MY "Beloved Dad" started with United in 1946, and Became the "Senior Manager" of the ENTIRE South S.F. Maintenance Base. I grew up with ALL the Pistons, and Jets. The D.C.-8 was beautiful. However, as a young boy, I loved the D.C.-7---Lots to watch, and enjoy!!!! Yes, we ALWAYS DRESSED to the 10's!!!!!!

Keith

This brings back memories of when America had the most advanced and customer friendly airline industry in the world.

i wish we have food like that on the plane nowadays

WOW!  Big windows, big seats and a sense of adventure! And look at that, everyone is dressed up to fly.  Love it.  Thanks for sharing.

I only flew on one of these, since the airlines I flew on did 707's mostly, but I enjoyed the one time I did go. I miss, of all the old planes, the Superconstellation, and the Connie clips on youtube are great!

Being in the service from 65-69 i flew a lot on the dc8s and 707s,it was a real pleasure than,really enjoyed the video and growing up in the 50s seen the props and the beginning of the jet age.than came deregulation,need i say more.

The DC-8 Jet Mainliner was United's first jet airliner. Today, UA803 is used as a IAD-HND flight on the 777-222ER. Celebrating 100 Years Of United since 1926

Great video, I'd love to see the modern version.  "At United we've upgraded your meal for you, you now have the choice of $7 lunch box or the new $20 lunch box featuring a full size can of Coke.  For $50 you can take a piece of luggage with you, for $100 you'll have our guaranty your luggage will actually make it to your location.  With our new scheduling software we promise you'll only sit on the runway for 1 extra hour instead of 3."  Just kidding, I know how much simpler life was back then.  

I love the DC8!

I also agree with LateNightCable that the '8 is a more robust airplane than the 707. The proof is that there are many more still in service and also that they took the trouble to re-engine them CFM56 in the early 1980s.

Yes - UAL had 71's - and it was the last model they had in service.  The 61's were re-engined with the CFM's which gave the airplane much improved performance - in range and climb. I left PDX for LAX one afternoon with a full load and t-storms on our departure route - we leveled at 410 (on top) 85 miles from PDX. Great ol' bird - I flew it to the end of it's service :-)

I loved the stretch version..although we had an emergency landing on one flight from DEN to ORD...actually returned to DEN for the landing after the hydraulics failed.  A little scary but all's well that ends well!  Of course all passengers applauded when we stopped rolling.

i can tell you one thing for sure, those people on that plane would like to see a youtube video on the Boeing 747 (a look into the future for them and a long gone look into the past for us)

Interesting how this DC-8 looks familiar to today's Airbus and Boeing passenger jets, except the engines are fewer, far more powerful, more efficient, cleaner and are of turbofan configuration.  I imagine that the new turbofans can go farther than the earlier jet engines in terms of required overhauls.  Thanks for the video - fascinating as usual!

No leading egde slats either. Sooo cool. A great upload. Thanks for sharing this gem.

What happened to the beauty of flying with that excellent service and space?

The sixes , seventies , and eighties were the Golden Age of Air Travel !


J. Pittman

Thanks for posting... Great memories

Isn't it just AMAZING that NONE of those passengers ever heard of a CELL PHONE, A TEXT OR AN EMAIL, yet they were perfectly content to sit, relax, converse, & ENJOY their time in the air? What a TRAGEDY that we have actually REGRESSED !

@CrystalCaron, the DC-8 Series 40s used the Rolls-Royce Conway turbofans. They were flown by Air Canada and Canadian Pacific Airlines.

That is nice...Our industry is so nice....Wow!!