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DC-8 Douglas
DC-8
Medium to Long-Range Jetliner

DESCRIPTION:
Once Boeing had begun development of its 707, Douglas was eager to proceed with a jet-powered airliner of its own for fear of losing market position. Initiating a crash program, Douglas succeeded in flying the first DC-8 three years after the project began. Although outwardly similar to the competing 707 with a swept low-mounted wing and four podded turbojet engines, the DC-8 incorporated many innovations of its own, including advanced servicabilty and reliabilty features.
Initial production models were all of similar dimensions and weights but differed in engine installation, taking advantage of rapid advancements in propulsion engineering. While the DC-8 Series 10 and Series 20 were intended for domestic use, the Series 30 was the first with true intercontinental range. Series 50 aircraft introduced a new cabin layout allowing a greater number of passengers, and this was also the first model built in dedicated cargo variants.
However, the major production variant was the Super 60 series introduced in 1967. This series consisted of the lengthened DC-8 Super 61 carrying up to 259 passengers, the long-range DC-8 Super 62, and the long-range DC-8 Super 63 with a lengthened fuselage. As fuel efficiency and noise concerns became more important during the 1970s, many of these later models were equipped with new advanced turbofan engines and redesignated as the Super 71, Super 72, and Super 73, respectively.
Although the last of 556 DC-8s was delivered on 13 May 1972, the DC-8 Super 70 remains in use, especially with shipping carriers. Numbers in service are dwindling, however, as these aircraft are being replaced by newer cargo freighters.
Last modified 11 April 2011

HISTORY:

First Flight (DC-8-10) 30 May 1958
(DC-8-71) April 1982
(DC-8-72) 5 December 1981
(DC-8-73) 4 March 1982

Service Entry

September 1959 (with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines)

CREW: three flight crew: pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer

PASSENGERS: (DC-8-10) 179
(DC-8-50) 189
(DC-8-63) 259

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root DSMA-277/-280

Wing Tip

DSMA-281

DIMENSIONS:

Length (DC-8-10) 150.50 ft (45.90 m)
(DC-8-62) 157.42 ft (47.97 m)
(DC-8-63) 187.42 ft (57.12 m)

Wingspan (DC-8-10) 148.42 ft (45.24 m)
(DC-8-62) 154.42 ft (47.07 m)

Height 42.42 ft (12.93 m)

Wing Area 2,927 ft² (271.92 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty (DC-8-63) 153,750 lb (69,740 kg)
(DC-8-73) 166,500 lb (75,500 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff (DC-8-63) 350,000 lb (158,760 kg)
(DC-8-73) 355,000 lb (161,025 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: not applicable

Max Payload

(DC-8-10) 34,360 lb (15,585 kg)
(DC-8-63F/CF) 116,000 lb (52.615 kg)
(DC-8-73) 105,820 lb (48,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant (DC-8-10) four Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 turbojets
(DC-8-30) four Pratt & Whitney JT4A-9 turbojets
(DC-8-40) four Rolls-Royce Conway 509 turbofans
(DC-8-63) four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-7 turbofans
(DC-8-73) four General Electric/SNECMA CFM56-2-C1 turbofans

Thrust (DC-8-10) 54,000 lb (240.21 kN)
(DC-8-30) 67,200 lb (298.93 kN)
(DC-8-40) 70,000 lb (311.39 kN)
(DC-8-63) 76,000 lb (338.08 kN)
(DC-8-73) 88,000 lb (391.46 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 600 mph (965 km/h)
at sea level: unknown
cruise speed: 525 mph (840 km/h)

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling unknown

Range (DC-8-10) 4,160 nm (7,710 km)
(DC-8-63) 3,905 nm (7,240 km)
(DC-8-73) 4,830 nm (8,950 km)

g-Limits unknown

KNOWN VARIANTS:

DC-8 Series 10 Initial production model; 2 built

DC-8 Series 20 Similar to Series 10 but with more powerful engines for operation in hot or high-altitude conditions; 49 built

DC-8 Series 30 Long-range model and first designed for intercontinental operations; 52 built

DC-8 Series 40 Similar to Series 30 but equipped with more powerful Rolls-Royce engines; 29 built

DC-8 Series 50 Improved model with more powerful engines and revised cabin layout allowing 10 additional passengers to be seated, also featured new wing leading edge that reduced drag improving speed and range; 162 built

DC-8AF Jet Traders Freighter model of Series 50

DC-8CF Jet Traders Convertible cargo/passenger model of Series 50

DC-8 Super 60 Generic designation for three new models described below, all three available in passenger only (DC-8-6_), cargo only (DC-8-6_F), or combination cargo/passenger (DC-8-6_CF) variants; 262 built

