Curious on the backstory behind the photos? This is the place. You'll find not only write ups on local outings, but also reviews of major events I’ve attended.
The Super 80 Send Off
The conclusion of American Mad Dog operations happened four years ago and I had the privilege of being on airfield for the historic day!
September 4th, 2023 marks four years since the final day of revenue operations for the American Airlines MD-80, affectionately nicknamed the Mad Dog. On September 4, 2019, many aviation enthusiasts and employees mourned the end of an era as the last American Airlines MD-80 flights took to the air concluding 36 years of operations for the Dallas/Fort Worth-based airline.
I was one of the lucky ones to witness the occasion in person as I attended the "Super 80 Send-Off" hosted by the DFW Airport. As I gazed upon the sea of American MD-80s lined up on the tarmac, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia and gratitude for this aircraft - this workhorse of American Airlines that had carried so many passengers to destinations all over the world.
The numbers speak for themselves - the MD-80 constituted a whopping 44 percent of American Airlines' fleet at its peak in 2002 and carried over 87 million passengers in its lifetime - truly a testament to the aircraft's reliability and versatility.
In tribute to the airframe, American operated the final revenue flight from Dallas/Fort Worth to Chicago O'Hare as flight 80. The rest of the departures were non-revenue position legs with the majority going to Roswell for storage. Lucky for us watching, many of the pilots performed some rather spirited departures including wing waves and low transition departures!
Love it or hate it, here's to the Mad Dog - a true aviation legend. The skies are sure quieter without it!
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023
Despite difficult weather and events, Oshkosh 2023 was another one for the books!
Every year, aviation enthusiasts from all over the world gather in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration, where they get to experience some of the best aircraft displays and activities. This year, the event managed to break records despite less-than-ideal weather conditions.
With temperatures regularly in the 90s and wildfire smoke from the north hanging in the air, visitors had a difficult time walking around in the direct sunlight for eight days straight. However, according to the EAA, the event was attended by approximately 677,000 people and more than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. There were even more than 13,000 sites for camping, accounting for an estimated 40,000 visitors.
The event also featured 848 commercial exhibitors and received a significant number of international visitors, with 2,372 attendees registering at the International Visitors Tent from a record-tying 93 countries outside the U.S. The actual total of international visitors was much higher, considering that not all of them register at the tent upon arrival.
This year's themes included EAA's 70th anniversary, 50 years since direct US involvement in the Vietnam War ended, the Air Force Education & Training Command, a Corsair "reunion", and a tribute to Public Benefit Aviation such as the Wisconsin Air National Guard, United States Coast Guard, JAARS, Civil Air Patrol, and others. With the large amount of military highlights, both past and present, you'll notice these albums contain more warbirds than past as a result.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, this year's Oshkosh Aviation Celebration was yet another successful event that broke records and attracted aviation enthusiasts from around the world.
