On this day in aviation history (67 years ago), on May 30, 1958, Douglas DC-8 made a virgin flight. Douglas Aircraft Test Pilot Arnold G. Heimerdinger is in the controls, accompanied by co-pilot William M. Magruder and system engineer Paul H. Patten. The prototype aircraft DC-8-11 (C/N 45252, registered N8008D) set off at 10:10 AM from Long Beach Airport (LGB) in Southern California, launching the legacy of one of the most influential early jetliners.
The DC-8 was Douglas’s response to the growing demand for jet-powered commercial aircraft in the 1950s. The design was originally derived from the company’s bid for tankers that provide jet-power to the U.S. Air Force. Although Boeing eventually secured a military contract with the KC-135 Stratotanker, Douglas shifted its focus to the civilian market, developing a commercial variant DC-8 – directly competing with Boeing’s 707.
The DC-8 is a narrow long-range jetliner that can help usher in the jet age of commercial aviation. The DC-8 was launched in 1959 and is operated by several major airlines (including United Airlines, Delta Airlines) and later UPS. The DC-8-50/55 and 61/62 series are powered by four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B engines, each producing 19,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft is entering at Mach 0.82 (about 556 mph), depending on the model, ranging from 3200 to 5,855 miles. The passenger capacity ranges from 189 to 259, except for the standard three-person crew.
Douglas produced 556 DC-8s between 1958 and 1972. While most people have retired, 13 aircraft are known to survive today, while 4 aircraft are still available. It is worth noting that there are two DC-8s still flying commercial cargo routes in Congo Air Cargo services, while DC-8 OB-2231P is still active in Skybus Jet Cargo in Peru. In the United States, the difference between DC-8-72 N782SP is that the last US-based DC-8 is still flying. It is Samaritan’s walletHumanitarian Relief Organization.
