I grew up in the shadow of Douglas with my Granddad having worked at Douglas, then my mom and step-dad years later. My granddad would take me in his Rambler (I was 4) to hang out at LGB in the restaurant that overlooked the flight line and watch the planes take off and land. Later, in my teen years, we moved to a house on Paramount, near the production facility. At the time, I’d made up my mind to join the Air Force and was looking forward to starting my adult journey. The best part of that time was the Air Force had ordered the plane that was supposed to be the replacement for the KC-135, the KC-10. I would ride my bike to the fence just to watch each aircraft roll out in its Air Force livery. One good thing the city of Long Beach did was to declare the “Fly DC Jets” neon sign over the main assembly building an historical landmark to prevent Boing from removing it after their takeover of MD. It needs repair as it doesn’t fully light up at night, but that symbol of mid-20th century excitement for the future still beckons.
I always thought the Stretched DC-8 was absolutely beautiful. The long fuselage on its tall landing gear with the gilled nose is pure elegance. Makes a 707 look kinda clunky.
Flying was so great in the 60s and 70s compared to now. Even economy seats were reasonably comfortable and there were still many airlines competing so they treated you like a customer.
The DC-8 was the very first airliner I passengered in, flying intercontinental with my father as very young child. In those days, as a (rare) child passenger on an international flight, I received amazing gifts from the airline and I got to visit the cockpit during the flight. The gifts I still have as among my most cherished possessions: a satin-lined children's suitcase with the airline's logo and in its livery colours, in it a small cast-iron model of the DC-8 in the airline's livery and a pilot wings pin. There were also colouring pencils and a sketchbook in it. By the end of the trip it was filled with drawings of airplanes, airport scenes and clouds from above. So the DC-8 has been starring in my first and best memories of (civil) aviation.
My favorite part of landing in HNL on a United DC-8 was on the tarmac when a beautiful gal came up to me, put a lei around my neck and gave me a kiss. I was 14.
Best video I've ever seen on the DC-8, sir. I've been a lifelong aviation enthusiast, aviation college grad, pilot, flight instructor, and RUclips viewer of all things aviation related. Your attention to detail and clear, concise explanations sets you apart.
Excellent information and presentation!!! My father flew the DC-9 out of Texas. My father's brother worked for Douglass as an aircraft mechanic. My Mother's brother worked for Douglas then McDonnell/Douglas in California in QC. Both of my Uncles went west to California from Oklahoma in the 1930's.
I grew up just west of the Long Beach Airport and I watched every aircraft built by Douglas between '62 and '74. I still remember Playboy's black DC-9 and the amazing growl of the first DC-10s. It was a great place and time to be a kid.
1966 was the year. As an 8 yr old traveling alone in a suit and tie, I had no idea what to expect. In the beginning every roar, thump, and jack screw move of the Delta DC-8 signified the end of my world. By the end of the flight I was a fan who has judged every subsequent flight by the elegant standard of the DC-8. I’m glad I flew at a time when airline travel was special, comfortable, and civilized.
Excellent video. I have 17 years on the 8. I flew the 54, 55, 61, 62, 63, 71and 73s. When they were converted to the 70 series they fixed most of the faults the original had. The new engine had enough thrust to get out of town promptly and enough reverse thrust to stop the airplane on landing. I have to correct you though, the chin scoops(the smile) were inlets for the turbo compressors for pressurization(heat). Cold air was from a Freon system. Part of the conversion to the 70 series was the removal of the turbo compressors and the installation of PACKs(Pressurization Air Conditioning Kits). They provided hot AND cold air to the cabin. That was a great improvement in the summer. My recollection is that when the FAA did their Aging Fleet study(after the Hawaiian 737 lost its roof), that the DC 8 was the only airplane that they could not determine the service life on. Douglas had AGAIN built one of the toughest airplanes in history . I flew one with over 100,000 hours on it. They were parked in 2010 only because it was not economically feasible to certify them for RVSM which would have restricted them to 28,000 or below. I was very lucky, I walked away from it and never hit a nacelle or a tail skid. It was a tank.
Wonderful comment, thanks, and yes, I stand corrected on those turbo-compressors. (That's what happens when a DC-10-era guy posts a video.) Thanks for watching!
I would loved to have flown with you. Even if we had to ditch, I'm on-board. The right side, navigation, last seat, low last-class, toilet, wing, stabilizer... I'm there.
I’ve been both an FE and FO on the 60 series and 70 series and was going to write a post about the chin scoops. Thanks for correcting. Yep never banged a pod on either series. We always laughed that DC stood for Direct Cable or Douglas Cable. 😃
In the 1960’s my late father served in the USAF. We spent quite a number of years in the Far East. Usually in summer my parents would send me back to the USA to spend time with my Grandparents. Even as a kid I preferred the DC-8 to the 707. On more than one occasion the aircraft was nearly full of soldiers returning from their Vietnam service. There might be a sprinkling of military families returning home as well. Freedom Birds. The name given to those flights carrying the soldiers home. It will always hold a special place in my heart.
Worked many flights as a flight attendant on an AC DC-8 stretch. It was a blast sitting in the aft flight attendant jump seats during takeoff. The noise the engines made was exhilarating!
Another great video. Thanks. Really enjoyed the interior views of the cabins. Took me back to when flying was "special". Passengers were polite/civil and actually wore clothes instead of lounge pajamas. The flight attendants were pleasant and not so overworked.
Worked at McDonald Douglas first as a dc9 Hydraulics mechanic, then as a Mach pitch trim mechanic, DC-10 engine hang and then flight test. Loved working there good money good people. Worked at Long Beach, Yuma and Edwards Air Force Base. My first commercial flight was in a DC8 and I love that airplane. It was quiet. Saw the last commercial DC8 takeoff from LAX. Was there the day Flying Tigers went bankrupt.
I remember growing up in the 60's and 70's in Detroit...my family were aviation buffs and we'd go out to Detroit Metro (DTW) on Fri or Sat nights and watch aircraft from the rooftop observation deck above the Delta and TWA concourse. Delta's Gate 22 was right below the end of the deck and Delta usually parked a series 50 DC-8 at that gate on many nights. To this day...I still remember the flight number (842) that would make evening flights down to Atlanta. I had one opportunity to fly on the 50's series DC-8 and a few flights on the Delta DC-8-71's. The DC-8 was my favorite aircraft to ride in until the time I got my first flight in the L-1011. After that....the L-10 because my all time favorite.
My first flight was onboard a United Airlines DC8-61 in "Friend -Ship livery in 1973 from Friendship Airport (BWI) nonstop to San Francisco. I was fascinated immediately especially when those JT3D-3B's went to full throttle.
I flew as a passenger on an United Airlines DC 8 flight in 1984. Flew cross country on it. Flying on this aircraft was the smoothest flight I ever flown on. A well designed and engineered commercial aircraft for its time.
Great video and great memories to me, for DC-8 was the first Jet I flew back in 1964 as I was moving to New York. At that time, passengers used to dress up and so did I.It was quite an elegant experience that I enjoyed at the age of 20. Since then, I lost count of the many times I was on board of DC-8. I loved those planes.
I still dress up when I fly. I feel like it should be part of the experience. I’m old-school though. I don’t understand why people slog onto their flights in sweatpants and flip flops.
Great review of the DC-8! I flew on many DC-8's, dad was an AF pilot and we were transferred a lot of places. I built the DC-8 United model as a kid in the 60's. Thank you! Brings back a lot of memories.
1965 I flew Cph to Montreal to be a pilot on Tudors and T-33 with RCAF. Then after 6 years in RDAF I was lucky to get 15 years on DC 8 . Best time of my life.