DC-8 Super 61 Enlarged model with extended fuselage for up to 259 passengers

DC-8 Super 62 Long-range model with lengthened fuselage for greater fuel capacity but still carrying 189 passengers, also featured larger wingspan

DC-8 Super 63 Final production model combining enlarged fuselage of the Super 61 with new wing and other aerodynamic improvements of the Super 62

DC-8 Super 71 Super 61 airframes equipped with new more fuel efficient GE/SNECMA turbofans allowing much improved range and meeting noise regulations

DC-8 Super 72 Super 62 airframes equipped with new engines

DC-8 Super 73 Super 63 airframes equipped with new engines

EC-24 Former United Airlines DC-8-54F modified to simulate enemy communications and control systems and used by the US Navy; 1 converted

KNOWN OPERATORS:

Civil Absa Cargo
AECA
Aeral
Aero del Peru
Aeromar Airlines
Aéromaritime
Aeromexico
Aeronaves del Peru
Aero Peru
Aerouruguay
Aer Turas Teoranta
Affretair
African Air Charter
African International Airways
Agro Air International
Air Afrique
Air Algerie
Airborne Express
Air Canada
Air Cargo Spain
Air d'Evasions
Air Evasion
Air France
Air Gabon
Air Gabon Cargo
Air India
Airlift International
Air New Zealand
Air Outre Mer (AOM)
Air Spain
Air Sweden
Air Transport International (ATI)
Air Zaire
Alitalia
Americana Colombia
American International
American Jet Industries
Analinda Airlines
Andes Airlines
Apisa Air Cargo
Arax Airlines
ARCA Colombia
Arnaflug
Arrow Air
ATC Colombia
Aviaco
Batch Air
Bax Global
Braniff Airways
Buffalo Airways
Burlington Air Express
Cam Air International
Cameroon Airlines
Canarias Cargo
Capitol Air International
Cargo Lion
Cargolux
CargOman
Cargosur
Concord International
Conner Air Lines
Continental Cargo Airlines
Contract Cargo Airlines
Cougar Air Cargo International
CP Air
CTA Espana
Cubana
Cygnus Air
Cyprus Airways
Delta Air Lines
Eagle Air
Eastern Airlines
Emery Worldwide Airlines
Evergreen International Airlines
Excelair
Faucett Peru
Fine Air
Florida West International Airlines
Flying Tiger Line
Fuerza Aerea del Peru
Garuda Indonesia
German Cargo
IAS Cargo Airlines
Iberia
Icelandair
Imperial Airlines
Interamericana de Aviacion
Intercontinental Airlines
Hawaiian Air
Japan Air Lines
Jet Aviation
Jet Fret
Kalitta American International
Kitty Hawk International
KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines
LAC Colombia
Lan Chile
Liberia World Airlines
Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises
Loftleidir
Maldives International
MAS Air Cargo
Million Air
Minerve
MK Airlines
MK Cargo
Murray Air
Nationair Canada
National Airlines
Omega Air
Overseas International Airways
Panair do Brazil
Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Philippine Airlines
Point Air Mulhouse
Pomair Ostend
Quebecair
Response Air
Rosenbalm Aviation
SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Saudia
Scanair
Seaboard World
Secmafair Aviation
Southern Air Transport
Spantax
Swissair
Summit Philippines
Surinam Airways
Tampa Colombia
Thai International
TMC Airlines
TPI International Airways
Trabajos Aereos y Enlaces (TAE)
Trafe
Transafrik
Transamerica
Trans Canada
Trans Caribbean
Trans Continental Airlines
Trans International
Transmeridian Air Cargo
Transportes Charter do Brasil
Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux (TAI)
Transvalair
Union Aéromaritime de Transport (UAT)
United African Airlines
United Air Carriers
United Airlines
United Parcel Service (UPS)
UTA
Varig
Viasa
Wien Air Alaska
World Airways
Zaire International Cargo
Zambia Airways
Zantop International Airlines
Zuliana de Aviacion

Government/Military France, Armée de l'Air (French Air Force)
Gabon, Armée de l'Air Gabonaise (Gabon Air Force)
Spain, Ejército del Aire Española (Spanish Air Force)
Togo, Force Aérienne Togolaise (Togolese Air Force)
United States (US Navy)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

DC-8

SOURCES:

Aboulafia, Richard. Jane's Civil Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996, p. 74-75, McDonnell Douglas DC-8.

