Douglas DC-8-"Birth of a Jet"-1959-Part l/ll

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One of the best airliner promos I've ever seen, you guys will LOVE this, especially we DC-8 fans.

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Category:

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Tags:

• Douglas
• DC-8
• DC-9
• Lockheed
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[MerleOberon]

I love 1950s background music....

[RJfan]

too bad the image of the DC-8 was ruined by scientologists

[kuehnll]

My dad installed cockpit instruments in the first DC-8 and I got goosebumps looking at the assembly line footage in Part 1. I saw its maiden flight. I was bursting with excitement and pride, for Douglas as well as my dad. I was 13, and my memory of this moment is as clear over 50 years later as yesterday. Sadly the DC-8 could not compete with the 707 and poor sales and a recession meant that my dad and thousands of other Douglas employees were laid off in 1961.

[65rock4ever]

@mcdonnell220 Back in the early 50's before I was around my mom worked as a stewardess for Eastern Airlines on the Lockheed Super Constellation, commonly known as the "Connie". She flew regularly on the New York - Miami - Rio de Janero Brazil run. What a life huh? Tough job but somebody's got to do it, right? Honestly, this was the REAL golden age of commercial air travel. I've said enough, I'll give you a break. I apologize for rambling on........

[65rock4ever]

@mcdonnell220 You mentioned the aesthetic qualities of the DC-8. One time while descending to land at LAX I was looking out the window and spotted the shadow of our plane passing over the ghround. The shadow grew larger as we descended and you could tell it was a DC-8. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever watched and it looked like a huge graceful swan touching down gently on the earth as I followed it down to the runway. I treasure this memory forever !

[65rock4ever]

@mcdonnell220 Yes, it was a wonderful plane. The Boeing 707 was first built as an aerial-refueler for the military - the KC-135. Boeing widened the fuselage by 5 feet for the passenger model. The DC-8 on the other hand, was built from scratch as a passenger jet. The DC-8 has a 30 degree wing sweep vs. the 35 degree sweep angle on the 707. But when comparing the numbers, the DC-8 out-performs the 707 in every way, including a supersonic flight in the early 60's. Wow !!

[65rock4ever]

@mcdonnell220 I couldn't have said it any better. My very first trip on a passenger plane was a DC-4 ! And I was 4 yrs old. It was Aeronauves de Mexico from New York to Mexico City. A long noisy flight with multiple stops. Then I rode several times on the "6" followed by my first jet trip on a TWA 707 from JFK to LAX and back when I was 5. My first DC-8 trip was somewhere around 1962 and it was "love at first flight".

[mcdonnell220]

@65rock4ever DC-6 is one classic bird! Dad flew the second to the last trip for UAL in Feb, 1970...took the family on the very last trip...I was not quite 9, and I recall mom crying when we touched down for the last time.

[mcdonnell220]

@65rock4ever I think the "7-oh" has that cool sort of "Means business" look to it...arrogant snout, sits low to the ground, stately empanage...where the DC-8 has a more "Gentle & pretty" look to it; prettier nose, graceful slim rudder, sits high on the gear, making for pleasing aesthetics..Love 'em both! But the DC-8, CV-990 & Super VC-10 & Caravelle...those are the "Lookers' for me.

[65rock4ever]

@mcdonnell220 I play the guitar myself. I also like the bands you mentioned. Great music. I was born in '54 and I'm a big DC-6 fan as well -- terrific airplane. McDonnell Douglas was a winner all the way.

[mcdonnell220]

@65rock4ever Actually, I'm a rock musician if you can believe that nonsense. :-) Dad flew for UAL from 1952-89. I was born in '61, and grew up on DC-8s...cherish the sweet lady!! Dad never did fly them...wished he had, and he wanted to bid on the Caravelle as well, but wouldn't have re-located the family east to do so. I'm a Byrds/Springfield/Mamas & Papas nut...

[65rock4ever]

@mcdonnell220 I'm currios, did you fly the DC-8 or ever ride on one ?