Great memories of the DC-8. Air New Zealand operated these (thanks for that photo Mike) and later DC-10-30’s. Watching DC-8 leaving four smoky trails across the sky in my childhood inspired me to pursue my career as a pilot.
Never pursued that degree of flying. I often flew several King Airs 300's, but only right seat because of my background. After flying the B200, a leap to the 300's. Only to follow with the Citations. That was my last. It was indeed fun, even after a full day of business, wherever we flew. I hate it when the gear doesn't lock down.
Great video! Thanks. My first airplane ride was in a United DC8 from Omaha to Chicago. I remembered they served Waiverly Wafer crackers and I'm still eating them 60 years later.
I had an older friend who I met in 1973 that was a DC-8 pilot for Seaboard World which was later acquired by Flying Tiger. Eventually he transitioned to 747s and then ended up with FedEx when they acquired Flying Tiger. He always said he preferred flying the stretch DC-8 with the high bypass turbofans.
I believe we share that thought 100%. Around 9yrs old, I flew with dad on a Delta Air Lines DC-8-63, the stretch. at 8/9 yrs old. I remember today at 66 the huge red sign in Atlanta at Hartsfield(/Jackson) "Delta Air Lines." Astonished by the spacious sprawling room for a kid having two seats as my dad sat on the port side window near the back (for safety). That Delta stretch 8 was my first true love. I shall never forget that time.
for several years I used to fly the DC8 KLM in their 'royal class' towards latin america and the middle/far east. nice memories, not the cabin but catering was great
Hi there....my dear Mike , I'm Argentine and in 1979 I started working for Branniff International. "the flighting colours". Remember??? I was based in Argentina but flew every week from Argentina passing by Colombia , Peru , Panama Miami and last New York. And after 3 days back to South America. I am more secure flighting today a DC 8 as in 1979 than those. Airbus of today. I'm proud of that airplane. I stand by it until today!!!!! All my love and blessings.
My mother worked at Douglas Aircraft El Segundo on the SB2-Dauntless dive bomber during WWII while my father was in the Army. After the war my father worked at Douglas Aircraft Long Beach for 29 years. And got me my first job at Douglas after graduating high school in June 1965. I worked in production control as a parts chaser for the DC-8 and A-4 Sky Hawk. And, worked out of Bldg. 84. on the eastside of Lakewood Blvd. Had opportunities to make it out to the ramp, when parts, instruments were needed. And during compass swings. My parking lot was off of Clark Ave. However, that was short lived as I enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 65. Thanks for the Memories!
I flew from London to Sydney in a DC8 in 1974. Thai International Airline. The Captain told passengers not to be alarmed when we were half way down the runway and still not in the air. "These planes take a long time to get off the ground, so please do not worry" he said. This was repeated at stop-off at in Rome and Thailand.
The fully loaded DC8-63 (high temperature) takeoff I experienced at Yokota AFB had the main gear struts banging down (the point as which I knew we were airborne) just as we passed over the departure-end runway numbers. I knew then that I was on my way and that I was finally going home. It was a moment that has always stayed with me.
I always liked the DC-8 until one day in 1969 when I took my girlfriend to ORD for her flight to Atlanta on a United DC-8, the days when you could go to the gate and hug people good bye, well, she really hugged me good bye, never saw or heard of her again, but I still love the DC-8 today.
The DC8 was my favorite aircraft. I was a United frequent flyer. I flew on the DC821, DC832 that they acquired later on, and the DC861, DC862 and 30 flights on the DC871. I had the opportunity to fly first class as I commuted from Boston or Hartford to San Jose or San Francisco. The takeoff was always fun, not quite as crazy as the MD80s. Loved the Douglas aircraft. thanks
I was 11 years young when my Mother and I flew an Air Canada DC-8 (one of the very early ones with the "pipe looking" nosie supressors) from Toronto International (CYYZ) to Dusseldorf (EDDL). That was July 8th 1961 ~ 8.2 hours east bound non-stop. After that avaiation was in my blood. I started flying sailplanes at 14 in Toronto and never looked back. One eye-popping, amazing experience for a youg child. I am 72 year young and still following avaition developments. GREAT VIDEO... THX for this one!
Flew in the DC-8 to Vietnam in June 1970 (Norton AFB, Travis AFB, Hickam AFB, Guam AFB, Da Nang, AFB) and returned home December 1971 in another DC-8 (Tan Son Nhut AFB, Yokota AFB, Anchorage, Alaska, and arriving in Seattle). Both were American Airlines charter flights, I recall. Loved the plane, especially on that return trip a year-and-a-half after my arrival in-country. Always liked those signature twin air scoops in the nose.
The Douglas company was wanting to keep pace with jet-powered travel. The way we saw it, the DC-8 jet was born. I always loved this airplane. It became the back-bone of many carriers. It was concieved just after the Boeing 707, which was Boeing's first jetliner. The DC-8, became popular in it's own right even though it didn't sell just as good as the 707 did. But the DC-8 was a good airplane that had been chosen for other modifications. For many years it has excelled as a pure freighter also. Many mechanics that worked on this airplane, and pilots that flew it, also called the DC-8 a terrific "piece of metal".
Here I thought I was enough of an AvGeek to have known every iteration of the DC-8 and I'm blown away with your pic of the pre-production JT3D turbofan nacelles! Great video! My one and only trip on a DC-8 was on a Delta dash-73 from ATL to YYZ in '83 so I almost missed out on the chance to fly on one as they were almost gone from mainline service by then. I remember sitting over the wing box and will never forget the unique deep rumble I felt throughout the flight that I never experienced before or since.
Great video! My longest airline flight ever was in 1970 from McGuire AFB, NJ to Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam on a DC-8. It was Seaboard World Airlines and I believe a stretch 8. I was Air Force radio operator (destined for TACP duty), and the plane was full of Army soldiers, and I had the last seat in back, next to the toilets, and that also didn't recline. Wonderful way to start my year overseas. We flew non-stop to Seattle, a short hop to Anchorage (the hardest landing I've ever experienced on any airframe), Yakota, or Kadena, Japan (I don't remember which one), and lastly Bien Hoa. When they opened that rear door for us to deplane the humidity and smell hit me like a brick wall. A year later I flew home on a United Airlines 707 Bien Hoa to Travis AFB, CA.
Mike, my father, Don Danielsen, was a ‘principle engineer’ in cargo systems at Douglas then, and that ramp is keenly familiar; I used to ride my bike there as a kid just to do plane spotting. Dad was so proud of the DC-8! The Super 63 really was elegant! We flew to Europe on one, on ONA. He received an award from McDonnell-Douglas much later for designing an innovative way of sealing the floor of the C-17 that saved some weight. Interesting fact: The DC-8 supposedly had an error in the wing sweep the was ‘kept’ or not corrected for a time. Great video, thanks for your work!
I worked on Dc8's as an A&P mechanic in the 90's at Burbank Aeronautical they made hush kits for early engines to quiet them down i worked on 707 720 a So but the Dc8 was great aircraft and an over built work horse for sure great memories great show thanks !!
Mike, you pay homage to the beautiful DC-8 like no other. As a youngster, I watched many of these sleek big birds approach and depart IDL/JFK with their screaming sound and graceful lines. I've flown on many commercial flights, but only once on a DC-8. National Airlines from JFK to MIA in the 1970s when National had their "Fly Me" campaign with their fleet of aircraft having female names painted on the upper fuselage. The DC-8 I flew on was named Joanne. Thanks for another grand slam video.
