canada Express CRJs and a Delta Air Lines plane too? I am more curious why there’s a Delta plane at YYC. Thanks

[@JRMurray]

My first ever flight was in a DC-9, from YQM to YYZ in 1971. IIRC, my family sat in the first row of what must have been economy class at the time, as I recall a bulkhead in front of us. Subsequent to that flight, I never flew in another DC-9 again.

[@TheAviationLab]

What a stunning plane!

[@1575murray]

I flew on Air Canada and some other airlines' DC-9s many times. As built they were very noisy, the pressurization system wasn't very good, and there were no overhead bins, only a shelf to place carry on baggage. After modifications were made in the 1970s to correct these deficiencies on AC's fleet they were reliable and reasonably comfortable for the shorter flights.

[@bobroberts2371]

3:00 " repainted for a movie " Was this for the "Gimli Glider" movie?

[@winniethegoldenpupper1834]

No, The Gimli Glider was a 767

[@lukethompson5558]

Wow, those seats are modern, and nicer and more comfy looking than anything flying in the US

[@randygalati]

I went to ACES for aircraft maintenance course. We did training on that aircraft, fun times.

[@DanTheCaptain]

What’s interesting to me is how the cockpit is painted a turquoise blue, something I’ve previously thought was a feature only on Soviet aircraft. So it’s interesting that this DC-9 also features this.

[@clearlycaribbeanreb2895]

I flew an AA mad dog in the mid 80’s and that cockpit was blue too. Interesting indeed

[@Michael_Livingstone]

Did they have any inflight entertainment where you plugged the headphones into the arm rest?

[@raufamin]

Spent 2 years at LU and flew in and out of TBay airport multiple times but never noticed it there.

[@mikemontgomery2654]

I was wondering about that bird. I first saw it in YQT on a fam flight there in the retro AC colours. I thought it was a museum piece.

[@ianmcgee9945]

I remember watching AC them prepare this one and the one that went to Ottawa for their final departures from YUL. Sadly, they were also cutting up a couple more at the time, which I also saw.

[@CYQT]

What movie was this part of? Haven’t been home recently, is it still at YQT?

[@therusticcollectionebaysto7028]

New sub ! Liked 😊👍✌️😉

[@graysonsaunsers7644]

what movie was it repainted for?

[@737Garrus]

Let's all make an unanimous push to let this airframe live. It cannot be scrapped!

[@CoastalAutoReactionCAR]

Wicked! What movie was she in??