Last flight of a DC-8?

[Newforest]

On 15th December, HB-IGH of Jet Aviation flew from Mulhouse to Tucson, an eleven hour flight. This is the jet that went tech on Tony in South Africa recently.

The following day, it made a 20 minute flight to Goodyear Phoenix. Is this the last flight for the old lady?

[Phileas Fogg]

Well from another website learn that it is a 70's series, i.e. glass cockpit and fan engines, so would be a shame if it was.

[Groundloop]

glass cockpit and fan engines, so would be a shame if it was.

Don't think the installation of an FMS qualifies for the description of "glass cockpit". Primary flight instruments are still electro-mechanical.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1167277/L/

Also, even before re-engining with CFM-56s, was still turbofan powered.

[brakedwell]

Yep = JT3D3B if I remember rightly.

[sled dog]

DC8-60 series had JT3d-7 engines .
The much earlier -30 / 40 models had JT4 engines, basic but, in my experience, totally reliable.

[WHBM]

Well some of them (the DC8-70 rebuilds) had new CFM56 engines installed 20 years ago, but the even the later DC8 airframes are all now knocking on at 40 years old, and have had a far longer innings than most would have believed, They won't go on for ever.

This aircraft doesn't actually have a great deal more capability than a new executive A319CJ with half the number of equivalent engines. Bad news with $90/barrel oil.

[mustafagander]

The DC8-50 series had JT3D-3 engines. Remember them, they had that venetian blind affair fan reverser on each side of the engine? Always looked to me like something out of an Indian brothel!!

[brakedwell]

At least you got what you wanted in an Indian brothel! The pneumatic reversers on 54 and 55's didn't always do what you asked them to!

[chornedsnorkack]

This aircraft doesn't actually have a great deal more capability than a new executive A319CJ with half the number of equivalent engines.

A319CJ and even Boeing 757-200 cannot match the take-off weight, nor range, of a classic DC-8. And NO jet, not even Boeing 787, can match the 36 cm wide windows of DC-8.

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by chornedsnorkack

A319CJ and even Boeing 757-200 cannot match the take-off weight, nor range, of a classic DC-8

I know it can't match the MTOW. However most of that is absorbed by four engines ....... I'm exaggerating of course. But not a lot. Same goes for the range.

[oligoe]

Yes, It will unfortunately be scrapped. I know one of it s FEs.

It s a shame when you see how nice it was still looking. However, it is not the first immaculate DC-8-72 to be scrapped. Aramco s DC-8-72 (N728A) was scrapped in Opa Locka 3 years ago.

But when the value of the spare parts is higher than the amount the aircraft can be selled for, then these birds all get the same end.

OG