Thank you Mike for this absolutely wonderful short film about my all time favourite aircraft. I remember those smokers landing and taking off from Manchester, England in many different airline colour schemes. Perhaps my favourite was CPAir, those DC-8's really suited the awesome colours.👍👏👍👏👍👏
Thank you! This very well done little documentary brought back so many fond memories for me. The first jet flight I ever took was on a DC-8, from San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX), in 1962. My parents took me to Disneyland for my fifth birthday! It was quite an adventure in those days. We got dressed up, me in my little suit and bow tie, and boarded a jitney to the Ferry Building in S.F.. We then rode an SFO helicopter, probably a Sikorsky S-62, and flew to the airport to board a beautiful silver and white with a red window strip Western Airlines ("The ONLY Way To Fly") DC-8! I was only five and I remember vividly it to this day. I have had a love for air travel, particularly by jet, since.
I remember when I was a little kid going to the airport and being mesmerized by the sight of the tails of aircraft sticking up from behind the airport. That would be Love Field 1969. I was too excited to be worried about how something that big could possibly fly. I guess it helped that my dad worked for LTV and Lockheed before that.
16:00 ZK-NZD earned me a lot of money back in the 80s and early 90s working in maintenance for Air New Zealand. "Dog" (D for dog) as she was affectionately known was converted to a main deck freight config and there was always plenty of overtime on the hangar checks as she became older. The last DC-8 operated by Air NZ.
This is a great documentary about the DC-8. A great airplane it was. Our father flew for Flying Tigers and flew these (63f) models. I have several posters of them from the company that I have of these on their flight line. Father later moved onto the 747.
As always, another wonderful episode. I loved travelling on the DC-8, it had an elegance, as did the 707, that modern airliners can not, in my opinion match. Perhaps it was youth, perhaps it was the times but however you look at it, the sleekness and lines of the early 4 engine jets was something special. There was romance in travelling in them. Thanks for all the great videos that you produce.
Todays airplanes are boring. The old ones had character. In the 60s they built them to go fast as well. The cruise speed on modern planes is 50 to 75 mph slower.
Fantastic video packed with information and presented with pride. You got a new subscriber. I was born in '61 and was on a plane before I was 2 and continued to travel the world with my parents until 18. It was an amazing period in time to fly in the early jet age when it was still quite glamorous and special. Pan Am, TWA, Braniff International and many others served us so well. I don't fly as much today as I did then and I don't like the experience now as its turned into more of riding a crowded bus of unhappy people. Thank you for sharing.
Celebrating aviation with Mike while having my morning coffee; life is good. By the way I have written on several DC8 including the old straight pipe 63 and later Delta fan engine 73 if memory serves me correctly.
Hi Mike I live in Central Australia and love watching and listening to your commentary I have always been a keen observer of aircraft of every discipline. Keep up the good work Thankyou
I have always preferred the Douglas aircraft over all the other comparable aircraft produced by rival companies. I never see a Douglas without remarking on that unmistakable nose. Absolutely unique!
This video gives an excellent account of the evolution of the DC8 with many fascinating photos. I loved hearing about your experience which gives the presentation extra authority. I often watched DC8s at Manchester MAN Ringway Airport in the 60s and 70s though I never flew on one. Many thanks
I used to watch the D C - 8 stretch versions taxi around when I was a kid . From our vantage point on this hill in here Burien, WA. The stretch version looked like an impossibly length shape with an incredible number of windows on it,s side which were a wonder to me because I started young watching mostly stubby piston planes only and very much fewer jets in the early 60 , s .
Nice video. The most reliable airplane I ever worked on, besides the avionics. A couple of notes. The Diesel 8 didn't use A/C packs, but rather turbocompressors for pressurization, and beed air for heat, and R-12 refrigeration units for cooling. Also those lower containerized cargo containers were a United Airlines specific system. All the rest used standard right side lower cargo doors. The United system had a semi self loading powered trolley to lift the cans and stow them in the compartment. We called them bombay doors for obvious reasons
I just discovered this channel and really enjoyed this program. I am a new subscriber. My favorite memory of this great airliner was a flight on a United DC8-Stretch(not sure if it was a 61 or 63) in January 1978. It departed ORF for BWI around 9AM( a short layover where United had a brunch buffet set up for all passengers, even Coach passengers.) Then on to LAX(promoted as Royal Coast to Coast Service with a great selection of main courses and even had wine 🍷 served complimentary in Coach.) A brief layover at LAX and then the final hour long hop up to SFO. I distinctly remember this flight for a number of reasons. Having a large jetliner serving Norfolk was a huge deal back then. It was arguably the largest commercial aircraft ever scheduled there at the time. I think that the runway was 6,000 feet or a little less and you were guaranteed an exciting take off. Looking back at the incredible on board service provided to Coach/Economy passengers then as compared to what little service we receive in this day and age is rather depressing. I was on my way to Asia where I worked for ten years and was lucky enough to fly trans Pacific routes and also around the world during my time overseas. Those experiences were fun but I will always remember my DC-8 flight from "little old Norfolk". I am looking forward to your upcoming vlogs. Take care and have a pleasant and rewarding week.
Best aviation video ever. One thing that impressed me was being reminded of the advances in avionics over the years. At 6:10, the DC-7 radio rack gives a glimpse of how large and heavy the radio black boxes were in the 1950s. The huge isolation amplifier box, for cockpit audio channels, I presume, has disappeared entirely in modern airplanes, replaced by integrated circuits hidden away on a circuit card somewhere. The monster VHF receiver/transmitter was obviously heavy and power hungry. Today, most pilots have a hand-held portable VHF transceiver tucked away in their flight bag as a backup, and everybody has a complete GPS system in their cellphones. I assume the early DC-8 would have been equipped with the RCA AVQ-10 radar system, which was all vacuum tubes except for a diode or two. The separate receiver/transmitter and accessory units for that system were each the size of the VHF comm box we see here, and heavy. And so forth for the ADF, Nav receivers, HF radios, electrical inverters and power supplies, instrument amplifiers, gyroscopes, and so forth. Even with all the computers on modern airplanes, the weight and power requirements of avionics have been greatly reduced. And yes, the DC-8 was a beautiful airplane.
As a history nerd and aviation geek I thoroughly enjoyed this video! The DC-8 is before my time so unfortunately I never had the pleasure of being a passenger in one. I agree it is a very elegant design, especially the stretch. Does anyone know who the artist is of the artwork at 7:17? It reminds me of Norman Rockwell. So charming!
The DC-8 is my all-time favorite airliner. I grew up in a United Airlines family and we flew on the 8...both the original and the re-engined models over the years. Large windows...lovely airplanes! I miss seeing them.
Absolutely incredible how sharp and contrasty the old B & W prints are, even to this day. Thank you for this most interesting and informative video. My first trip on a stretch DC-8 was to Europe in 1976 on an Icelandic DC-8 fitted out in a single, all-economy configuration. Even then, with 242 seats, it was comfortable than economy is today.
Great video. I have flown on almost every commercial jet aircraft but regrettably, never the DC-8. But I always thought it was a beautiful airplane. The engine pylon in particular. Incidentally, I have books with your illustrations. Outstanding artwork. Worthy of being framed and displayed!
flew across the atlantic with that beautiful dc 8 many times... our remote mining company in northern canada owned the dc 3 and dc 4 so was able to fly on them frequently....great airplanes...great memories
Very informative video on the history of the DC8, i thoroughly enjoyed it. Also appreciated it not having annoying music that ruins so many videos these days
The one and only. The DC-8 stretch. A beautiful site to see leaving the runway. A spacious interior for an 8/9 yr old boy to ride in. From head to toe, I took a nap stretched out on those two (of 3) seats next to my dad flying at night from MSY to ATL. Our destination, I cannot recall. Stopping once in ATL on the way to the factory, I believe around NJ, PA. I had fallen in love already and blinded by the DC-8. Nothing would ever top that. "We" flew a new twin engine 6 seat aircraft from "the factory" to Louisiana Aircraft in Baton Rouge using UNICOM and the Interstate with no avionics. When mom developed the 8mm film taken by dad from the very back seat (two rows back) she blew a fuse. Boy, you talk about "Lucy telling Ricky", " You got some splainin' to do!" Took her a month to calm down. I had been brought up on the V tail Beechcraft Bonanza's. That beautiful blue striped Bonanza, well it did what I needed it to do for a little boy. Took me a few more years before I obtained my license at 16. I could have had it sooner, but I was busy getting dirty as little boys demand. Flying the fastest passenger aircraft in it's time not even aware of that, at the time. The 8. Always great memories here too. About dads. Thank you Mike for putting this together as we relive "The moments" forever etched in our lives by the DC-8.
