McDonnell Douglas Super 80

N938PS seen at San Jose in 1984. (Jon Proctor)

N938PS seen on approach to SJC, 1984. (Jon Proctor)

SAN Airport, 1968 (6)

Aircraft 924PS on a pre-delivery promotion shot. (McDonnell Douglas)

Taxiing under the Arizona sun is N928PS, caught in 1986. (A.J. Smith)

Caught in USAir colors, a PSA MD-80 lands at SNA. (Doug Bauder)

The first MD-80 repainted in USAir colors. (Parker Nolen collection)

N950PS in delivery colors over the California coast. (PSA Photo)

N932PS shows it's nose at LAX. (ARO Productions, T. Owen)

N944PS lands at SAN. (Frank Duarte)

One of the rare experimental scheme birds caught taxiing. (Doug Bauder)

N940PS lands at SNA. (Doug Bauder)

N930PS at SAN, 1982. (Frank Duarte)

N937PS lands at SAN. (Frank Duarte)

N940PS at SAN. (Frank Duarte)

N941PS on another stormy day in 1986. (Frank Duarte)

N949PS at SAN, 1986. (Frank Duarte)

N951PS at SAN, 1986. (Frank Duarte)

On a stormy day, N952PS taxis out. (Frank Duarte)

N932PS is shown at LAX, departing off Runway 24 in 1982. (ARO Productions/T. Owen)

N10029 about to leave the San Diego base in 1986. (Frank Duarte)

N937PS awaits passengers at BUR. (ARO Productions/T. Owen)

N929PS lands at LAX. (ARO Productions/T. Owen)

Captured on approach to LAS. (Jay Selman/Avion Foto)

N931PS caught on approach to the north runway complex, 1984. (ARO Productions/T. Owen)

N951PS caught about to depart San Diego. (Frank Duarte)

Shot in the hangar, eating (?) a mechanic. (Parker Nolen collection)

Nighttime at SFO, South Terminal. (Bill Hough)

Las Vegas was home to many of PSA's MD-80s, including N925PS. (Doug Bauder)

PSA was the first US Airline to order the Super 80, and these became the backbone of the fleet. With the purchase of the BAe-146, PSA moved these aircraft to longer routes, or where they needed the capacity.

The purchase of the MD-80 was a controversial one. The Pilot's Unions opposed the aircraft initially, and then demanded that PSA fly them with a 3-man crew. PSA refused, and many pilots were put on furlough between 1980 and 1984. The advent of the BAe-146 increased the need for pilots.

PSA was the first airline to have a MD-80 simulator, and that facility was turned over to PS Group. The simulator was well-used by pilots from most airlines, since it was the only MD-80 simulator when the aircraft was first introduced (modeled after N944PS/N820US). USAir moved the simulator back east to PIT in 1990. The disposition is currently unknown, as there are no simulators left in PIT.

Another interesting tidbit about PSA's MD-80s is that they were all equipped with HUDs. They were classified for Cat IIIB landings, although USAir removed the hardware. The -80s were all classified for Cat IIIA Autopilot landings, though.

Seating information
Passengers: 156 (delivery), 150 (final)	Seat pitch: 36-37", 32 rows	Seat width: 17"	Non-smoking section: Rows 1-23

US Airways MD-80 aft galley (ex-PSA), photographed 12/11/01 on N827US. Notice the PSA data plates.