Boeing DC-8 site

Chant, Christopher and Taylor, Michael J.H. The World's Greatest Aircraft. Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books, 2006, p. 223, Douglas DC-8.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 362-363, Douglas DC-8.

Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 1999, p. 423-431, Douglas DC-8.

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 221, Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) DC-8.

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DESCRIPTION: Once Boeing had begun development of its 707, Douglas was eager to proceed with a jet-powered airliner of its own for fear of losing market position. Initiating a crash program, Douglas succeeded in flying the first DC-8 three years after the project began. Although outwardly similar to the competing 707 with a swept low-mounted wing and four podded turbojet engines, the DC-8 incorporated many innovations of its own, including advanced servicabilty and reliabilty features. Initial production models were all of similar dimensions and weights but differed in engine installation, taking advantage of rapid advancements in propulsion engineering. While the DC-8 Series 10 and Series 20 were intended for domestic use, the Series 30 was the first with true intercontinental range. Series 50 aircraft introduced a new cabin layout allowing a greater number of passengers, and this was also the first model built in dedicated cargo variants. However, the major production variant was the Super 60 series introduced in 1967. This series consisted of the lengthened DC-8 Super 61 carrying up to 259 passengers, the long-range DC-8 Super 62, and the long-range DC-8 Super 63 with a lengthened fuselage. As fuel efficiency and noise concerns became more important during the 1970s, many of these later models were equipped with new advanced turbofan engines and redesignated as the Super 71, Super 72, and Super 73, respectively. Although the last of 556 DC-8s was delivered on 13 May 1972, the DC-8 Super 70 remains in use, especially with shipping carriers. Numbers in service are dwindling, however, as these aircraft are being replaced by newer cargo freighters. Last modified 11 April 2011
HISTORY:
First Flight	(DC-8-10) 30 May 1958 (DC-8-71) April 1982 (DC-8-72) 5 December 1981 (DC-8-73) 4 March 1982
Service Entry	September 1959 (with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines)
CREW:	three flight crew: pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer
PASSENGERS:	(DC-8-10) 179 (DC-8-50) 189 (DC-8-63) 259
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	DSMA-277/-280
Wing Tip	DSMA-281
DIMENSIONS:
Length	(DC-8-10) 150.50 ft (45.90 m) (DC-8-62) 157.42 ft (47.97 m) (DC-8-63) 187.42 ft (57.12 m)
Wingspan	(DC-8-10) 148.42 ft (45.24 m) (DC-8-62) 154.42 ft (47.07 m)
Height	42.42 ft (12.93 m)
Wing Area	2,927 ft² (271.92 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	(DC-8-63) 153,750 lb (69,740 kg) (DC-8-73) 166,500 lb (75,500 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	(DC-8-63) 350,000 lb (158,760 kg) (DC-8-73) 355,000 lb (161,025 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: not applicable
Max Payload	(DC-8-10) 34,360 lb (15,585 kg) (DC-8-63F/CF) 116,000 lb (52.615 kg) (DC-8-73) 105,820 lb (48,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	(DC-8-10) four Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 turbojets (DC-8-30) four Pratt & Whitney JT4A-9 turbojets (DC-8-40) four Rolls-Royce Conway 509 turbofans (DC-8-63) four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-7 turbofans (DC-8-73) four General Electric/SNECMA CFM56-2-C1 turbofans
Thrust	(DC-8-10) 54,000 lb (240.21 kN) (DC-8-30) 67,200 lb (298.93 kN) (DC-8-40) 70,000 lb (311.39 kN) (DC-8-63) 76,000 lb (338.08 kN) (DC-8-73) 88,000 lb (391.46 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 600 mph (965 km/h) at sea level: unknown cruise speed: 525 mph (840 km/h)
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	unknown
Range	(DC-8-10) 4,160 nm (7,710 km) (DC-8-63) 3,905 nm (7,240 km) (DC-8-73) 4,830 nm (8,950 km)
g-Limits	unknown
KNOWN VARIANTS:
DC-8 Series 10	Initial production model; 2 built
DC-8 Series 20	Similar to Series 10 but with more powerful engines for operation in hot or high-altitude conditions; 49 built
DC-8 Series 30	Long-range model and first designed for intercontinental operations; 52 built
DC-8 Series 40	Similar to Series 30 but equipped with more powerful Rolls-Royce engines; 29 built
DC-8 Series 50	Improved model with more powerful engines and revised cabin layout allowing 10 additional passengers to be seated, also featured new wing leading edge that reduced drag improving speed and range; 162 built
