The PSA History Page

McDonnell Douglas Super 80

N938PS seen on approach to SJC, 1984. (Jon Proctor)	N938PS seen at San Jose in 1984. (Jon Proctor)	N829HA on lease to PSA, 1985. (John P. Stewart)	Aircraft 924PS on a pre-delivery promotion shot. (McDonnell Douglas)	Taxiing under the Arizona sun is N928PS, caught in 1986. (A.J. Smith)	N950PS in delivery colors over the California coast. (PSA Photo)
Caught in USAir colors, a PSA MD-80 lands at SNA. (Doug Bauder)	The first MD-80 repainted in USAir colors. (Parker Nolen collection)	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)	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)
N937PS awaits passengers at BUR. (ARO Productions/T. Owen)	N10029 about to leave the San Diego base in 1986. (Frank Duarte)	N932PS is shown at LAX, departing off Runway 24 in 1982. (ARO Productions/T. Owen)	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)

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.

Super 80 brochure 1

WHY THE SUPER 80?

While there have been substantial improvements in key aircraft features such as passenger comfort, technology, and environmental protection, the narrow-bodied jets of the 1960s and 1970s still will be only marginally profitable in the 1980s because of one element: Fuel.

Fuel costs, more than any other single slice of the expense pie, have climbed for every airline, and the trend is one that will not just go away with time. At PSA, for example, fuel costs account for more than one-third of every dollar spent.

Throughout the industry, airlines are disposing of fuel=guzzing jets to ensure their survival in the new, highly competitive deregulated environment. PSA is no exception.

Older, less-sophisticated aircraft are more expensive to operate and maintain. Newer, high technology equipment, although significantly more expensive to acquire, have economic advantages that result in greater productivity and lower long-term costs.

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PSA was the first airline in the United States to operate the new Super 80 jetliner, the first of the so-called "new generation" aircraft that will become available to the nation's airlines during this decade.

With 26 of the new jetliners expected to be in PSA's fleet by 1983. the Super 80 will assist PSA in providing the best possible service to its passengers, while keeping a step ahead of the competition.

What makes this jetliner so Super?

Technology
Economy
Comfort
Quietness

SUPER TECHNOLOGY...

s80br-3.jpg (20411 bytes)

From stem to stern, the Super 80's technical sophistication is akin to nothing else currently available in the airline industry. The cockpit is equipped with advanced digital computer hardware the so substantially reduces the flight crew's workload that it's like having a second "crew" on board. There's even a computer that talks to the crew.

PSA's Super 80s are also equipped with Heads Up Display (HUD) units. Used during approaches and landings, HUD projects flight guidance information on a glass plate at eye level in front of the pilot.

s80br-4.jpg (21216 bytes)

HUD allows the pilot to look out the windshield during approach and landing without having to glance down at the instrument panel for flight information. When not in use, HUD is stowed out of the pilot's field of vision.

The Super 80's wings are longer and trimmer for minimal wind resistance and greater fuel efficiency, and its two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 series engines are a new version of those that have powered PSA's 727-200 fleet. These engines not only are quiet, they are much more fuel efficient.

Pratt & Whitney-powered JT8D-200 series engines not only are quieter but more fuel efficient.

SUPER ECONOMY...

PSA has maintained its position as the price leader in the airline industry because it has been able to control operational costs. The Super 80 will help PSA to continue that trend.

For example, the Super 80 will burn significantly fewer gallons of jet fuel per flight hour than the Boeing 727, which have been the backbone of PSA's fleet for the past 15 years. Even at today's prices, which are destined to rise, an all-Super 80 fleet would save PSA approximately $30 million a year in fuel costs alone.

The Super 80 saves money in other areas, too. The annual savings in maintenance costs for the aircraft are estimated to be approximately $1 million per aircraft.

In terms of total operating costs, each Super 80 should save PSA about $1.7 million per year over the Boeing 727. With these cost advantages, PSA will be able to pass much of the savings on to passengers in the form of continued low air fares.

