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The Douglas DC-9 was once one of the most familiar short-haul jet airliners in the United States.<\/p>\n
Delta, Northwest, Eastern, Republic, Continental, Hughes Airwest and many others flew large fleets of the rear-engined twinjet, carrying millions of passengers on domestic routes across the country.<\/p>\n
Today, things are very different.<\/p>\n
\n You Might Be Interested In<\/span><\/p>\n The original DC-9 has almost completely disappeared from regular service, having long since been replaced by newer aircraft. Its later descendants \u2013 the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and MD-90, and Boeing 717 \u2013 survived much longer, but genuine first-generation DC-9s are now exceptionally rare.<\/p>\n Remarkably, however, a small number can still be found in the United States.<\/p>\n Here are the DC-9s which are still believed to be active \u2013 or potentially active \u2013 in America today.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Photo: DUNCAN KIRK<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n N783TW \u2013 Douglas DC-9-15F<\/strong> Ameristar is one of the most interesting remaining DC-9 operators in the United States.<\/p>\n The company retains two short-bodied DC-9-15 freighters, N783TW and N784TW<\/strong>, based at Dallas Addison Airport in Texas.<\/p>\n These are particularly significant because the early, short-fuselage DC-9 variants have become exceptionally rare.<\/p>\n Ameristar operates ad-hoc cargo charter flights, meaning its DC-9s can potentially appear at airports across the United States.<\/p>\n Recent operations have seen the type flying through industrial and freight centres around the country, including destinations in Texas, Florida, Kansas, Washington and the Carolinas.<\/p>\n For enthusiasts hoping to see one flying, following the aircraft on flight-tracking websites before travelling is essential.<\/p>\n Addison is their home base, but Laredo International Airport is another particularly interesting location because Ameristar aircraft can appear alongside visiting Aeronaves TSM DC-9 freighters from Mexico.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Photo (c) Dan Stijovich<\/p>\n<\/div>\n N127NK \u2013 Douglas DC-9-21<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps the most extraordinary surviving DC-9 in America is N127NK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Rather than carrying passengers between cities or freight between factories, this aircraft now spends its time dropping skydivers over California.<\/p>\n Operated by Skydive Perris at Perris Valley Airport, N127NK is an extremely rare DC-9-21<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Only ten examples of this particular version were built. It combined the short fuselage of the original DC-9 with the larger wing and more powerful engines of the DC-9-30, giving it particularly impressive climb and short-field performance.<\/p>\n The aircraft originally flew with Scandinavian Airlines before later serving with Spirit Airlines.<\/p>\n After spending many years inactive, it returned to flying in 2024 and is now used for special skydiving events.<\/p>\n The aircraft can carry dozens of parachutists rapidly to jump altitude, creating one of the most unusual DC-9 flying experiences anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n It does not operate every day, however, so anyone planning a visit should check whether a DC-9 jumping event is scheduled.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n N935CE \u2013 Douglas DC-9-33F<\/strong> Alaska has long been one of the best places in America to find elderly working aircraft, and Everts Air Cargo has operated some particularly impressive machinery over the years.<\/p>\n Its fleet has included piston transports, turboprops and classic jets, including the DC-9.<\/p>\n Two aircraft remain listed as potentially active: N935CE and N932CE<\/strong>, both based at Fairbanks.<\/p>\n Their current flying status is less straightforward than that of the Ameristar aircraft, however.<\/p>\n Everts has increasingly moved towards MD-80-family freighters, and its remaining DC-9s appear to see relatively limited use.<\/p>\n For that reason, Fairbanks should not be considered somewhere you are guaranteed to see a DC-9 flying.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, both aircraft remain worthy of attention, particularly for enthusiasts visiting Alaska.<\/p>\n\n
Ameristar<\/h2>\n
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N784TW \u2013 Douglas DC-9-15F<\/strong><\/p>\nSkydive Perris<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nEverts Air Cargo
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N932CE \u2013 Douglas DC-9-33CF<\/strong><\/p>\nRaytheon Company<\/h2>\n
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