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The McDonnell Douglas MD-80, an American-built aircraft known for its analog cockpit, entered commercial service with Swissair in October 1980. A total of 1,191 units were manufactured, and several remain operational today.
Analog cockpits were common in the early days of aviation. The MD-80's cockpit features five primary analog gauges that measure airspeed, altitude, vertical speed, heading, and coordination. Unlike modern aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 which use digital displays and advanced flight management systems, the MD-80 relies on mechanical switches and knobs.
The layout of the MD-80's cockpit includes a main instrument panel between the pilots featuring essential flight control instruments. Overhead panels house switches for fuel and hydraulic systems among others. The center pedestal contains thrust levers and autopilot controls.
