Mid Size Passenger Jets
Douglas DC-8-62
ICAO: DC86
Overview
The DC-8-51 is the entry model of the DC-8 Series 50, the version that finally gave Douglas the same JT3D turbofan that powered most Boeing 707s. It first flew in December 1960, was certified in 1961 and served with airlines such as Delta, United, Braniff and Aeronaves de Mexico before many were converted to freighters.
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Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 4 × JT3D-3B
- Engine type
- Turbofan
- Thrust
- 4 × 18,000 lbf · 80 kN
- Avionics
- —
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 189
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- 11 ft 6 in · 3.51 m
- Cabin height
- 7 ft 3 in · 2.21 m
- Cabin length
- 102 ft 4 in · 31.20 m
- Exterior length
- 150 ft 8 in · 45.93 m
- Tail height
- 43 ft 7 in · 13.28 m
- Fuselage diameter
- 12 ft 3 in · 3.73 m
- Wing span
- 142 ft 5 in · 43.40 m
- Baggage volume
- 1,391 ft³ · 39.4 m³
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 276,000 lb · 125,000 kg
- Max landing weight
- 217,000 lb · 98,500 kg
- Max payload
- 51,500 lb · 23,500 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 23,400 gal · 88,600 L · 70,800 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 483 kt · 556 mph · 895 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- 137 kt · 158 mph · 254 km/h
- Range
- 5,855 nm · 6,740 mi · 10,840 km
- Fuel burn
- —
- Ceiling
- 35,000 ft · 10,700 m
- Rate of climb
- 1,300 ft/min · 7 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 9,850 ft · 3,000 m
- Landing distance
- 6,550 ft · 2,000 m
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Operational Context
Table of Contents
What Is the Douglas DC-8-51?
The DC-8-51 is the first model of the DC-8 Series 50, the “definitive” short-fuselage version of Douglas’s first jetliner. It is a four-engine, narrow-body airliner built for long routes.
Its big change over earlier DC-8s was the engine. The Series 50 used the Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofan, the same engine family that powered most Boeing 707s.
The full specification table for the aircraft is on this page, so this article explains the numbers and the story behind them.
Development: From DC-8-10 to Series 50
The DC-8 family first flew on May 30, 1958, and entered service with Delta and United in September 1959. The Series 50 followed, flying for the first time on December 20, 1960.
The -51, -52 and -53 were certified in 1961 and differ mainly in weight. The -51 was the lightest at 276,000 lb, against 300,000 lb for the -52 and 315,000 lb for the -53. The later -55 was heavier still.
Douglas built 142 DC-8-50s new. Another 20 earlier DC-8s from the Series 10, 30 and 40 were converted to the same standard, including aircraft from Delta and United.
The DC-8-51 should not be confused with the heavier -55, whose higher maximum weight is sometimes quoted for the whole Series 50.
Engines and Performance
The -51 used JT3D engines in either a 17,000 lbf (JT3D-1) or 18,000 lbf (JT3D-3B) version. The panel lists the 18,000 lbf JT3D-3B.
The turbofan was quieter and more fuel-efficient than the turbojets of the first DC-8s. That gave the Series 50 the longest range of any short-body DC-8, a published 5,855 nm with its maximum payload.
Cruise was around Mach 0.82, which Wikipedia converts to 483 kt, the figure in the panel. Seating topped out at 189 passengers in a high-density layout.
Airlines That Flew the DC-8-51
Delta and United were the first to fly Series 50 aircraft, partly by converting earlier DC-8s. Braniff International and Aeronaves de Mexico also operated the -51.
Aeronaves de Mexico began replacing its piston airliners with jets in 1961. Its first jets were a pair of DC-8s that flew domestic routes and service to New York City.
Freighter Conversions
As passenger airlines moved to newer jets, many DC-8-51s were converted to freighters and sold to cargo carriers. The Series 50 stayed in service this way long after its passenger career ended.
DC-8-51 Accidents and Incidents
On August 13, 1966, an Aeronaves de Mexico DC-8-51, registration XA-PEI, crashed near Acapulco, Mexico.
On December 24, 1966, another Aeronaves de Mexico DC-8-51, XA-NUS, came down at Lake Texcoco in Mexico during approach to Mexico City.
On March 30, 1967, Delta Air Lines Flight 9877, a DC-8-51 registered N802E, crashed near New Orleans International Airport during a training flight. All six people on board, five crew and an FAA observer, were killed, along with 13 people on the ground.
The NTSB blamed poor supervision by the instructor and improper use of flight and power controls by the instructor and the trainee captain. It also named fatigue as a likely contributing factor.
Is the DC-8 Still Flying?
Very few DC-8s remain. As of May 2024, ATDB.aero data showed three still flying, all as freighters, and none carried passengers.
Those survivors are later DC-8 variants, not -51s, so any DC-8-51 you see today is almost certainly in a museum or a scrapyard. Check current registers for the latest count, since it is changing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many DC-8 are still flying?
As of May 2024, ATDB.aero data showed three DC-8s still flying, all as freighters. The number was already falling and is likely lower now.
When did the DC-8-51 first fly?
The DC-8 Series 50 first flew on December 20, 1960. The -51, -52 and -53 were certified in 1961.
What engines does the DC-8-51 use?
Four Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofans, rated at either 17,000 lbf (JT3D-1) or 18,000 lbf (JT3D-3B).
How many DC-8s were built?
Douglas built 556 DC-8s in total, including 142 Series 50 aircraft. Another 20 earlier aircraft were converted to Series 50 standard.
Why did DC-8 crashes happen?
Each case differs. The 1967 Delta 9877 crash was a training-flight loss of control, while the 1966 Aeronaves de Mexico losses are listed without a detailed cause in the sources we checked.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.