DC-8AF Jet Traders	Freighter model of Series 50
DC-8CF Jet Traders	Convertible cargo/passenger model of Series 50
DC-8 Super 60	Generic designation for three new models described below, all three available in passenger only (DC-8-6_), cargo only (DC-8-6_F), or combination cargo/passenger (DC-8-6_CF) variants; 262 built
DC-8 Super 61	Enlarged model with extended fuselage for up to 259 passengers
DC-8 Super 62	Long-range model with lengthened fuselage for greater fuel capacity but still carrying 189 passengers, also featured larger wingspan
DC-8 Super 63	Final production model combining enlarged fuselage of the Super 61 with new wing and other aerodynamic improvements of the Super 62
DC-8 Super 71	Super 61 airframes equipped with new more fuel efficient GE/SNECMA turbofans allowing much improved range and meeting noise regulations
DC-8 Super 72	Super 62 airframes equipped with new engines
DC-8 Super 73	Super 63 airframes equipped with new engines
EC-24	Former United Airlines DC-8-54F modified to simulate enemy communications and control systems and used by the US Navy; 1 converted
KNOWN OPERATORS:
Civil	Absa Cargo AECA Aeral Aero del Peru Aeromar Airlines Aéromaritime Aeromexico Aeronaves del Peru Aero Peru Aerouruguay Aer Turas Teoranta Affretair African Air Charter African International Airways Agro Air International Air Afrique Air Algerie Airborne Express Air Canada Air Cargo Spain Air d'Evasions Air Evasion Air France Air Gabon Air Gabon Cargo Air India Airlift International Air New Zealand Air Outre Mer (AOM) Air Spain Air Sweden Air Transport International (ATI) Air Zaire Alitalia Americana Colombia American International American Jet Industries Analinda Airlines Andes Airlines Apisa Air Cargo Arax Airlines ARCA Colombia Arnaflug Arrow Air ATC Colombia Aviaco Batch Air Bax Global Braniff Airways Buffalo Airways Burlington Air Express Cam Air International Cameroon Airlines Canarias Cargo Capitol Air International Cargo Lion Cargolux CargOman Cargosur Concord International Conner Air Lines Continental Cargo Airlines Contract Cargo Airlines Cougar Air Cargo International CP Air CTA Espana Cubana Cygnus Air Cyprus Airways Delta Air Lines Eagle Air Eastern Airlines Emery Worldwide Airlines Evergreen International Airlines Excelair Faucett Peru Fine Air Florida West International Airlines Flying Tiger Line Fuerza Aerea del Peru Garuda Indonesia German Cargo IAS Cargo Airlines Iberia Icelandair Imperial Airlines Interamericana de Aviacion Intercontinental Airlines Hawaiian Air Japan Air Lines Jet Aviation Jet Fret Kalitta American International Kitty Hawk International KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines LAC Colombia Lan Chile Liberia World Airlines Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises Loftleidir Maldives International MAS Air Cargo Million Air Minerve MK Airlines MK Cargo Murray Air Nationair Canada National Airlines Omega Air Overseas International Airways Panair do Brazil Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) Philippine Airlines Point Air Mulhouse Pomair Ostend Quebecair Response Air Rosenbalm Aviation SAS Scandinavian Airlines Saudia Scanair Seaboard World Secmafair Aviation Southern Air Transport Spantax Swissair Summit Philippines Surinam Airways Tampa Colombia Thai International TMC Airlines TPI International Airways Trabajos Aereos y Enlaces (TAE) Trafe Transafrik Transamerica Trans Canada Trans Caribbean Trans Continental Airlines Trans International Transmeridian Air Cargo Transportes Charter do Brasil Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux (TAI) Transvalair Union Aéromaritime de Transport (UAT) United African Airlines United Air Carriers United Airlines United Parcel Service (UPS) UTA Varig Viasa Wien Air Alaska World Airways Zaire International Cargo Zambia Airways Zantop International Airlines Zuliana de Aviacion
Government/Military	France, Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) Gabon, Armée de l'Air Gabonaise (Gabon Air Force) Spain, Ejército del Aire Española (Spanish Air Force) Togo, Force Aérienne Togolaise (Togolese Air Force) United States (US Navy)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Aboulafia, Richard. Jane's Civil Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996, p. 74-75, McDonnell Douglas DC-8. Boeing DC-8 site Chant, Christopher and Taylor, Michael J.H. The World's Greatest Aircraft. Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books, 2006, p. 223, Douglas DC-8. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 362-363, Douglas DC-8. Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 1999, p. 423-431, Douglas DC-8. Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 221, Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) DC-8.