After 36 years, she was retiring… our beloved “Mad Dog”. As her tenure came to a close she knew it was the right decision. Those younger were coming in fast on her heels and she just couldn’t keep up. She’d served the company tirelessly for her lifetime and could boast that she helped generations fall in love with air travel. Plans had long been in the works to give her a retirement party fitting of her importance. Thousands  gathered, some in her hometown of DFW while others met her at her final destination: the deserts of New Mexico. But wherever they gathered they sang her praises, swapped “remember when” stories of times she impacted their lives, and shed tears as she pulled away from the gate for the last time.

This wasn’t just another retirement. This was the retirement of what some called “the greatest airliner ever built”. This was the final flight of our American Airlines MD-80.

On September 4^th, 2019 American Airlines final MD-80 fleet converged at Roswell International Air Center for the #Super80SendOff Celebration. In all, 26 planes landed that day but we were there to celebrate the final 6.

The last revenue-generating flight took off from DFW enroute to Chicago carrying paying customers as well as some lucky VIPs that won their tickets in a company-wide sweepstakes. At DFW Airport, Gate C2, they gathered to speak about the plane they loved. From the specially-selected Pilot, First Officer, and Flight Crew, to the Director of DFW Airport and the CEO of American Airlines, everyone had a little something to say for the occasion.

But this was not just a flight, this was a celebration! Passengers were greeted with food and 80s-style Prom balloons that spelled out MD-80 while 80s pop music filled the air. After all, Mad Dog was an 80s gal at heart! Nine media outlets brought press to cover the event and interview those involved. Upon boarding the plane, passengers were greeted with gift bags in their seats and a note from the old gal herself.

AA80 pushed back from the to a watching crowd of ground-crew who cheered, waved, and documented the momentous occasion. The Pilot and First Officer even took time to open the cockpit windows (yep, she had windows you could open!) and wave the custom-designed MD-80 retirement flag as they departed.

The first two flights were welcomed by a small gathering of those already on the ground in Roswell. Guests exited via the emergency staircase at the rear of the plane and were ushered down a red carpet to a waiting hangar filled with 80s sing-along songs, food, drinks, ice cream, commemorative T-shirts, and “backstage pass” styled name badges. Soon after, we began a commemorative program filled with emotional speakers and a presentation of the Keys to the City from Roswell Mayor, Dennis Kintigh to American Airlines CEO, Doug Parker. After all, American is the largest contributor to the Roswell Air Center airliner boneyard.

Once the presentation and speakers were over, it was time to welcome the last planes to their new home! While we waited, the first two aircraft were opened for everyone to tour. You could stand next to the 4’ landing gear, lay in the cargo space, or stick your head out the cockpit windows and wave!

As the four final flights arrived, event staff maintained contact with Air Traffic Control so they knew when each aircraft was on approach and notified the DJ/MC to announce its eminent arrival. Each arriving plane was directed right to the waiting hangar and parked just outside while everyone watched and cheered and exiting Flight Crew were invited to sign their name on the plane’s fuselage.

The arrival of the final flight at 3:30pm was an emotional climax for everyone involved. We all gathered to watch the approach and cheers went up as she arrived on the monitor. As she pulled into position, the Flight Crew opened the windows to wave the flag and take in the cheers from the crowd. Cameras clicked, hands waved, cheers went up, and tears were shed. To some it’s just a plane, a means to get from Point A to Point B. But to those whose career was spent on this aircraft, for those who spent years of business travel on her wide seats and knew all her quirks, it was an emotional goodbye. The end of an era.

The Silver Bullet would fly no more.

Our goal as photographers was to capture everything unique about not only this celebration, but the honoree herself. To do justice to the idea that this wasn’t “just a plane”, it was a huge part of American Airlines’ history and a huge part of the lives of those that came out to celebrate. Our directive was to document a story for everyone who was  there but also as a historian for AA and for those that couldn’t be there, so that for years to come, the memories of this “retirement party to end all retirement parties” could be shared and relived.