Variants of the DC-8 family were plentiful. The Series 10 was fitted with 4 x Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 turbojet engines of 13,500lb thrust and featuring water injection and ultimately incorporated leading-edge slots and all-new wingtip designs. The Series 20 carried PW JT4A-3 turbojets of 15,800lb thrust each (also with the water injection feature) and this allowed for slightly improved performance (MTOW was increased). Both the Series 10 and Series 20 models were intended for local, domestic flights.
The Series 30 was developed with intercontinental travel in mind. As such, more internal volume was given up for fuel stores within a lengthened fuselage. Engines were 4 x PW JT4-9 series units outputting 16,800lb of thrust each which, again, helped to increase MTOW. The Series 40 was the Series 30 aircraft but with more efficient, cleaner-burning Rolls-Royce "Conway" Model 509 turbofan engines.
Series 50 jets included the DC-8 "Jet Trader" and the EC-24A. The former was a freighter model while the latter was utilized by the United States Navy in the Electronic Warfare (EW) training role. Series 50 aircraft were given short fuselages and were driven by JT3D engines.
The Super 60 Series included the DC-8 Series 61, Series 62, and Series 63 aircraft. Series 61 aircraft were developed for medium-haul markets while the Series 62 platform was a longer-ranged performer featuring a stretched fuselage. The Series 63 was another stretched model with more efficiency built into its structure (modifications taken from the Series 62). These were powered by JT3D-7 engines of 19,000lb thrust.
The Super 70 Series involved the DC-8-71, -72, and -73 variants and built from the DC-8-61, -62, and -63 models, respectively. They were refitted with CFM56-2 series turbofan engines for greater power and performance. Production amounted to about 110 aircraft in the early 1980s.
Historically, operators of the DC-8 series ranged from Austria and Belgium to Venezuela and Zambia - no part of the world, it seems, remained untouched by the presence of the DC-8 family of aircraft. The series did not achieve a flawless record for some 83 airframe losses were reported covering 2,256 lives lost in the process. Due to noise restrictions at many global airports and the sheer cost of maintaining a decades-old aircraft, the DC-8 is a rare sight in the skies today and remains in extremely limited service today (2018).
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