Wow. That was a great video. I flew on 2 SAS DC-8s and twice domestically with United. But I had no idea about all these variants. I really enjoyed my flights and always have revered the DC-8 . I happened to be at Long Beach airport on a layover . While having lunch my waitress said its your lucky day. Across the runway we could see the McDonnell Douglas factory, and there was a lot of commotion. The hangar doors opened and we got to watch the very last C-17 Globe master roll out onto the tarmac with great fanfare, another great aircraft! Thanks again for this great video!
Well done. Informative and entertaining. I ve also enjoyed perusing the stories and memories in the comments. I counted up I have flown DC 8s on 12 airlines, from CP Air and Iberia’s 30s, to Viasa and UTA’s 50’s - remember those airlines? to KLM’s and National’s 61s, to Swissair’s 62s, Thai’s 63s and United’s 71s. All time favorite: Jal’s 62 “Sun Racer” from JFK to Tokyo Haneda via Anchorage. I was 16 and had the good fortune to be up front with the huge window placed perfectly so I could look at the engine nacelles and watch the vast expanses of white mountains and sea go by. I didn’t want to get off.
Thanks much for this history lesson. It had much that I never knew. I understand that KLM used every DC airplane ever built including the 8 as you mentioned.
Yes, KLM operated four of the 12 DC-5s built, giving that airline the distinction of having flown every Douglas production airliner from the DC-2 to the MD-11.
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Thanks Mike to verifying that. I recently finished watching (the second time) the series King of the Skies so I have developed a keen interest in KLM. Quite a history they have.
Amazing! Wonderful history and fact filled video as only you can do Mr Machat. I am a proud subscriber and love aviation history, especially when presented by you. Douglas was one of the greatest aircraft companies to ever exist, and I'm sure it was a thrill for you to be able to work for them. As always God bless you and yours and thanks again for everything you do! Take care always Sir! 👍🇺🇸😊
My only ride in one was the last version you described flown by United. We flew from ORD to DTW. Always recall the pilot apologizing for the use of an 'older' plane (this was towards the end of these planes usage by UAL).. I kept thinking "are you kidding me this is fantastic being able to travel in one of these aircraft!"
WOW, super nice. I was always a fan of AVIATION. My Father who worked for the Original Frontier Airlines started my interest. THANK YOU SIR for the EXCELLENT HISTORY of the DC8. I have been on several C47s :-) yes, DC3 and one DC8. I was amazed of the DC8. If you ever get a chance, look at the movie Little Miss Sunshine, that was my Aviation Career. I finally received my Private Pilot License only because I had to LIE on the COLOR BLINDNESS. My entire career was FLYING and yet, got sold out with my COLOR BLINDNESS.
Very nice video, Mike! It brought back some nice memories for me. I flew on a KLM Super DC-8 way back in 1968 from Houston, TX to Amsterdam on a family vacation (I was 13). We had to stop in Montreal to refuel before crossing the Atlantic. I remember the Super DC-8 looking like a VERY long airplane! Prior to this, I had flown on a few 727s (Eastern and Braniff) but the Super DC-8 looked huge to my kid's eyes. Cheers!
Excellent video of my all time fav jet!!! For some reason the elegant lines of this beautiful machine just always resonated with me. Starting as a kid watching them fly over in Houston in the early 70’s. I only remember flying on one (Capitol Airlines DC-8-32) but I have pics of me being carried as an infant by my older brother getting on a Series 50. I’ve built 7 of the Revell DC-8 kits mentioned in the vid with a further 15 waiting to be built. Thanks for the vid!!!!
I just have to say these videos are great, right down memory lane. Never flew in a DC-8, but in 1962 flew in an Aerolineas Argentinas Comet, from Rio to New York Idlewild, with scale in Port au Prince. Very exciting for a young lad and thanks for the memories!
Many thanks Mike. Another great personal insight into an important aspect of aircraft history. I never managed to fly in a DC-8, but always admired the aircraft.
Another great video Mike.... your feature on the Douglas DC-8 reminds me of my second ever flight in May of 1963.... boarded a Canadian Pacific Airlines DC-8 in Toronto and flew directly to Calgary Alberta.... it's amazing how much I remember about it.... for me, the first series DC-8 was beautiful aircraft.... now I'm also wondering if the DC-8 I flew in was the actual DC-8 you mentioned breaking Mach 1 and that is pictured in this video.... I guess I'll never know....
I grew up in the shadow of Douglas with my Granddad having worked at Douglas, then my mom and step-dad years later. My granddad would take me in his Rambler (I was 4) to hang out at LGB in the restaurant that overlooked the flight line and watch the planes take off and land. Later, in my teen years, we moved to a house on Paramount, near the production facility. At the time, I’d made up my mind to join the Air Force and was looking forward to starting my adult journey. The best part of that time was the Air Force had ordered the plane that was supposed to be the replacement for the KC-135, the KC-10. I would ride my bike to the fence just to watch each aircraft roll out in its Air Force livery.
One good thing the city of Long Beach did was to declare the “Fly DC Jets” neon sign over the main assembly building an historical landmark to prevent Boing from removing it after their takeover of MD. It needs repair as it doesn’t fully light up at night, but that symbol of mid-20th century excitement for the future still beckons.
I always thought the Stretched DC-8 was absolutely beautiful. The long fuselage on its tall landing gear with the gilled nose is pure elegance. Makes a 707 look kinda clunky.
Flying was so great in the 60s and 70s compared to now. Even economy seats were reasonably comfortable and there were still many airlines competing so they treated you like a customer.
Agreed!
The DC-8 was the very first airliner I passengered in, flying intercontinental with my father as very young child. In those days, as a (rare) child passenger on an international flight, I received amazing gifts from the airline and I got to visit the cockpit during the flight. The gifts I still have as among my most cherished possessions: a satin-lined children's suitcase with the airline's logo and in its livery colours, in it a small cast-iron model of the DC-8 in the airline's livery and a pilot wings pin. There were also colouring pencils and a sketchbook in it. By the end of the trip it was filled with drawings of airplanes, airport scenes and clouds from above.
So the DC-8 has been starring in my first and best memories of (civil) aviation.
must have been amazing.; what an experience
Bo Soerjadi, same, only in my case YUL-YYZ-YYC (Montréal-Toronto-Calgary) in 1972. I was 8 years old. Air Canada DC-8-61 model.
My favorite part of landing in HNL on a United DC-8 was on the tarmac when a beautiful gal came up to me, put a lei around my neck and gave me a kiss. I was 14.
Wonderful story, thanks!
That was quite a trip, right? That used to be my experience when I used to fly on DC-6 in the 1950's as a little boy. That was on KLM.
Best video I've ever seen on the DC-8, sir. I've been a lifelong aviation enthusiast, aviation college grad, pilot, flight instructor, and RUclips viewer of all things aviation related. Your attention to detail and clear, concise explanations sets you apart.