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Items from the Gallery

PSA MD-80 postcard.

San Francisco passengers prepare for the first Super 80 flight.

Flight attendant Denise Peterson presents Bruce Muncil, first passenger to board the Super 80, a model of the airliner.

flight. Capt. Pat O'Connor, left, and Capt. Jack Cowan form the first Super 80 flight crew.

MD-80 Flight checklist, 1987

DC-9 Flight Standards Manual. (Courtesy of Dan & Sara Gradwohl)

Flt #	Registration	Type	MSN	LN	History
	N947PS	DC-9-82	49140	1092	PSA NTU, Douglas N1004S
					CAAC B-2101 12/83
					China Eastern 5/1/88-4/00
					Spirit N816NK 4/21/00-9/04, WFU
	N948PS	DC-9-82	49141	1093	PSA NTU, Douglas N10046
					CAAC B-2102 12/83
					China Eastern 5/1/88
					Spirit N817NK 9/15/00-2/06, WFU FLL
		DC-9-82	49240		PSA CANX, not built
		DC-9-82	49241		PSA CANX, not built
		DC-9-82	49242		PSA CANX, not built
917	N950PS	DC-9-81	48028	979	AirCal N476AC 06/08/1981 - 07/02/1985
					LT PSA 7/3/85, straight stripe /grey titles paint
					NM The Smile of Albuquerque
					LT USAir 4/9/88 (rr N828US 11/87)
					WFU VCV 12/11/01, BU
919	N819HA	DC-9-81	48045	970	Hawaiian 05/04/1981 - 04/02/1986
					LT PSA 6/1/85-9/10/85
					LT Frontier, Continental 11/12/86 04/02/1986
					ST Continental 3/27/87, rr N13881 5/91
					WFU MHV 9/22/01
920	N829HA	DC-9-81	48051	975	Hawaiian 06/10/1981 - 10/01/1990
					LT PSA 5/26/85-9/15/85
					SunJet N817SJ 08/28/1993 - 07/16/1997
					Fairlines LX-FAA 10/97-11/98
					Spirit N806NK 6/99, WFU FTW 9/04
922	N10028	DC-9-81	48026	973	Muse Air 06/01/1981 - 12/09/1982
					LT Jet America 12/9/82-3/16/83
					LT Midway 09/10/1983
					SLT PSA 5/18/85, BT 6/1/87
					USAir N826US 4/9/88 (rr 3/88)
					WFU 4/1/02, LAS 5/2/02, TUS 1/23/03, BU TUS
923	N10029	DC-9-81	48049	983	Muse Air 07/02/1981 - 12/21/1982
					LT Midway 9/17/83
					SLT PSA, BT 6/87 05/21/1985
					NM The Smile of Las Vegas
					USAir, 4/9/88 (rr N827US 1/88)
					WFU LAS 4/1/02, TUS 1/23/03, BU
924	N924PS	DC-9-81	48034	946	PSA 11/14/1980
					NM The Smile of Burbank
					USAir (rr N800US 10/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU LAS 4/1/02, TUS 1/25/03, BU
925	N925PS	DC-9-81	48035	955	PSA 03/31/1981
					NM The Smile of Eureka, San Diego
					USAir (rr N803US 10/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 11/8/01, BU
926	N926PS	DC-9-81	48036	963	PSA 03/09/1981
					NM The Smile of Los Angeles
					USAir (rr N802US 3/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 10/2/01, BU 5/04
927	N927PS	DC-9-81	48037	965	PSA 01/01/1981
					NM The Smile of Boise, San Diego
					USAir (rr N801US 2/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 12/4/01, no longer at MHV (possibly BU)
928	N928PS	DC-9-81	48052	974	PSA 05/28/1981
					NM The Smile of Washington
					USAir (rr N804US 11/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 10/3/01, BU
929	N929PS	DC-9-81	48053	986	PSA 07/10/1981
