Gallery Update: Mad Dog Substitution in Provo!

It's been a while since I last spotted at Provo. I'll be sure to go after some college football charters that may come our way. Other than that, I've been spotting less frequently at Provo because it's been nothing but Allegiant Airbus A319s and many have been repeat airframes so it's not worth the trip to chase after planes I've already photographed. Today however, was different as Provo got a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 for the first time in months! As it turns out, only Las Vegas remains as Allegiant's MD-80 base in the western United States so all the other bases are primarily Airbuses. But on occasion, Allegiant rotates in the good old Mad Dog on flights and routes when needed. Allegiant's fleet of MD-80s will be phased out by 2020 so there's still a little time to see them, but their days are certainly numbered. And in many cases, the MD-80s are not appearing in places where they used to be common frequently anymore. Here's the link:

Provo (PVU) 41

Preview:

Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI)/Gulstream Aerospace G200 (N588WH) back-taxiing on 13 prior to departure for San Diego. Provo Airport's Taxiway A on the north end down to A1 is closed for pavement resurfacing.

Face-to-face with the G200!

N588WH beginning takeoff roll on 13 for departure to San Diego.

Alpine Air Express Beechcraft C99 Commuter (N236AL) making an intersection departure on 13 from A1 as AIP949 for a short hop over to Salt Lake City. First time seeing a Beech 99 operated by Alpine Air.

Allegiant Air McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (N419NV) back-taxiing on 13 prior to departure for Oakland as AAY1005. All Provo sees most of the time are Airbus A319s so the good old "Mad Dogs" have become a rare sight. However, today's Provo/Oakland flight was delayed by over six hours and there was an equipment substitution. My guess is that the equipment substitution had something to do with the delay.

Airframe first delivered as an MD-81 to SAS Scandinavian Airlines as SE-DME in May 1992; during it's time with SAS, it was nicknamed Kristin Viking. Re-registered as LN-ROO in December 1999 and then converted into an MD-82 some time in 2005. SAS then withdrew and stored this airframe in 2009 for a time before returning it to service briefly in 2010 before Allegiant acquired the airframe in the same year. Airframe was converted once again in October 2010 into an MD-83 and has been in service with Allegiant since then.

Face-to-face with the Mad Dog!

AAY1005 beginning takeoff roll for departure to Oakland. Glad to catch an MD-80 here in Provo again after a long time!