Color Scheme: Ship One Color Scheme
Registration: N8008T
Composition: Douglas Factory
Aluminum Model
Dimensions: Length: 24.5" (62cm), Wingspan 23.5" (60cm)
Condition: Excellent
Model History: I believe this was produced in the late 1950s/early
1960s by the Douglas Aircraft Model Shop. I Acquired it on May
25, 2005 from my fellow collector & friend Steve Spatz and
co-owned it with my collector friend Dan Wells.
In March 2006 I sold my interest in this model to Dan Wells & then in bought the model back on January 27, 2010. Thanks Dan - It's Nice To See This Model Returning To My Collection.
History of the DC-8F Jet Trader: In 1961 Douglas
began refining it's DC-8CF (Combination Passenger / Freighter) design - designated as the Jet Trader. The above model depicts the changes to the design
that were implemented into the final version which was marketed
to the airlines. First, the aft pressure bulkhead evolved
from a dome shape to a flat design and then this bulkhead was
moved back 76 inches further toward the tail. This not
only enabled more freight to be loaded in the freight configuration
but also enabled the passenger capacity to be increased to 189
in the passenger configuration. The aft bulkhead move was also
incorporated into some versions of the DC-8-53, designated as
the DC-8-53AB and the DC-8-55, designated as the DC-8-55AB (AB=Aft Bulkhead) to
allow for increased passenger capacity on these all passenger
aircraft. Next, Douglas made the cargo/passenger bulkhead moveable
rather than fixed. This enabled 10 different configurations that
could be utilized within the Jet Trader. Please select either of
the links below to view diagrams of these configurations. Next,
they redesigned the passenger seats and forward lavatories for
easy removal and made the hat racks so they could be folded down
to the sidewall of the aircraft. These changes enabled airlines
to change the cargo/passenger configuration much quicker &
easier. To comply with FAA Emergency Exit Regulations for passenger
deplaning in an emergency Douglas added an additional emergency
exit in between the over wing exits and the rear doors. Thus,
when the over wing exits and forward doors were blocked with freight,
passengers could still exit the aircraft within the 90 second
FAA mandated rule. Since the passenger compartment would always
be located in the rear of the aircraft, the galley and rear lavatories
were left as permanent fixtures. A heavy-duty floor was installed
along with a pallet loading system for ease of loading and unloading
freight. Douglas also added a heavier duty landing gear which
enabled a Maximum Takeoff Weight of 315,000 pounds for the DC-8F-54
and 325,000 pounds for the DC-8F-55 and a Maximum Landing Weight
of 224,000 pounds (up from 176,000 lbs) for both aircraft. Finally,
the "new" Pratt & Whitney JT3D Turbofan Engines
would be the only engine type offered on the DC-8 Jet Trader due
to it's superior performance & economy. All of these improvements
enabled the DC-8F-54/55 (also known as the DC-8-54JT/55JT) an
increased payload of 91,000 lbs versus 50,000 lbs for the passenger
version. An AF (All Freighter) model of the DC-8-54/55 was offered
to the airlines as well. The AF model had a payload potential
of 96,000 lbs due to the elimination of windows (which were plugged),
lavatories, galleys and air conditioning which would not be needed
on a all freight aircraft. United Air Lines was the only buyer
for the AF model and all other carriers chose the CF models. It
was brilliant of Donald Douglas Sr. to recognize the potential
of the emerging Air Cargo market in addition to the growing passenger
market and then to have a combination passenger/cargo aircraft
to take advantage of both of these markets. The DC-8-54/55 Jet Trader created a lot of new sales of the "Standard"
DC-8 Series Aircraft. However, it wasn't until the DC-8 Super
Sixties and Seventies emerged that the full potential of the cargo
capabilities were realized. It is a great tribute to Douglas'
innovations that many Super DC-8s (and even some "Standard" DC-8F-54/55 aircraft) are still carrying freight all over the
world today, many years after nearly all of the other first generation
jetliners have been retired.
Click
Here to View Diagrams of the Convertible Freighter Passenger/Cargo
Mode
Click Here to View
Diagrams of the Four Different Passenger Passenger Modes
Diagrams are Courtesy of a Douglas Aircraft Company Brochure.
An Early Douglas Depiction of the Emerging DC-8F Jet Trader
