MK Airlines Ltd. was a cargo airline from Ghana, which was operational between 1990 and 2010, concentrating on freight services to and from Africa. The airline routed most of its transported freight via its European bases at Gatwick Airport, Kent International Airport, Ostend–Bruges International Airport or Luxembourg-Findel International Airport. The African hub was located at OR Tambo International Airport, serving Johannesburg.
An MK Airlines Boeing 747-200 at Filton Airfield (2004). Four days after this picture was taken, the aircraft was destroyed in the crash of Flight 1602.
An MK Airlines Douglas DC-8 shortly after take-off at Prague Airport in 2004
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.
