IATA D8QICAO DC87

Douglas DC-8-72

Douglas

TravelerPulse profile

Re-engined DC-8 variant offering improved fuel efficiency.

First flight

1981

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

189–259

Range

9,260 km

Engines

4x CFM International CFM56-2 turbofans

Status

Retired

The Douglas DC-8-72 is a re-engined derivative of the DC-8-61, produced through the Cammacorp/Douglas re-engining program of the early 1980s. It replaced the original Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofan engines with CFM International CFM56-2 high-bypass turbofans, dramatically reducing fuel consumption and noise levels to meet Stage 3 noise regulations. The -72 variant retained the stretched fuselage of the DC-8-61 series, offering substantial passenger capacity in a narrow-body configuration. The re-engining program breathed new life into aging DC-8 airframes at a time when fuel costs were a critical concern for airlines. By the 1990s and 2000s, most DC-8-72s had been retired from passenger service, though a number continued operating as freighters for cargo carriers. The type represented an important chapter in extending the operational life of legacy jet airliners through engine modernization.

Notable operators

Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Air Canada, and various cargo operators including UPS and Arrow Air flew the DC-8-72.

Notable facts

›The DC-8-72 was converted from DC-8-61 airframes as part of a Cammacorp-led re-engining initiative.
›CFM56 engines reduced fuel burn by approximately 25% compared to the original JT3D powerplants.
›The re-engining allowed DC-8-72s to meet FAA Stage 3 noise requirements.
›The -72 retained the DC-8-61's stretched fuselage, approximately 57.1 m (187 ft) in length.
›Many DC-8-72s transitioned to freighter roles after retirement from passenger service.

Read more on Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The Douglas DC-8 is an early long-range narrow-body jetliner designed and produced by the American Douglas Aircraft Company. Work began in 1952 toward the United States Air Force's (USAF) requirement for a jet-powered aerial refueling tanker. After losing the USAF's tanker competition to the rival Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker in May 1954, Douglas announced in June 1955 its derived jetliner project marketed to civil operators. In October 1955, Pan Am made the first order along with the competing Boeing 707, and many other airlines soon followed. The first DC-8 was rolled out in Long Beach Airport on April 9, 1958, and flew for the first time on May 30. Following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in August 1959, the DC-8 entered service with Delta Air Lines on September 18.

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