Farewell to the MD-80.
The ”old eagle” looking back on the event.
As my angel on the whole event is a little different from the other participants I will have to go back to the year when SAS received the first aircraft with ”T-tail” and aft-mounted engines. Until then the DC-7 and CV-440 Metropolitans were dominant on the routes to Northern Scandinavia with the short runways.
The first memory I have of DC-9 when the first aircraft with only instructors flying the first flight towards Northern Norway. I was in a Metropolitan with destination Trondheim and departed ahead of him. Controller cleared him to climb visually through our level if he had the Metropolitan in sight. His answer was: ”I have the light aircraft ahead in sight”. The captain had just converted to the DC-9 from Metropolitan. As the saying goes: The cow quickly forgets she has been a calf.
Little did I know then that the ”T-tails” should be my working place for years to come.
Showing up at the hotel in Oslo I met with people with all kinds of background and experience I think I was the only one with flying as a profession. However the enthusiasm and interest in aviation shown by all the others surpassed anything I have ever seen.
I will refrain from describing all that happened during the 3 days as so may others have done it so well.
However, all through my years in aviation I have tried to share my enthusiasm and love of flying with others. Whenever possible I have let young and old come to the flight-deck in the hope that at least some of them would get an interest in aviation.
People with fear of flying have often found it comforting to see that there are ordinary humans steering the aircraft.
This trip convinced me that my policy has been correct. You have given me one of the best feed-backs I have ever received. The farewell to the “T-tails” MD-80/DC- 9
Is one of the great moments of my life, 42 years, in aviation.
Thank you guys for 3 super days.
Per Reithe
Last edited: 03. okt 2013