Hard to find the words to say how much I appreciate your comment - really means a lot. With thanks and admiration for your aviation career, Mike.
Excellent information and presentation!!!
My father flew the DC-9 out of Texas. My father's brother worked for Douglass as an aircraft mechanic. My Mother's brother worked for Douglas then McDonnell/Douglas in California in QC. Both of my Uncles went west to California from Oklahoma in the 1930's.
I grew up just west of the Long Beach Airport and I watched every aircraft built by Douglas between '62 and '74. I still remember Playboy's black DC-9 and the amazing growl of the first DC-10s. It was a great place and time to be a kid.
Agreed!
1966 was the year. As an 8 yr old traveling alone in a suit and tie, I had no idea what to expect. In the beginning every roar, thump, and jack screw move of the Delta DC-8 signified the end of my world. By the end of the flight I was a fan who has judged every subsequent flight by the elegant standard of the DC-8. I’m glad I flew at a time when airline travel was special, comfortable, and civilized.
Great story, thanks!
Just a lovely plane - my father was a SAS captain, he ended his career with the DC 8 - (Started with DC3 !)
Wonderful story, thanks!
Where did you live in Scandinavia?
I remember when I think it was SAS lost one of their DC8s in the ocean just west of LAX, believe that was 1969.
Excellent video. I have 17 years on the 8. I flew the 54, 55, 61, 62, 63, 71and 73s. When they were converted to the 70 series they fixed most of the faults the original had. The new engine had enough thrust to get out of town promptly and enough reverse thrust to stop the airplane on landing. I have to correct you though, the chin scoops(the smile) were inlets for the turbo compressors for pressurization(heat). Cold air was from a Freon system. Part of the conversion to the 70 series was the removal of the turbo compressors and the installation of PACKs(Pressurization Air Conditioning Kits). They provided hot AND cold air to the cabin. That was a great improvement in the summer.
My recollection is that when the FAA did their Aging Fleet study(after the Hawaiian 737 lost its roof), that the DC 8 was the only airplane that they could not determine the service life on. Douglas had AGAIN built one of the toughest airplanes in history . I flew one with over 100,000 hours on it.
They were parked in 2010 only because it was not economically feasible to certify them for RVSM which would have restricted them to 28,000 or below.
I was very lucky, I walked away from it and never hit a nacelle or a tail skid. It was a tank.
Wonderful comment, thanks, and yes, I stand corrected on those turbo-compressors. (That's what happens when a DC-10-era guy posts a video.) Thanks for watching!
I would loved to have flown with you. Even if we had to ditch, I'm on-board. The right side, navigation, last seat, low last-class, toilet, wing, stabilizer... I'm there.
which airline was that 100000 hr example you flew, was it cargo?
I’ve been both an FE and FO on the 60 series and 70 series and was going to write a post about the chin scoops. Thanks for correcting. Yep never banged a pod on either series. We always laughed that DC stood for Direct Cable or Douglas Cable. 😃
@@Mario-re2qp UPS
In the 1960’s my late father served in the USAF. We spent quite a number of years in the Far East. Usually in summer my parents would send me back to the USA to spend time with my Grandparents. Even as a kid I preferred the DC-8 to the 707. On more than one occasion the aircraft was nearly full of soldiers returning from their Vietnam service. There might be a sprinkling of military families returning home as well. Freedom Birds. The name given to those flights carrying the soldiers home. It will always hold a special place in my heart.
Worked many flights as a flight attendant on an AC DC-8 stretch. It was a blast sitting in the aft flight attendant jump seats during takeoff. The noise the engines made was exhilarating!
Another great video. Thanks.
Really enjoyed the interior views of the cabins. Took me back to when flying was "special". Passengers were polite/civil and actually wore clothes instead of lounge pajamas. The flight attendants were pleasant and not so overworked.
No kidding. Time 9:43, People can't fight dressed like that. I know it was employees but same meaning. ;-)
Agreed!
Even The Clampets dressed up to fly back then.
@@billolsen4360 Very true and actually makes matters worse😀
@@billolsen4360 Serious question: What's a clampet? That term's new to me. 🤔
Worked at McDonald Douglas first as a dc9 Hydraulics mechanic, then as a Mach pitch trim mechanic, DC-10 engine hang and then flight test. Loved working there good money good people. Worked at Long Beach, Yuma and Edwards Air Force Base. My first commercial flight was in a DC8 and I love that airplane. It was quiet. Saw the last commercial DC8 takeoff from LAX. Was there the day Flying Tigers went bankrupt.
I remember growing up in the 60's and 70's in Detroit...my family were aviation buffs and we'd go out to Detroit Metro (DTW) on Fri or Sat nights and watch aircraft from the rooftop observation deck above the Delta and TWA concourse. Delta's Gate 22 was right below the end of the deck and Delta usually parked a series 50 DC-8 at that gate on many nights. To this day...I still remember the flight number (842) that would make evening flights down to Atlanta. I had one opportunity to fly on the 50's series DC-8 and a few flights on the Delta DC-8-71's. The DC-8 was my favorite aircraft to ride in until the time I got my first flight in the L-1011. After that....the L-10 because my all time favorite.
My first flight was onboard a United Airlines DC8-61 in "Friend -Ship livery in 1973 from Friendship Airport (BWI) nonstop to San Francisco. I was fascinated immediately especially when those JT3D-3B's went to full throttle.
I flew as a passenger on an United Airlines DC 8 flight in 1984. Flew cross country on it. Flying on this aircraft was the smoothest flight I ever flown on. A well designed and engineered commercial aircraft for its time.
I've had the great pleasure of flying in the DC3,7,8 and DC10.
Great video and great memories to me, for DC-8 was the first Jet I flew back in 1964 as I was moving to New York. At that time, passengers used to dress up and so did I.It was quite an elegant experience that I enjoyed at the age of 20. Since then, I lost count of the many times I was on board of DC-8. I loved those planes.
And I only flew it once as a little boy and I loved it as much as you.
I still dress up when I fly. I feel like it should be part of the experience. I’m old-school though. I don’t understand why people slog onto their flights in sweatpants and flip flops.
Thank you for this excellent review of perhaps the most elegant airliner ever built, up to today!
Great review of the DC-8! I flew on many DC-8's, dad was an AF pilot and we were transferred a lot of places. I built the DC-8 United model as a kid in the 60's.
Thank you! Brings back a lot of memories.
I was living in Hawaii when the first stretch DC-8 arrived. They called it a "jumbo jet" and there was quite an elaborate ceremony to greet it.
I spent a lot of time in my 20s riding jump seat in the cockpit of a Super 63. Great airplane! and some great memories too
Together with the DC-9, the most beautiful airplane ever built.
It remains in my heart.
1965 I flew Cph to Montreal to be a pilot on Tudors and T-33 with RCAF. Then after 6 years in RDAF I was lucky to get 15 years on DC 8 .
Best time of my life.
Great memories of the DC-8. Air New Zealand operated these (thanks for that photo Mike) and later DC-10-30’s. Watching DC-8 leaving four smoky trails across the sky in my childhood inspired me to pursue my career as a pilot.
Never pursued that degree of flying. I often flew several King Airs 300's, but only right seat because of my background. After flying the B200, a leap to the 300's. Only to follow with the Citations. That was my last. It was indeed fun, even after a full day of business, wherever we flew. I hate it when the gear doesn't lock down.
Great video! Thanks. My first airplane ride was in a United DC8 from Omaha to Chicago. I remembered they served Waiverly Wafer crackers and I'm still eating them 60 years later.
I had an older friend who I met in 1973 that was a DC-8 pilot for Seaboard World which was later acquired by Flying Tiger. Eventually he transitioned to 747s and then ended up with FedEx when they acquired Flying Tiger. He always said he preferred flying the stretch DC-8 with the high bypass turbofans.
