American Airlines retired its last MD-80 in September last year. The aircraft’s final flight was celebrated with massive fanfare as it marked the end of an era for the US carrier. However, those missing the type could soon own a part of an American Airlines MD-82.
When aircraft get scrapped, their components can end up in many different places. Some parts, such as engines and landing gear, may be removed to be used as spare parts for other aircraft. Often, unless it is dismantled, a plane will spend its remaining years grounded at a desert graveyard.
Own an MD-82 part
These days, it is surprisingly easy to own a part of certain aircrafts’ fuselages once they have been retired. For instance, we previously wrote about how a company called Aviationtag was turning parts of the skin of the first retired Airbus A380 into keyrings. These sold out very quickly, as did those from the second Airbus A380 to be scrapped.
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Now, Aviationtag has a new offering for fans of the “Mad Dog” or “Super 80”, as the MD series has come to be known. The airline has worked with American Airlines to immortalize at least one MD-82 that used to fly for the airline.
The company is selling 9,000 limited edition keyrings made from the fuselage of N922TW. The keyrings cost €29.95 and are officially licensed by American Airlines. Aviationtag points out that this keyring shows the age of the aircraft it came from through “imperfections, scratches and parts where the paint is flaking on the back.” You can buy them from aviationtag.com.
About N922TW
N922TW was initially delivered to Swissair as HB-INO on September 4th, 1981, according to Planespotters.net. The aircraft was acquired by Trans World Airlines (TWA) in June 1997. This is when it first received the registration N922TW. In December 2001, American Airlines took ownership of the aircraft.
The aircraft only served in American Airlines colors for just a year and a half. On April 15th, 2003, the aircraft was withdrawn from use and sent to Roswell. It has remained there ever since. If it were still flying today, the plane would be 39 years old. Interestingly, the aircraft carries the line number 1,000. American has flown around a third of all MD-80s produced as a result of its merger with TWA. This occurred in December 2001 when TWA was acquired by American Airlines.
American Airlines retired its last MD-80 back on September 4th last year. The final commercial flight was conducted from Dallas Fort Worth to Chicago O’Hare with the special flight number AA80. Many MD-80s were sent to Roswell upon retirement.
Would you like to own a part of an American Airlines MD-80? Do you miss the type, or are you glad they’re gone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!