for many years, American Airlines had actually spurned the Boeing 737, choosing instead to build its entire hub-and-spoke operation around the McDonnell Douglas MD-80. For the better part of three decades, their glistening, polished metal bodies with the distinctive T-tails were the predominant aircraft at the airline's hubs across the country. But why did American choose the MD-80 over the 737, and what caused it to eventually return to Boeing? //

American's flight operations director, David Clark, commented on the MD-80 upon its retirement.

"It is very old school, there aren't any modern computer screens affixed to the controls. The steering columns are connected to a cable that goes directly to the flight controls. You can feel it give and pull throughout each flight, and it is a totally thrilling experience that pilots trained on newer aircraft may never experience."