The C-54 radio rack behind the pilot put out MEGA WATTS of heat!
...the beginning of the microwave oven...
Just a few tubes...😂
I always thought the Stretch DC 8, in flight, was one of the most beautiful airplances ever made. It was so graceful. Thanks for an outstanding video.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
I believe we share that thought 100%. Around 9yrs old, I flew with dad on a Delta Air Lines DC-8-63, the stretch. at 8/9 yrs old. I remember today at 66 the huge red sign in Atlanta at Hartsfield(/Jackson) "Delta Air Lines." Astonished by the spacious sprawling room for a kid having two seats as my dad sat on the port side window near the back (for safety). That Delta stretch 8 was my first true love. I shall never forget that time.
Yep. Having flown the -60's and 70's I can certainly agree. The -73 I think was the most elegant.
I flew on a DC-8 in 1979 on my first trans-Atlantic flight.
for several years I used to fly the DC8 KLM in their 'royal class' towards latin america and the middle/far east. nice memories, not the cabin but catering was great
Hi there....my dear Mike , I'm Argentine and in 1979 I started working for Branniff International. "the flighting colours". Remember??? I was based in Argentina but flew every week from Argentina passing by Colombia , Peru , Panama Miami and last New York. And after 3 days back to South America. I am more secure flighting today a DC 8 as in 1979 than those. Airbus of today. I'm proud of that airplane. I stand by it until today!!!!! All my love and blessings.
Appreciate the wonderful comment, thanks!
My mother worked at Douglas Aircraft El Segundo on the SB2-Dauntless dive bomber during WWII while my father was in the Army. After the war my father worked at Douglas Aircraft Long Beach for 29 years. And got me my first job at Douglas after graduating high school in June 1965. I worked in production control as a parts chaser for the DC-8 and A-4 Sky Hawk. And, worked out of Bldg. 84. on the eastside of Lakewood Blvd. Had opportunities to make it out to the ramp, when parts, instruments were needed. And during compass swings. My parking lot was off of Clark Ave. However, that was short lived as I enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 65. Thanks for the Memories!
Wonderful story, thanks!
I flew from London to Sydney in a DC8 in 1974. Thai International Airline.
The Captain told passengers not to be alarmed when we were half way down the runway and still not in the air. "These planes take a long time to get off the ground, so please do not worry" he said. This was repeated at stop-off at in Rome and Thailand.
Must've been a treat with all those beautiful Thai stewardesses.
The fully loaded DC8-63 (high temperature) takeoff I experienced at Yokota AFB had the main gear struts banging down (the point as which I knew we were airborne) just as we passed over the departure-end runway numbers. I knew then that I was on my way and that I was finally going home. It was a moment that has always stayed with me.
I always liked the DC-8 until one day in 1969 when I took my girlfriend to ORD for her flight to Atlanta on a United DC-8, the days when you could go to the gate and hug people good bye, well, she really hugged me good bye, never saw or heard of her again, but I still love the DC-8 today.
The DC8 was my favorite aircraft. I was a United frequent flyer. I flew on the DC821, DC832 that they acquired later on, and the DC861, DC862 and 30 flights on
the DC871. I had the opportunity to fly first class as I commuted from Boston or Hartford to San Jose or San Francisco. The takeoff was always fun, not quite as crazy as the MD80s. Loved the Douglas aircraft. thanks
The MD80s were an advanced form of the DC-9s. The DC-9 were also exhilarating on take off.
Concise, to the point and no annoying music , good video.
Thank you for chronicling all those wonderful airplanes. What a wonderful watch!
I was 11 years young when my Mother and I flew an Air Canada DC-8 (one of the very early ones with the "pipe looking" nosie supressors) from Toronto International (CYYZ) to Dusseldorf (EDDL). That was July 8th 1961 ~ 8.2 hours east bound non-stop. After that avaiation was in my blood. I started flying sailplanes at 14 in Toronto and never looked back. One eye-popping, amazing experience for a youg child. I am 72 year young and still following avaition developments. GREAT VIDEO... THX for this one!
Wonderful story, and thanks from a fellow sailplane pilot!
Flew in the DC-8 to Vietnam in June 1970 (Norton AFB, Travis AFB, Hickam AFB, Guam AFB, Da Nang, AFB) and returned home December 1971 in another DC-8 (Tan Son Nhut AFB, Yokota AFB, Anchorage, Alaska, and arriving in Seattle). Both were American Airlines charter flights, I recall. Loved the plane, especially on that return trip a year-and-a-half after my arrival in-country. Always liked those signature twin air scoops in the nose.
I rode many of those same MAC Charters from Travis to Yokota in 1967-1969. Loved the DC-8 and that final trip home!
The Douglas company was wanting to keep pace with jet-powered travel. The way we saw it, the DC-8 jet was born. I always loved this airplane. It became the back-bone of many carriers. It was concieved just after the Boeing 707, which was Boeing's first jetliner. The DC-8, became popular in it's own right even though it didn't sell just as good as the 707 did. But the DC-8 was a good airplane that had been chosen for other modifications. For many years it has excelled as a pure freighter also. Many mechanics that worked on this airplane, and pilots that flew it, also called the DC-8 a terrific "piece of metal".
Here I thought I was enough of an AvGeek to have known every iteration of the DC-8 and I'm blown away with your pic of the pre-production JT3D turbofan nacelles! Great video! My one and only trip on a DC-8 was on a Delta dash-73 from ATL to YYZ in '83 so I almost missed out on the chance to fly on one as they were almost gone from mainline service by then. I remember sitting over the wing box and will never forget the unique deep rumble I felt throughout the flight that I never experienced before or since.
Great video! My longest airline flight ever was in 1970 from McGuire AFB, NJ to Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam on a DC-8. It was Seaboard World Airlines and I believe a stretch 8. I was Air Force radio operator (destined for TACP duty), and the plane was full of Army soldiers, and I had the last seat in back, next to the toilets, and that also didn't recline. Wonderful way to start my year overseas. We flew non-stop to Seattle, a short hop to Anchorage (the hardest landing I've ever experienced on any airframe), Yakota, or Kadena, Japan (I don't remember which one), and lastly Bien Hoa. When they opened that rear door for us to deplane the humidity and smell hit me like a brick wall. A year later I flew home on a United Airlines 707 Bien Hoa to Travis AFB, CA.
Mike, my father, Don Danielsen, was a ‘principle engineer’ in cargo systems at Douglas then, and that ramp is keenly familiar; I used to ride my bike there as a kid just to do plane spotting. Dad was so proud of the DC-8! The Super 63 really was elegant! We flew to Europe on one, on ONA. He received an award from McDonnell-Douglas much later for designing an innovative way of sealing the floor of the C-17 that saved some weight. Interesting fact: The DC-8 supposedly had an error in the wing sweep the was ‘kept’ or not corrected for a time. Great video, thanks for your work!
I worked on Dc8's as an A&P mechanic in the 90's at Burbank Aeronautical they made hush kits for early engines to quiet them down i worked on 707 720 a
So but the Dc8 was great aircraft and an over built work horse for sure great memories great show thanks !!
Mike, you pay homage to the beautiful DC-8 like no other. As a youngster, I watched many of these sleek big birds approach and depart IDL/JFK with their screaming sound and graceful lines. I've flown on many commercial flights, but only once on a DC-8. National Airlines from JFK to MIA in the 1970s when National had their "Fly Me" campaign with their fleet of aircraft having female names painted on the upper fuselage. The DC-8 I flew on was named Joanne. Thanks for another grand slam video.
Great tribute to a great aircraft! Thank you! 😁
Flew the 70 series for UPS for 20 years. From 1990 to 2010 in every seat. Great memories!
