Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas under the DC-8 family, the DC-8-61 is equipped for higher capacity and medium range. It has two fuselage plugs that is stretched by 11 meters, increasing maximum seating capacity to 180-220 passengers in a mixed-class configuration, and an 80 percent underfloor freight capacity.

Manufacturer:
Douglas Aircraft Co.
Country:
United States
Manufactured:
1966 to: 1972
ICAO:
DC86
Price:
Avionics:
Engine:
4x P&W JT3D-3B
Turbofan
Power:
18,000 pound-force
Max Cruise Speed:
483 knots
895 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
140 knots
Travel range:
3,200 Nautical Miles
5,926 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
Service Ceiling:
42,000 feet
Rate of Climb:
2000 feet / minute
10.16metre / second
Take Off Distance:
3000 metre - 9,842.40 feet
Landing Distance:
2000 metre - 6,561.60 feet
Max Take Off Weight:
147,400 Kg
324,958 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
108,000 Kg
238,097 lbs
Max Payload:
27,400 Kg
60,406 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
23,393 gallon
88,552 litre
Baggage Volume:
45.7 m3 / 1,614 ft3
Seats - Economy / General:
259 seats
Seats - Business Class:
Seats - First Class:
Cabin Height:
2.21 metre - 7.25 feet
Cabin Width:
3.51 metre - 11.52 feet
Cabin Length:
50.1 metre - 164.37 feet
Exterior Length:
57 metre - 187.01 feet
Tail height:
13.1 metre - 42.98 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
3.74 metre - 12.27 feet
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
45.24 metre - 148.42 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

DC-8-61 Production and Development

In April 1965, the improved series 60 were announced by Douglas Aircraft Company, later known as McDonnell Douglas, an American aerospace manufacturer in Southern California.

On March 14 1966, the DC-8-61 took its maiden flight. On September 2, the aircraft received its type certification at a maximum weight of 147,420 kg from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In January 1967, deliveries of the DC-8-61 started. In February, the aircraft entered into service with United Airlines, a major American airline that operates domestic and international flights based in Chicago, Illinois.

DC-8-61 Design

Designed for high capacity and medium range, the DC-8-61 known as the “Stretched Eight” has an exterior length of 57 meters, tail height of 13.1 meters and a fuselage diameter of 3.74 meters. There is a 6.1-meter plug in the forward part of the fuselage and a 5.1-meter plug aft fuselage. The increase in length needed enhancement of the structure, however the standard DC-8 design had enough ground clearance already to allow the one-third cabin size increase without needing longer landing gear.

The DC-8-61 had the same engines, pylons, and wings like the DC-8-55. Its wing has a span of 45.24 meters. It has a wheelbase of 20.62 meters.

The aircraft has a cabin length of 50.1 meters, width of 3.51 meters and height of 2.21 meters. It can accommodate 180 to 220 passengers in a mixed-class seating, or 259 passengers in a high density setting. It provides 60 percent more seating capacity compared to the typical DC-8.

DC-8-61 Engine and Performance

Powered by four JT3D-3B turbofan engines from Pratt and Whitney, the engine of the DC-8-61 has a maximum thrust of 18,000 lbf each. It has a maximum payload of 27,400 kg and a fuel tank capacity of 23,393 US Gal. The aircraft has a maximum take off weight of 147,400 kg. Its landing weight is 108,000 kg.

The DC-8-61 can fly up to 42,000 feet. It is designed with a travel range of 3,200 nautical miles and a maximum cruise speed of 483 knots. It has a climb rate of 2,000 feet per minute. The take off and landing distance of the aircraft is 3,000 meters and 2,000 meters.

DC 8-61 Notable Accidents and Incidents

On December 28 1978, a United Airlines flight 173 N8082U from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York crashed because of fuel exhaustion near Portland, Oregon. Ten were killed among 189 people on board.

On January 15 1981, an Overseas National Airways N913R was wrecked during a hangar fire in Luxembourg.

On February 9 1982, a Japan Air Lines flight 350 JA8061 from Fukuoka crashed on approach to Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Twenty-four died among 174 people on board.

On September 17 1982, a Japan Air Lines Hidaka aircraft was wrecked when it went beyond the runway at Shanghai, China.

On July 11 1991, a Nigeria Airways flight 2120 caught fire shortly after it took off from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It then crashed while attempting an emergency landing. 261 people died on this accident.

On August 18 1993, an American International Airways flight 808 N814CK crashed during approach to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The aircraft was totally wrecked but there were no recorded fatalities in the incident.

On August 7 1997, a Fine Air flight 101 N27UA from Miami International Airport crashed shortly after take off. Four people on board as well as one person on the ground were killed on the accident.

All Douglas Aircraft Co. Aircraft

More Like This
Airbus A318
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Airbus A318
Airbus A330-200
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Airbus A330-200
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
Mid Size Passenger Jets
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500
Tupolev Tu-204
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Tupolev Tu-204
Fairchild Dornier 728 Family
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Fairchild Dornier 728 Family