Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Fifty-six year-old DC-9-15RC 

My first piece on the DC-9 fleet was in NetLetter #1342 (May 2016) and then a follow up in NetLetter # 1450 (November 2020). Of particular fascination to me has been the DC-9-15 'Rapid Change' aircraft was part of the Air Canada fleet in the 1970's. 

Ken Pickford recently came across the video, linked below, of Ameristar DC-9, registration N785TW (formerly AC CF-TOT - Fin #767), departing Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, Washington for Phoenix, Arizona (PHX) on October 27, 2023 and sent it along to me.

Remarkably, when I checked into the status of the four DC-9's in the Ameristar fleet, all four are still active at 56 years-old! 

See www.planespotters.net/airline/Ameristar 

Editor's Note by Ken:

This aircraft was Fin #767, CF-TOT (C-FTOT from 1974 when the hyphen was moved). It was originally delivered to Continental Airlines in April 1967, the 156th DC-9 built, so now in its 57th year of service with at least 10 operators. Douglas built them to last. With small U.S. cargo carrier Ameristar since 2002.

It's one of the 4 oldest DC-9's still flying and, interestingly, all 4 are from that batch of 8 aircraft acquired by AC from CO in 1972/73. The other 3, also now with Ameristar, were CF-TON/TOO/TOS at AC, the 79th, 97th and 141st DC-9's built. AC sold all 8 of those aircraft to Air Florida between 1977 and 1981 (4 in 1977 and one each in 1978/79/80/81).

Posted on YouTube by jaypainespotter