					NM The Smile of Oregon
					USAir (rr N805US 10/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 11/6/01, TUS 2/11/03, MIA 10/10/03
					Kibris AL 3D-JET 7/05-8/05
					Acvila Air 10/05-2/06, short term leases since
930	N930PS	DC-9-81	48038	1002	PSA 09/10/1981
					NM The Smile of San Francisco
					USAir (rr N806US 3/88) 04/09/1988
					JPATS (rptd 12/12/01) - seen in SVC OPF 4/03
					WFU TUS 12/04, ferried to BUH 1/8/05, STD
931	N931PS	DC-9-81	48039	1003	PSA 09/10/1981
					NM The Smile of Bellingham
					USAir (rr N807US 11/87) 04/09/1988
					JPATS (rptd 12/12/01)
					Rwandair Express 3D-MDJ 6/23/04
932	N932PS	DC-9-81	48040	1006	PSA 09/10/1981
					NM The Smile of Seattle
					USAir (rr N808US 11/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU 4/1/02, BU LCQ
933	N933PS	DC-9-81	48041	1008	PSA 09/28/1981
					USAir 4/9/88 (rr N809US 10/87)
					WFU LCQ 10/6/01, MHV 1/05, BU
934	N934PS	DC-9-81	48042	1009	PSA 09/01/1981
					NM The Smile of San Jose
					USAir (rr N810US 10/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU PIT 10/6/01, TUS 4/03, BU
935	N935PS	DC-9-81	48043	1010	PSA 10/08/1981
					NM The Smile of Portland
					USAir (rr N811US 10/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU, LAS 4/9/02, MHV 10/02, TUS 1/21/03, BU
936	N936PS	DC-9-81	48092	1034	PSA (straight stripes 1985) 12/17/1981
					USAir, 4/9/88 (rr N812US 2/88)
					WFU, LAS 4/9/02, TUS 1/21/03, MEX 10/16/03
					WFU TUS 9/20/04, reg cxld 2/11/09
937	N937PS	DC-9-81	48093	1049	PSA 03/22/1982
					NM The Smile of Tucson
					USAir (rr N813US 10/87), WFU PIT 04/09/1988 - 09/24/2001
					Air Bosnia 6/02-10/19/03 T9-AAC
					Arnoro 6/6/04-7/05
					Air Max Africa 7/05
938	N938PS	DC-9-81	48094	1053	PSA 04/07/1982
					NM The Smile of New Mexico
					USAir (rr N814US 1/88) 04/09/1988 - 07/01/2001
					Vanguard Airlines, 8/31/01
					WFU ROW 10/28/02, BU
939	N939PS	DC-9-81	48099	1067	PSA 06/17/1982
					NM The Smile of Spokane
					USAir (rr N819US 10/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU 4/1/02, LAS 5/2/02, TUS 1/22/03-11/19/03
					Sosoliso AL 5N-BGL 12/17/03-12/07, WFU 2005-06
					Jetran LLC 12/07, BU SAT 1/09
940	N940PS	DC-9-82	48095	1055	PSA 04/23/1982
					NM The Smile of Sacramento
					USAir 4/9/88 (rr N815US 11/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU PIT 12/1/01, to NAS 12/02
					Air Adriatic 9A-CBD 5/03-12/05, LT MyAir 8/05
					Belle Air ZA-ARB 12/05-7/07, Aurora Air S5-ACC 7/07-1/14/09
					STD MBX
941	N941PS	DC-9-82	48096	1057	PSA 05/20/1982
					USAir 4/9/88 (rr N816US 3/88)
					WFU MHV 3/6/02, TUS 2/13/03-6/19/04
					MNG Airlines TC-MNT 7/04-6/04
					Tarhan Tower AL TC-TTA 6/06-11/08
					STD IST
942	N942PS	DC-9-82	48097	1059	PSA 05/20/1982
					NM The Smile of Tacoma
					USAir (rr N817US 9/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 2/4/02, TUS 3/12/03-4/24/04
					MNG Airlines TC-MNR 7/04-7/06
