Color Scheme:
Delivery Colors
Registration:
XA-OOO
Composition:
Two Piece Polished Aluminum Model Made In
Italy, Mounted on a Douglas Style Stand
Dimensions:
Length: 36.5" (93cm), Wingspan 35" (89cm)
Condition:
Excellent
Model History: This blank was produced by Fono Nicci, Roma Italy
and originally finished in Alitalia Colors. It was acquired earlier
this year from an antique dealer in poor condition and then was
refinished by James Powroznik Custom Models, Clovis, CA. I received
it on December 16, 2000.
Note:
November 2005 - I decided to mount this model on a regular
Douglas Style stand and mount my Alitalia DC-8-42 on the Fono
Nicci Stand originally mounted to this model - because that stand
was made specifically for the Alitalia model & highlights
the Country of Italy right on it's front and thus is more appropriate
for the Alitalia Model. Many thanks to my
friend Anthony for suggesting this change for the better.
Aeronaves
de Mexico's DC-8 History: Aeronaves De Mexico was founded
in 1934, with the help of Pan American, who owned 40 percent of
the new Mexican airline. The 1930s and 1940s were a quiet period
for the airline but in the 1950s Aeronaves really took off. First
they were nationalized by the Mexican Government. Next, they reorganized
and expanded both internally and externally with the take over
of some of their competitor airlines. In 1958 , Aeronaves began
service on the profitable Mexico City to Los Angles route using
the turboprop Bristol Brittania. Other long haul services were
handled by the DC-6B. The 1960s saw more international expansion
and the beginning of the jet age for Aeronaves with the introduction
of the DC-8. Sadly, the first DC-8 for Aeronaves, which had been
delivered by Douglas to Eastern Airlines in Aeronaves colors (for
immediate lease to Aeronaves), flew for two short months before
crashing on takeoff en route from New York-Idlewild to Mexico
City. Fortunately, Aeronaves took Factory Deliveries six additional
DC-8s and leased several other DC-8s which enabled continued expansion.
In February 1972 Aeronaves de Mexico was officially renamed Aeromexico.
Aeromexico was the last airline to operate Douglas DC-8 'Ship
One' from 1979-1982 as XA-DOE. After it was returned to the lessor
- FB Ayer & Assoc. it was registered back to it's original
registration of N8008D and stored at Marana, Arizona. Sadly, 'Ship
One' was to never fly again. Click
Here to See a Aeromexico DC-8-51 Model of 'Ship One'. The
DC-8 continued to soldier on for the Aeromexico through the 1970s
and 1980s and they sold their last DC-8 in November, 1989.
Click Here to See Aeronaves de Mexico/Aeromexico's DC-8 Fleet
Information.
Click
Here to View a Photo of the Actual Aircraft
Photo Courtesy Of & Many Thanks To Terry Waddington
