N832US

This airframe, registered N832US, is a 1991-built McDonnell Douglas MD-88 with manufacturer serial number 53259. The airframe was produced by MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO and is registered in the US. It is owned by USA JET AIRLINES INC, a corporation headquartered in Belleville, MI, United States, which represents the primary and current operator/home base for the aircraft. The airframe has been converted from passenger configuration to a dedicated freighter role and is noted for its STC conversion features and continued use in cargo operations.

This MD-88 has been converted to a single-class cargo layout—listed as a Converted freighter (SF)—with cargo bulkheads and pallet/container provisions; passenger seating has been removed, resulting in 0 seats. Typical mission profiles for this airframe are short- to medium-haul freight operations within the continental United States, leveraging the aircraft’s range and cruise speed for overnight and express cargo services. Based in Belleville, Michigan under USA JET AIRLINES INC, the aircraft operates from commercial and regional airports that accommodate narrow-body freighter types. Maintenance considerations for this specific airframe include aging-aircraft structural inspections and JT8D-series engine support requirements consistent with late-model MD-80 family airframes.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-88 belongs to the MD-80 family, a derivative of the MD-80/MD-90 series optimized for medium-range trunk routes and, in this case, cargo conversions. Its twin Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines provide adequate thrust for regional freighter economics but are less fuel-efficient than modern high-bypass turbofans, influencing operating cost comparisons versus newer freighters. Typical buyers or operators for converted MD-88 freighters include niche cargo carriers and ACMI/charter operators seeking lower acquisition cost airframes for palletized freight. Resale and maintenance considerations center on airframe fatigue life, availability of spares for legacy systems, and the continuing market for passenger-to-freighter conversions.