MK Fleet addition
 

Report on todays Speednews shows MK has purchased the 2 ex Kitty Hawk DC8-63F aircraft.
Both Stage 3.
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If I recall correctly, the only -63's that are stage 3 are the ones with the "pipe" added to the engine and there are severe range and payload restrictions with them. Could be wrong though since I've never been on the Diesel 8

Any word or information on the tail numbers MK purchased? The KHA fleet of DC8's came from their purchase of Kalitta's American International and consisted mostly of DC8-55's, -61's, 2 or 3 -62's and, if memory serves, only 2 -63's. Nearly all of the DC-8's were grounded into storage when KHA ceased Amecical International flying 2 or 3 years ago.

According to Speednews the s/n's are 46147 and 46151.
DC-8-63F are Douglas built freighters ( as opposed to pax aircraft converted) These have greater payload than converted aircraft.
Engines are -7

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Interesting, in that all the Kalitta/Kitty Hawk DC-8s were pax conversions. The S/N's are not telling me much - N811CK and N815CK were the only DC8-63's in that fleet -the rest were 50 series and -61's, although they did operate 4 DC8-63's for Bax Global, which were leased/owned by Bax. One of those, N867BX, was purpose built as a freighter - rest were pax conversions, all ex Air Canada

legand11 is right with his last post. being an ex-
AIA/KIA crewmember, he is correct.
Don't know about what planes MK got though.

hapy new year!

Willit Run - thanks for the confirmation. Although not a crewmember for AIA/KIA, I was involved in Bax Ops for a number of years, and am very familiar with both Kalitta and Kitty Hawk.

Not a DC 8 expert but the production listing shows s/n 46147 reg N811CK as a DC8-63AF and s/n 46151 reg N815CK also as DC8-63AF.
There is often confusion with "common" or "popular" type designators but per the FAA Type Data Sheet the -63AF means All Freighter.
This is the Douglas designator for a production built freighter aircraft with no windows or passenger services installed.
With factory installed door and floor these were inevitable lighter than the 60 series passenger aircraft that were converted by third party STC's.
Original MTOW was 161,025 Kg being the heaviest of the DC8-60's.
Of course payload will be reduced with the Stage 3 mods. <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

GotTheTshirt - my production list (unofficial) says they're both -CF's, although they've never done anything except haul freight for Air Congo/Zaire and Kalitta/AIA. Looks like they were built as freighters. FAA website just has 'em as -63F's. The thot plickens!

as much as anyone hates to be wrong, i think i may have been wrong.
I think the 63's were infact original freighters. If my feeble memory serves me, they were the box stock Douglas freighter straight from the factory, no wierd mods or panels in the cockpit.
I know some of the guys that had to evict a family or two from the airplane while they were living in it, in Zaire before they could fly it out.
they were capable of (i think) 110,000 pounds of cargo.

As the guvnor hasn't said anything yet, let me.....
Great! another couple of underserviced, overutilised, ancient aircraft flying around with little or no oversight....makes you wonder how many deadheading crew will be turning up at stanstead on these dogs? <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

So what´s your problem Legolas? I could ask the same about all the English crews that loiter around in Africa.

Excuse me Legolas but these lovely old aircraft are now down LGW way being maintained by a pretty respectable company at the moment. Almost the entire MK Airlines fleet is passing through from last week through to next. Stansted my Arse, long live Gatwick...

DC-8s s/n 46147/46151 exited the factory at Long Beach 19 July 1971 and 09 November 1970 as "CF" models with pax windows installed! <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

46147 549 DC8-63F JT3D-7(HK3) 07/19/71 KITTY HAWK INTL N811CK 9Q-CLH [CVTD -63(CF)][PARKED @ SAT]
46151 540 DC8-63F JT3D-7(HK3) 11/09/70 MK AIRLINES N815CK 9Q-CLG [CVTD -63(CF)] [STD @ MHV][BEING PREPPED FOR ST MKA]

The deal was arranged by Focus (formerly Fortis) Aviation.

I wonder what MK will do with them when they get bannned from UK/EU airspace in a couple of months time when the various reports on them from Immigration, HMC&E, Inland Revenue, CAA, DTLR etc are finalised?

Could be a bit of a problem ... especially as they will have to relocate their head office and maintenance base at the same time AND find a new flag of convenience to fly under!

Of course, they could always turn legitimate...

... nah, too much like hard work for Mike and the boys! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Guvnor

Can you tell me what reports are expected from DTLR and CAA. My contacts are not aware of any.