Douglas DC-8-70
The Douglas DC-8-70 series is a re-engined conversion of the earlier -60 series DC-8s, replacing their older, noisier turbojets with modern CFM56 turbofans to meet stricter noise and fuel-efficiency rules. The upgrade gave aging DC-8 airframes a significant new lease of life, letting operators keep flying them years after the type's original engines would have been banned from many airports. Most -70 conversions ended up in dedicated freighter service, valued for their heavy-lift capability and relatively low conversion cost compared with buying a new-build freighter. A number remained in cargo service for decades afterward.
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Did you know?
The DC-8-70 re-engined older DC-8 airframes with modern CFM56 turbofans, letting them meet stricter noise rules and keep flying for years.
Specifications
| Length | 57.1 m (187 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 45.2 m (148 ft) |
| Height | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 259 |
| Persons on board | 178 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 152 t |
| Range | 4,900 NM (9,075 km) |
| Maximum speed | 500 kt (926 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 42,000 ft (12,802 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 35,000 ft (10,668 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 3,050 m (10,007 ft) |
| Landing distance | 1,981 m (6,499 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 91,890 l |
| Engines | 4x CFM56-2 |
| Units built | 110 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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