Those have CFM-56'S on them! Don't they?
Thank you Mike for this absolutely wonderful short film about my all time favourite aircraft. I remember those smokers landing and taking off from Manchester, England in many different airline colour schemes. Perhaps my favourite was CPAir, those DC-8's really suited the awesome colours.👍👏👍👏👍👏
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Thank you! This very well done little documentary brought back so many fond memories for me. The first jet flight I ever took was on a DC-8, from San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX), in 1962. My parents took me to Disneyland for my fifth birthday! It was quite an adventure in those days. We got dressed up, me in my little suit and bow tie, and boarded a jitney to the Ferry Building in S.F.. We then rode an SFO helicopter, probably a Sikorsky S-62, and flew to the airport to board a beautiful silver and white with a red window strip Western Airlines ("The ONLY Way To Fly") DC-8! I was only five and I remember vividly it to this day. I have had a love for air travel, particularly by jet, since.
Wonderful story, thanks!
Loved the little investigation about the actual roll-out photo (cropped & recolored) being on the Revell model box. Cheers and all the best!
I remember when I was a little kid going to the airport and being mesmerized by the sight of the tails of aircraft sticking up from behind the airport. That would be Love Field 1969. I was too excited to be worried about how something that big could possibly fly. I guess it helped that my dad worked for LTV and Lockheed before that.
16:00 ZK-NZD earned me a lot of money back in the 80s and early 90s working in maintenance for Air New Zealand. "Dog" (D for dog) as she was affectionately known was converted to a main deck freight config and there was always plenty of overtime on the hangar checks as she became older. The last DC-8 operated by Air NZ.
This is a great documentary about the DC-8. A great airplane it was. Our father flew for Flying Tigers and flew these (63f) models. I have several posters of them from the company that I have of these on their flight line. Father later moved onto the 747.
As always, another wonderful episode. I loved travelling on the DC-8, it had an elegance, as did the 707, that modern airliners can not, in my opinion match. Perhaps it was youth, perhaps it was the times but however you look at it, the sleekness and lines of the early 4 engine jets was something special. There was romance in travelling in them.
Thanks for all the great videos that you produce.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Todays airplanes are boring. The old ones had character. In the 60s they built them to go fast as well. The cruise speed on modern planes is 50 to 75 mph slower.
Fantastic video packed with information and presented with pride. You got a new subscriber. I was born in '61 and was on a plane before I was 2 and continued to travel the world with my parents until 18. It was an amazing period in time to fly in the early jet age when it was still quite glamorous and special. Pan Am, TWA, Braniff International and many others served us so well. I don't fly as much today as I did then and I don't like the experience now as its turned into more of riding a crowded bus of unhappy people. Thank you for sharing.
Appreciate the comment, and great to have you aboard!
Wow! You piloted the DC-8 in the 60's?? I take my hat off and bow to you sir! Totally enjoyed this video!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
Photos, artwork, statistics and facts about the DC-8. It doesn't get any better ! Thanks so much for this excellent presentation, Mike.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Celebrating aviation with Mike while having my morning coffee; life is good. By the way I have written on several DC8 including the old straight pipe 63 and later Delta fan engine 73 if memory serves me correctly.
Hi Mike
I live in Central Australia and love watching and listening to your commentary
I have always been a keen observer of aircraft of every discipline.
Keep up the good work
Thankyou
@@kenmason3621 Many thanks!
I have always preferred the Douglas aircraft over all the other comparable aircraft produced by rival companies. I never see a Douglas without remarking on that unmistakable nose. Absolutely unique!
This video gives an excellent account of the evolution of the DC8 with many fascinating photos. I loved hearing about your experience which gives the presentation extra authority. I often watched DC8s at Manchester MAN Ringway Airport in the 60s and 70s though I never flew on one. Many thanks
I used to watch the D C - 8 stretch versions taxi around when I was a kid . From our vantage point on this hill in here Burien, WA. The stretch version looked like an impossibly length shape with an incredible number of windows on it,s side which were a wonder to me because I started young watching mostly stubby piston planes only and very much fewer jets in the early 60 , s .
A most excellent and enjoyable video about a beautiful plane.
Nice video. The most reliable airplane I ever worked on, besides the avionics. A couple of notes. The Diesel 8 didn't use A/C packs, but rather turbocompressors for pressurization, and beed air for heat, and R-12 refrigeration units for cooling. Also those lower containerized cargo containers were a United Airlines specific system. All the rest used standard right side lower cargo doors. The United system had a semi self loading powered trolley to lift the cans and stow them in the compartment. We called them bombay doors for obvious reasons
Good information, thanks!
I just discovered this channel and really enjoyed this program. I am a new subscriber. My favorite memory of this great airliner was a flight on a United DC8-Stretch(not sure if it was a 61 or 63) in January 1978. It departed ORF for BWI around 9AM( a short layover where United had a brunch buffet set up for all passengers, even Coach passengers.) Then on to LAX(promoted as Royal Coast to Coast Service with a great selection of main courses and even had wine 🍷 served complimentary in Coach.) A brief layover at LAX and then the final hour long hop up to SFO. I distinctly remember this flight for a number of reasons. Having a large jetliner serving Norfolk was a huge deal back then. It was arguably the largest commercial aircraft ever scheduled there at the time. I think that the runway was 6,000 feet or a little less and you were guaranteed an exciting take off. Looking back at the incredible on board service provided to Coach/Economy passengers then as compared to what little service we receive in this day and age is rather depressing. I was on my way to Asia where I worked for ten years and was lucky enough to fly trans Pacific routes and also around the world during my time overseas. Those experiences were fun but I will always remember my DC-8 flight from "little old Norfolk". I am looking forward to your upcoming vlogs. Take care and have a pleasant and rewarding week.
Best aviation video ever. One thing that impressed me was being reminded of the advances in avionics over the years. At 6:10, the DC-7 radio rack gives a glimpse of how large and heavy the radio black boxes were in the 1950s. The huge isolation amplifier box, for cockpit audio channels, I presume, has disappeared entirely in modern airplanes, replaced by integrated circuits hidden away on a circuit card somewhere. The monster VHF receiver/transmitter was obviously heavy and power hungry. Today, most pilots have a hand-held portable VHF transceiver tucked away in their flight bag as a backup, and everybody has a complete GPS system in their cellphones. I assume the early DC-8 would have been equipped with the RCA AVQ-10 radar system, which was all vacuum tubes except for a diode or two. The separate receiver/transmitter and accessory units for that system were each the size of the VHF comm box we see here, and heavy. And so forth for the ADF, Nav receivers, HF radios, electrical inverters and power supplies, instrument amplifiers, gyroscopes, and so forth. Even with all the computers on modern airplanes, the weight and power requirements of avionics have been greatly reduced. And yes, the DC-8 was a beautiful airplane.
Wonderful comment, thanks!
I've worked on them in the Oakland Airport, in 1986-7, those and the B-707
As a history nerd and aviation geek I thoroughly enjoyed this video! The DC-8 is before my time so unfortunately I never had the pleasure of being a passenger in one. I agree it is a very elegant design, especially the stretch.
Does anyone know who the artist is of the artwork at 7:17? It reminds me of Norman Rockwell. So charming!
The DC-8 is my all-time favorite airliner. I grew up in a United Airlines family and we flew on the 8...both the original and the re-engined models over the years. Large windows...lovely airplanes! I miss seeing them.
Me too!
Absolutely incredible how sharp and contrasty the old B & W prints are, even to this day. Thank you for this most interesting and informative video.
My first trip on a stretch DC-8 was to Europe in 1976 on an Icelandic DC-8 fitted out in a single, all-economy configuration. Even then, with 242 seats, it was comfortable than economy is today.
