Keychain made of: American Airlines MD-82 N470AA

Built as an MD-82 and delivered in October 1988, N470AA entered service during a period of rapid growth for American Airlines. As part of the MD-80 family, an evolution of the earlier DC-9, the aircraft featured a stretched fuselage, rear-mounted engines, and improved performance designed for short- to medium-haul routes.

Over the next 27.9 years, N470AA operated as a consistent part of American’s fleet, flying passengers across the U.S. and contributing to one of the largest MD-80 operations in the world. At its peak, American Airlines relied heavily on the MD-80 series as the backbone of its domestic network.

N470AA was retired in July 2016, as newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft began to replace the MD-80 fleet. Like many of its counterparts, it was withdrawn from service after nearly three decades of operation, marking the end of an era for a generation of travelers.

Today, material from this aircraft has been carefully reclaimed and transformed into PlaneTags, preserving a tangible connection to its years in the sky. Read more on our blog: American Airlines MD-82 N470AA: The Super 80 That Defined an Era.