					Jetran Intl AL YR-MDR 7/06-6/09
					Nouvelle Air Ivoire 6/09
943	N943PS	DC-9-82	48098	1060	PSA 05/27/1982
					NM The Smile of San Diego
					USAir (rr N818US 10/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 11/6/01, TUS 4/1/03, YWG 9/24/03
					MNG Airlines TC-MNS 7/04-7/06
					Jetran Intl AL YR-MDS 7/06-5/09
					Nouvelle Air Ivoire 5/09
944	N944PS	DC-9-82	49119	1070	PSA 07/15/1982
					NM The Smile of Arizona, PSA
					USAir (rr N820US 1/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU 12/1/01, FLL 12/18/01, MHV 3/02, HOU 11/02
					Kyrgyz Air 3D-ABV 2/12/03, Cyprus Turkish 11/03
					Acvila Air 5/6/04, Rwandair Express 5/18/04
					Atlantic Express AL 3/05, Fly AL YR-MDM 5/06
					STD as YR-OTN 12/08
945	N945PS	DC-9-82	49138	1090	PSA 04/26/1983
					NM The Smile of San Francisco
					USAir (rr N821US 3/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 3/20/02, TUS 1/25/03-6/27/03
					MNG AL TC-MNO 2/27/04-4/06, Corendon AL 4-5/06
					Best Air TC-TUA 5/06-, LT Mahan Air 2/08-8/09
946	N946PS	DC-9-82	49139	1091	PSA 05/12/1983
					NM The Smile of San Jose
					USAir (rr N822US 3/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU 10/6/01, LAS 4/10/02, GLA 12/02
					US Marshals 9/25/03, WFU GYR 12/04, TUS, MHV 5/05
					Jet Tran Air Stage 4 demo, 3/06-6/06
					Jetran Intl AL YR-MDK 7/28/06-, LT Nouvelle Air 5/09-8/09
947	N947PS	DC-9-82	49142	1094	PSA (DLV as N1005G) 10/17/1983
					NM The Smile of Phoenix
					USAir (rr N823US 12/87) 04/09/1988
					WFU 4/1/02, LAS 5/2/02, TUS 1/22/03-6/22/03
					MNG AL TC-MNP 6/3/04-9/05, BU IST
948	N948PS	DC-9-82	49143	1095	PSA (DLV as N1005J) 11/30/1983
					NM The Smile of Nevada
					USAir(rr N824US 2/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU PIT 9/22/01
					Air Adriatic 9A-CBC 1/02-9/07, LT Wind Jet 5-8/05
					Aurora AL S5-ACD 9/14/07-2/09, STD IST
949	N949PS	DC-9-82	49237	1144	PSA 06/30/1984
					NM The Smile of San Jose
					USAir (rr N825US 2/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU MHV 2/7/02, MZJ 10/23/02
					West Carribean AL HK-4305X 10/30/03, HK-4305 7/04
					WFU 8/16/05, airline grounded
951	N951PS	DC-9-82	49429	1242	PSA 04/25/1986
					NM The Smile of Long Beach
					USAir (rr N829US 3/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU, MHV 4/22/02-9/16/03
					Lion Air PK-LMU 9/24/03-5/26/05
					Wings Abadi AL 5/26/05-
952	N952PS	DC-9-82	49443	1291	PSA 07/28/1986
					NM The Smile of California
					USAir (rr N830US 2/88) 04/09/1988
					WFU, MHV 4/26/02
					Lion Air PK-LMW 10/24/03
					DMGD 3/4/06 Surabaya, may be DBR

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McDonnell Douglas Super 80

WHY THE SUPER 80?

SUPER TECHNOLOGY...

SUPER ECONOMY...

Items from the Gallery

Copyright

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McDonnell Douglas Super 80

WHY THE SUPER 80?

SUPER TECHNOLOGY...

SUPER ECONOMY...

Items from the Gallery

Copyright