N438AA

This airframe, registered in the United States as N438AA, is a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 built in 1987 with manufacturer serial number 49456. The airframe was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and is recorded as owned by the Delaware-based corporation Frontera Flight Holding Inc of Dover, DE, US. The aircraft retains the MD-83 configuration and registry actions show it as a U.S.-registered airframe; no intermediate historic operators are published for this specific serial. Condition and valuation details are not published for this individual airframe.

Specific cabin layout and seating for this particular MD-83 airframe are not published; the unit’s configuration would typically reflect MD-83 narrow-body single-aisle arrangements but exact seat count and cabin finish for N438AA are not documented. Avionics fit and supplemental equipment for this serial are not published, limiting precise remarks about its navigation suite or any retrofit programs applied to this airframe. Based on its performance figures—472 kt cruise and 2,504 nm range—operational missions for this airframe are consistent with short- to medium-haul scheduled or charter services originating from its owner’s base in Dover, DE, US, or other continental U.S. hubs. Maintenance considerations specific to this airframe center on the JT8D-219 low-bypass turbofan type rating and common MD-80 airframe inspections; no special auxiliary systems or unique cabin amenities are recorded for this serial.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-83 is a member of the MD-80 series, positioned as a short- to medium-range narrow-body jet offering robust cruise speed and respectable range for its generation. With twin Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines producing 21,690 lbf each, the model competes in legacy fleets against later-generation regional 737 and A320 family types primarily on cost of ownership, existing fleet commonality, and availability on the secondary market. Buyer and charter demand for MD-83 airframes like N438AA tends to focus on niche operators and cargo conversions, with resale and maintenance driven by airframe hours, structural checks, and availability of JT8D support.