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In todays video, we take a look at not only the oldest but the only still flying McDonnell Douglas MD-81. Based out of Michigan’s Detroit metro airport, Olympia Aviation’s N682RW is currently the only MD81 still in operation. Built at McDonnell Douglas’s Long beach site as Serial number 48006, the 43 year old aircraft was delivered in April 1981. Of the 132 MD81’s built, this was one of the earlier produced, being the 19th to roll off the assembly line. In todays video, we take a look at not only the oldest but the only still flying McDonnell Douglas MD-81. Based out of Michigan’s Detroit metro airport, Olympia Aviation’s N682RW is currently the only MD81 still in operation. Built at McDonnell Douglas’s Long beach site as Serial number 48006, the 43 year old aircraft was delivered in April 1981. Of the 132 MD81’s built, this was one of the earlier produced, being the 19th to roll off the assembly line.
Just like most aircraft of its age, this aircraft has a little bit of history as far as its ownership. The aircraft was delivered brand new to Swissair in April 1981. Registered as HB-ING, the aircraft would fly the next 14 years with Swissair before going to SAS Scandinavian Airlines. In March 1995, it would become OY-KIG and spend the next 5 years flying for SAS. In Aug 2003, it would become part of the Midwest Express Airlines fleet as N812ME, where it would fly for the next 11 years. In January 2011, the aircraft would become Olympia Aviation’s and be registered as N682RW, which it has remained for the last 13 years.
Once in Olympia Aviation’s possession, the aircraft now known as “Red Bird III”, would get a total make over inside and out. Not only would it receive its new paint scheme on the outside of the plane, but the aircrafts interior would be completely redone as well. Now in its 74 first class seat VIP configuration, the aircraft is used as a sports team hauler, flying around the Detroit Redwings hockey team as well as the Detroit Tigers baseball team. Both of which are managed by Olympia Entertainment. Although not owned by Olympia, another Detroit sports team that should be mentioned when talking about MD80s is the Detroit Pistons. Between 2010 to about 2016 the team operated their own McDonnell Douglas MD83 aircraft. N880DP was known as “Roundball one” before it was retired from its sports team use when the Detroit Pistons joined most of the rest of the NBA in traveling on Delta’s fleet of VIP 757s.
The McDonnell Douglas MD80 series was introduced with its program launch in 1977 as the next generation of the Douglas DC-9. The “Super 80” which consists of the MD81, 82, 83, 87, & 88, featured a longer fuselage and more powerful engines than its DC-9 predecessor as well as upgraded avionics and further engine upgrades in the later variants. Its 2 Pratt and Whitney JT8D-217 low-bypass turbofan engines were state of the art at the time. With its larger wing and ability to hold over 10,000 pounds more fuel, the aircraft had a range of about 1560 nautical miles, over 200 NM more than the DC9. With the MD81s first flight in October 1979, it wasn’t long after when in September 1980 the first md81 was delivered to Swissair. Only a year before Swissair would take its 7th MD80 delivery, which would become N682RW.
Prior to Olympia Aviation taking delivery of N682RW or “Red bird III” in 2011, the airline had a different N682RW. It’s previous jet, known as “Red Bird II” was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50. Built in September 1977 as serial number 47733 the aircraft flew with Eastern Air Lines and TWA before going to Olympia in 1999. It would fly the Detroit Redwings and Tigers around for 12 years before being retired for the MD81. Once delivery of the new N682RW the old one was re-registered as N682PW. The aircraft is still at DTW where it is used for fire fighter training.
Unfortunately for old jet and McDonnell Douglas lovers alike, much like Olympia’s DC9, the MD81s days are numbered. Although no confirmed date, N682RW’s retirement is fast approaching. Acquired from the defunct Miami Air as N749MA, Oylmpia purchased a 15 year old Boeing 737-800 in 2022. The 737, Serial number 36434 was delivered to Varig in August 2008 as PR-VBJ before going to Miami Air in 2016. Now registered as N313TR, the 737 has completed its modifications and interior upgrades. The new replacement 737 (with its tail logos still covered) was seen during its test flights around Michigan earlier this week before returning back to its hangar at Detroit metro. Unlike the DC-9 and MD81, it is assumed that the 737 will not become N682RW but keep its current registration. 313 being Detroit’s area code and TR being for Tigers & Redwings.
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