The Douglas DC-8 is an early long-range narrow-body jetliner designed and produced by the American Douglas Aircraft Company.
Work began in 1952 towards the United States Air Force's (USAF) requirement for a jet-powered aerial refueling tanker.
After losing the USAF's tanker competition to the rival Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker in May 1954, Douglas announced in June 1955 its derived jetliner project marketed to civil operators.
In October 1955, Pan Am made the first order along with the competing Boeing 707, and many other airlines soon followed.
The first DC-8 was rolled out in Long Beach Airport on April 9, 1958, and flew for the first time on May 30.
Following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in August 1959, the DC-8 entered service with Delta Air Lines on September 18.
Douglas DC-8
Cockpit
Six-abreast economy cabin, 1973
An early DC-8-10 in Douglas livery, 1959. The DC-8 first flew on May 30, 1958, and was certificated in August 1959.
A narrow-body aircraft or single-aisle aircraft is an airliner arranged along a single aisle, permitting up to 6-abreast seating in a cabin less than 4 metres (13 ft) in width.
In contrast, a wide-body aircraft is a larger airliner usually configured with multiple aisles and a fuselage diameter of more than 5 metres (16 ft), allowing at least seven-abreast seating and often more travel classes.
Four-abreast cross-section
Narrow-body Boeing 737-300 in front of a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body
Airbus A320 (foreground) and Boeing 737-900 (background), both narrow-bodies
Two-abreast Beech 1900