I traveled this route a week-and-a-half ago. Northwest Airlines flies DC-9s from Cleveland to Detroit Metro. There are a few added flights by Mesaba Airlines/Northwest Airlink that run Avro RJ-85s (see below).

I had never, in memory at least, traveled on a DC-9 before last week. I knew by the stories I had read/heard and what I had seen while spotting that the DC-9 has a very high angle of attack and quick ascent during takeoff. Although I was in the middle of a conversation when we departed, the rapid ascent stopped me dead -- it was quite a thrill, actually (I'm a former aviaphobe...) We had a good flight to Detroit without much turbulence although the sky was overcast. However on our initial ascent we punched through the clouds faster than I ever remember! Such was my first flight on a DC-9 -- one to remember.

From Detroit I boarded the *exact same aircraft* (though a different flight number) for the second leg to Allentown, PA. Again, the sky was overcast and it was now twilight, 8:30 PM EDT. We did have slight turbulence during descent to Allentown's Lehigh Valley International Airport as we stayed in the clouds for nearly ten minutes. The ceiling was very low, less than 1,000 feet. Descent and landing were almost due east on Runway 10, so the flight from Detroit was essentially a straight line with some correction for the more southerly location of Allentown. We had a good, albeit wet, landing.

It was also remarkable that there were at least twenty people on the flight who had been stranded at Detroit Metro for three days due to weather closure (severe thunderstorms with hail and tornadoes had passed through in the last three days). Many people on the plane clapped when we landed, between those grateful for a smooth landing and those thrilled to home at last.

The return flight from Allentown to Detroit was made above overcast skies until I spotted the Marblehead Peninsula in North Central Ohio. We landed on a rather remote runway (please forgive me that I don't know which one) and taxied and taxied and taxied... I thought perhaps the aircraft would drive me all the way to Cleveland before we arrived at the terminal. Luckily my next leg flight was a simple hop across the concourse hall, from C16 to C17.

The flight from Detroit to Cleveland was an "added" Mesaba Airlines/Northwest Airlink flight on an Avro RJ-85. This was also a new aircraft in my experience. We had a very smooth flight and flew over mainland Canada, including Point Pelee (I could also see Pelee Island, before "crossing the pond" to Cleveland. We landed smoothly on Runway 5L.

Some remarks about the aircraft --
I was on a DC-9-30/40/50 (not sure which exact series) for the flights to Allentown. It was a very smooth ride except for minor turbulence during descent into Allentown. Takeoff performance was like a very smooth rollercoaster except going upwards... I also noticed a quite obvious upwards slope in the cabin even five minutes after takeoff, which I had never noticed before on any other aircraft. Perhaps this was a function of it being a smaller aircraft. As I mentioned above, we "punched through" the cloud cover very quickly, which I'm also not used to.
I was on a DC-9-10 for the return flight from Allentown to Detroit. I sat in row 15, right next to the engine. Takeoff was nearly deafening. It took me ten to fifteen minutes to get used to the roar. Hand signals were helpful in communicating with the flight attendants. Nevertheless, I enjoy being able to see the trailing edges of the wings, and in the DC-9-10 rows 13-15 are certainly the place to be for that kind of view. However I could not see the ground very well -- we happened to be banking when I spotted Marblehead Peninsula.
The Avro RJ-85 was very smooth and the engines, even though there were two right outside my window, were extremely quiet. The hydraulics for the wings, however, were very loud and made very loud thumping noises, even louder than those on the old DC-9s. On the other hand, the noise could be a function of being right under the high wing...

Notes about Northwest Airlines & its facilities -- (Note on note: This is my experience and my opinion and is not meant to be any official representation -- so please don't sue me!!!!) When I checked in to depart Cleveland, there were E-Ticket self-check-in carrels, but no computers! Therefore I had to stand in line to check in even though I did not check baggage... The attendant at the Cleveland gate started checking in the 85 or so passengers at the gate at 7:30 PM; departure was at 7:50 PM... Detroit Metro was much more cramped than I expected from a hub airport -- seating was negligible and the place was a zoo, all the more because of the three day weather closure... Reports from the stranded passengers who were on my plane indicated poor treatment, including one person who had to sleep in the airport for three days -- whether there was a shortage of hotel rooms or not, he was never given a hotel room option... Concession stands at Detroit Metro were out of food... Allentown ticketing/check-in counter personnel were very helpful.
A final note about Northwest, which sort of sums up my (new) opinion of the airline... My flight from Cleveland was announced as "continuing to Saginaw." I was told before I left that my connecting flight to Allentown would leave from gate D4. When we arrived in Detroit, we pulled in to gate D4. I asked the flight attendants where the flight was going next and they affirmed that it was going to Saginaw, so I gathered up my two carry-ons (one of which was an awkward glass and wood picture frame) and got off the plane. Twenty minutes later the plane hadn't budged and the flight to Allentown started boarding -- at gate D4 -- on the same plane -- with the same flight crew! I spoke to the same flight attendant and said "I thought you told me this plane was going to Saginaw." She replied "The *flight* goes on to Saginaw... but the plane is going to Allentown."
Hmmm... Who's bright idea was that?

All in all, a good trip... though puzzling at times.

Cheers,
redngold