Color Scheme: Delivery
Colors
Registration: N804E
Composition: A
Refinished (in approximately 1979) Douglas Factory Polished Aluminum
Model
Dimensions: Length:
35.5" (90cm), Wingspan 34" (86cm)
Condition: Very
Good
Model
History: When Mackey Airlines leased 3 ex-Delta DC-8-51s
in 1979/1980 they acquired this model in the transaction, which
was originally in Delta colors. Mackey had the model repainted
in their own colors by a third party at the time the actual planes
were on lease. In June 2005 an ex-Mackey employee named Sonny
contacted me and I gladly bought the model from him on June 17,
2005. Even though the model doesn't have the correct DC-8-50 Fan
Engines on it, I love it because it's history with both Delta
and Mackey! Many Thanks to Sonny for selling
it to me.
Mackey's
DC-8 History:
Mackey Airways was started back in 1957 by Joseph C Mackey and
operated an extensive schedule from Florida to the Caribbean.
In 1968 Eastern Air Lines acquired Mackey and it then ceased to
exist. During the 1970s a second incarnation of Mackey was started
with the name of Mackey International Airlines. Mackey Int'l again
operated an extensive schedule from Florida to the Caribbean using
small prop liners. In 1979 Mackey Int'l"made a jump for the
big time" with the lease of 3 ex-Delta DC-8-51 jets for use
on charters. Delta also trained some of the Mackey personnel for
DC-8 operations. With the help of Sonny, who sold me the model
and worked for Mackey, here is some additional 'bits' of history.
"I went thru some of my papers & Mackey must have
got 2 DC-8s in early '80. I went to ground school at Delta in
Jan of '80. They flew scheduled charter service from Atlanta to
Berlin 2 or 3 times a week & also casino charters to Las Vegas.
The model came in Delta colors. It was sent out for painting by
someone local not sure who. The aircraft [DC-8s] saw a lot of
service during the cuban boat lift - moving refugees from Havana
to Navy Key West (NQX). I think they only flew the DC-8 for about
a year before they went bankrupt again." Sadly Mackey
International Airlines ceased operations in 1981. Click
Here to See Mackey's DC-8 Fleet Information. FYI - there is
a Mackey web site: www.mackeyairlines.com
for ex-employees and anyone interested in knowing more about the
airline.
Click
Here to View a Photo of the Actual Aircraft
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Photo Courtesy Of & Many Thanks To: AIRLINERS.NET
and Photographer Air Nikon.