Many thanks!
Great video, love the format. Love this era of aviation.
Many thanks!
What a treasure of historical knowledge this channel is! Thank-you for creating it.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
An excellent look into the history of the DC-8. I didn't know there were so many versions of it.
Me either. That was a wonderful experience, learning more about the on-going life of the 8.
DC-3 has been my all time favorite plane!
Fabulous, interesting/informative slideshow! 👍👍
Great video. I have flown on almost every commercial jet aircraft but regrettably, never the DC-8. But I always thought it was a beautiful airplane. The engine pylon in particular. Incidentally, I have books with your illustrations. Outstanding artwork. Worthy of being framed and displayed!
flew across the atlantic with that beautiful dc 8 many times... our remote mining company in northern canada owned the dc 3 and dc 4 so was able to fly on them frequently....great airplanes...great memories
I had the opportunity to fly THE DC-3. I beat myself up for having EVER under appreciated the DC-3. Man, am I paying for that loss now.
It is nice to see the classic airplanes in color photographs. It makes it more relatable.
Nice airplane, great presentation, with your knowledge of the DC8 and Douglass, you made me want to keep watching.
Very informative video on the history of the DC8, i thoroughly enjoyed it. Also appreciated it not having annoying music that ruins so many videos these days
The one and only. The DC-8 stretch. A beautiful site to see leaving the runway. A spacious interior for an 8/9 yr old boy to ride in. From head to toe, I took a nap stretched out on those two (of 3) seats next to my dad flying at night from MSY to ATL.
Our destination, I cannot recall. Stopping once in ATL on the way to the factory, I believe around NJ, PA. I had fallen in love already and blinded by the DC-8. Nothing would ever top that.
"We" flew a new twin engine 6 seat aircraft from "the factory" to Louisiana Aircraft in Baton Rouge using UNICOM and the Interstate with no avionics. When mom developed the 8mm film taken by dad from the very back seat (two rows back) she blew a fuse. Boy, you talk about "Lucy telling Ricky", " You got some splainin' to do!" Took her a month to calm down.
I had been brought up on the V tail Beechcraft Bonanza's. That beautiful blue striped Bonanza, well it did what I needed it to do for a little boy. Took me a few more years before I obtained my license at 16. I could have had it sooner, but I was busy getting dirty as little boys demand.
Flying the fastest passenger aircraft in it's time not even aware of that, at the time. The 8. Always great memories here too. About dads. Thank you Mike for putting this together as we relive "The moments" forever etched in our lives by the DC-8.
Wonderful story, thanks!
Wow. That was a great video. I flew on 2 SAS DC-8s and twice domestically with United. But I had no idea about all these variants. I really enjoyed my flights and always have revered the DC-8 .
I happened to be at Long Beach airport on a layover . While having lunch my waitress said its your lucky day. Across the runway we could see the McDonnell Douglas factory, and there was a lot of commotion. The hangar doors opened and we got to watch the very last C-17 Globe master roll out onto the tarmac with great fanfare, another great aircraft! Thanks again for this great video!
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Great video! As a Long Beach native and an aviation fan, I really appreciate you preserving the history of Douglas and Long Beach in aviation history.
22:22 Modulo the front cowling, rear thrust cone, and scale ... a dead ringer for the 4680 battery.
Well done. Informative and entertaining. I ve also enjoyed perusing the stories and memories in the comments. I counted up I have flown DC 8s on 12 airlines, from CP Air and Iberia’s 30s, to Viasa and UTA’s 50’s - remember those airlines? to KLM’s and National’s 61s, to Swissair’s 62s, Thai’s 63s and United’s 71s. All time favorite: Jal’s 62 “Sun Racer” from JFK to Tokyo Haneda via Anchorage. I was 16 and had the good fortune to be up front with the huge window placed perfectly so I could look at the engine nacelles and watch the vast expanses of white mountains and sea go by. I didn’t want to get off.
Thanks much for this history lesson. It had much that I never knew. I understand that KLM used every DC airplane ever built including the 8 as you mentioned.
Yes, KLM operated four of the 12 DC-5s built, giving that airline the distinction of having flown every Douglas production airliner from the DC-2 to the MD-11.
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Thanks Mike to verifying that. I recently finished watching (the second time) the series King of the Skies so I have developed a keen interest in KLM. Quite a history they have.
This is EXCELLENT content! I hope you have many more classic airliner presentations in mind to follow!
Many thanks!
Excellent video. A joy to watch. Thank you so much.
Amazing! Wonderful history and fact filled video as only you can do Mr Machat. I am a proud subscriber and love aviation history, especially when presented by you. Douglas was one of the greatest aircraft companies to ever exist, and I'm sure it was a thrill for you to be able to work for them. As always God bless you and yours and thanks again for everything you do! Take care always Sir! 👍🇺🇸😊
My only ride in one was the last version you described flown by United. We flew from ORD to DTW. Always recall the pilot apologizing for the use of an 'older' plane (this was towards the end of these planes usage by UAL).. I kept thinking "are you kidding me this is fantastic being able to travel in one of these aircraft!"
Thanks Martin!
Another interesting video. As always the photos and the artwork are just amazing. Great work.
Thanks John!
WOW, super nice. I was always a fan of AVIATION. My Father who worked for the Original Frontier Airlines started my interest. THANK YOU SIR for the EXCELLENT HISTORY of the DC8. I have been on several C47s :-) yes, DC3 and one DC8. I was amazed of the DC8. If you ever get a chance, look at the movie Little Miss Sunshine, that was my Aviation Career. I finally received my Private Pilot License only because I had to LIE on the COLOR BLINDNESS. My entire career was FLYING and yet, got sold out with my COLOR BLINDNESS.
Thanks. Very well done and well presented summary of the classic 8
Very nice video, Mike! It brought back some nice memories for me. I flew on a KLM Super DC-8 way back in 1968 from Houston, TX to Amsterdam on a family vacation (I was 13). We had to stop in Montreal to refuel before crossing the Atlantic. I remember the Super DC-8 looking like a VERY long airplane! Prior to this, I had flown on a few 727s (Eastern and Braniff) but the Super DC-8 looked huge to my kid's eyes. Cheers!
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Brilliant presentation most informative and enjoyable.
Excellent video of my all time fav jet!!! For some reason the elegant lines of this beautiful machine just always resonated with me. Starting as a kid watching them
fly over in Houston in the early 70’s. I only remember flying on one (Capitol Airlines DC-8-32) but I have pics of me being carried as an infant by my older brother getting on a Series 50.
I’ve built 7 of the Revell DC-8 kits mentioned in the vid with a further 15 waiting to be built.
Thanks for the vid!!!!
Thanks. My favorite airliner.
I just have to say these videos are great, right down memory lane.
Never flew in a DC-8, but in 1962 flew in an Aerolineas Argentinas Comet, from Rio to New York Idlewild, with scale in Port au Prince.
Very exciting for a young lad and thanks for the memories!
Really appreciate the comment, thanks!
A very elegant airliner . Second only to the VC10 in looks . Great video .
Many thanks Mike. Another great personal insight into an important aspect of aircraft history. I never managed to fly in a DC-8, but always admired the aircraft.
Another great video Mike.... your feature on the Douglas DC-8 reminds me of my second ever flight in May of 1963.... boarded a Canadian Pacific Airlines DC-8 in Toronto and flew directly to Calgary Alberta.... it's amazing how much I remember about it.... for me, the first series DC-8 was beautiful aircraft.... now I'm also wondering if the DC-8 I flew in was the actual DC-8 you mentioned breaking Mach 1 and that is pictured in this video.... I guess I'll never know....