IATA D8TICAO DC85

Douglas DC-8-50

Douglas

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Refined long-range narrowbody that defined jet-age intercontinental travel.

First flight

1960

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

130–179 passengers

Range

9,600 km

Engines

4× Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofan engines

Status

Retired

The Douglas DC-8-50 is a stretched, re-engined variant of the original DC-8 series, introduced in the early 1960s to improve payload-range performance. It features Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofan engines, which replaced the earlier turbojet powerplants and delivered significantly better fuel efficiency and reduced noise levels. The Series 50 retained the same fuselage dimensions as earlier DC-8 variants but offered greater intercontinental range and improved operating economics. It was well-received by major international carriers seeking a capable long-haul narrowbody aircraft during the jet age. Most DC-8-50s have long since been retired from passenger service, with some examples later converted to freighter configurations. The type played an important role in expanding international air travel during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Notable operators

Major operators included United Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, KLM, Japan Air Lines, and SAS.

Notable facts

›The DC-8-50 was the first DC-8 variant fitted with turbofan engines, replacing the earlier turbojets.
›In 1961, a DC-8 exceeded Mach 1 during a controlled test dive, making it one of the few subsonic airliners to break the sound barrier.
›The JT3D engines offered roughly 20% better fuel efficiency than the JT3C turbojets used in earlier DC-8 variants.
›Many DC-8-50s were later converted to freighter or combi configurations extending their operational lives.
›The Series 50 shared its fuselage cross-section with all other DC-8 variants, allowing commonality across the family.

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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