JJ Skippy
Well-known member
Hello everyone! Going to try and expand what I post on the MAF, and here’s one of the first experiments I’m trying out: livery histories. This first thread will cover the Douglas DC-9 Series 50 operated by North Central, later Republic, Northwest, and then Delta. Images may be a bit large but hopefully it’s optimized well for this.
1. North Central Airlines (1976-1979)
North Central operated the DC-9 from 1976 to 1979, taking delivery of N760NC, Ship 851, in April. This was the first plane to be delivered new wearing the modified aqua scheme that removed the gold trim; it was removed in 1972 following an increase in maintenance costs. All DC-9-30, -50, and Convair 580s would wear this livery. North Central took delivery of 18 Series 50s, plus they leased one from Hawaiian Air in 1978 (N709HA).
2. Republic Airlines (1979-1986)
Following North Central’s merger with Southern Airways in 1979, most of NC’s Series 50s would wear this Republic livery. Shorter Nines would wear hybrid liveries from North Central and Southern (and later Hughes Airwest), but I believe all Series 50s from NC would wear the initial full Republic paint scheme.
By 1984, Republic introduced a new paint scheme, nicknamed “Mary Tyler Moore” as it somewhat resembled the CBS television show from the 1970s.
3. Northwest (1986-2008)
With the struggles of Republic Airlines becoming more evident, Northwest Orient acquired the airline, and following the acquisition, the airline would rename themselves to simply Northwest. Some Series 50s would bear the Thermometer paint scheme from the Orient days, but the Bowling Shoe paint scheme would become more familiar by the 1990s.
Northwest introduced a new identity in 2003, simply becoming NWA. The Series 50s were becoming quite old by now, having operated for nearly three decades at this point. The overall Series 50 fleet had ballooned to nearly a hundred at its peak with the legacy NC airframes remaining. By the end of NWA’s existence in 2008, just 34 remained.
4. Delta (2008-2014)
Delta’s acquisition of Northwest in 2008 would be the NC Series 50’s final stop on their adventures across the blue skies. Delta retired their DC-9s in late 2013 to early 2014. The DC-9-50s would be replaced by the MD-90s and Boeing 717s. Some services that were once on DC-9s (for example, MSP-FSD, my hometown) would be replaced by Airbus A320 family aircraft.
And that’s that. Hopefully I provided a great assessment throughout the thread, and if you think I missed anything or got something wrong, feel free to comment.
1. North Central Airlines (1976-1979)
North Central operated the DC-9 from 1976 to 1979, taking delivery of N760NC, Ship 851, in April. This was the first plane to be delivered new wearing the modified aqua scheme that removed the gold trim; it was removed in 1972 following an increase in maintenance costs. All DC-9-30, -50, and Convair 580s would wear this livery. North Central took delivery of 18 Series 50s, plus they leased one from Hawaiian Air in 1978 (N709HA).
2. Republic Airlines (1979-1986)
Following North Central’s merger with Southern Airways in 1979, most of NC’s Series 50s would wear this Republic livery. Shorter Nines would wear hybrid liveries from North Central and Southern (and later Hughes Airwest), but I believe all Series 50s from NC would wear the initial full Republic paint scheme.
By 1984, Republic introduced a new paint scheme, nicknamed “Mary Tyler Moore” as it somewhat resembled the CBS television show from the 1970s.
3. Northwest (1986-2008)
With the struggles of Republic Airlines becoming more evident, Northwest Orient acquired the airline, and following the acquisition, the airline would rename themselves to simply Northwest. Some Series 50s would bear the Thermometer paint scheme from the Orient days, but the Bowling Shoe paint scheme would become more familiar by the 1990s.
Northwest introduced a new identity in 2003, simply becoming NWA. The Series 50s were becoming quite old by now, having operated for nearly three decades at this point. The overall Series 50 fleet had ballooned to nearly a hundred at its peak with the legacy NC airframes remaining. By the end of NWA’s existence in 2008, just 34 remained.
4. Delta (2008-2014)
Delta’s acquisition of Northwest in 2008 would be the NC Series 50’s final stop on their adventures across the blue skies. Delta retired their DC-9s in late 2013 to early 2014. The DC-9-50s would be replaced by the MD-90s and Boeing 717s. Some services that were once on DC-9s (for example, MSP-FSD, my hometown) would be replaced by Airbus A320 family aircraft.
And that’s that. Hopefully I provided a great assessment throughout the thread, and if you think I missed anything or got something wrong, feel free to comment.
United, Continental, or any other retro FSD airline would be great.
