Announced in June 1955, Douglas DC-8 entered service with launch customers United and Delta was on 18 September 1959, a year behind the Boeing 707. Unfortunately for Douglas, that years delay allowed Boeing to seize leadership of the jet airliner market, a position that is only now under serious challenge by Airbus.
Versions of the initial short fuselage DC-8 were: the Series 10, the initial domestic version; the similar Series 20 but with more powerful turbojets; the intercontinental Series 30 and Series 40; and the Series 50, perhaps the definitive short fuselage model, with convertible and freighter versions also offered.
Douglas announced the updated DC-8 Super Sixty in April 1965. The first, a DC-8-61, took to the skies for the first time on 14 March 1966, followed by the first flights of the DC-8-62 on 29 August 1966 and the DC-8-63 on 10 April 1967. The DC-8-61 offered a fuselage extension of 36 ft. 8 in. / 11.18 over the original -50, increasing max seating capacity to 259 and freight capacity by 80%. The Super 62 was intended for long range operations and featured only a modest 6 ft. 8 in. / 2.04 m fuselage stretch, greater wing span, revised engine nacelles and pylons and increased fuel capacity. The Super 63 combined the -61's fuselage with the -62's wings and was last was delivered in May 1972.
SPECIFICATION
First flight: 30 May 1958
Wingspan: 142 ft. 5 in. / 43.41 m
Length: 150 ft. 6 in. / 45.87 m
Height: 42 ft. 4 in. / 12.91 m
Ceiling: 35,000 ft.
Range: 4,800 nm / 8,890 km
MTOW: 126,525 lbs / 57,391 kg (-30) -to- 153,749 lbs / 69,739 kg (-63)
Power plant: Four Pratt & Whitney JT3D
Speed: 500 knots / 926 km/h / 0.76 mach
Crew: 3
Accommodation: 132-144-179 in three, two or one class configuration (Freighter: 17 tons)
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