The World’s Active Douglas DC-8s In 2024

The Douglas DC-8 is one of the most iconic aircraft of the early passenger jet age. It is an early long-range narrow-body jetliner built by Douglas Aircraft Company in many different variants. While the DC-8’s days of ferrying passengers worldwide are long over, its days as a freighter are still going. There are at least three DC-8s still operating today—two in the Congo and one in the United States.

The 3x DC-8s still operating

By 2004, there were still 159 DC-8s in active operation around the globe (these were mostly Super 60s and 70s). By 2024, all DC-8s have retired entirely from passenger airline service. As of May 2024, according to data from ATDB.aero, there appear to be three DC-8s still flying. Until a few weeks ago, there were at least four – if one counts NASA’s Flying Laboratory (a highly modified Douglas DC-8 jetliner as a flying science laboratory). That aircraft flew for the last time in May 2024.

Trans Air Cargo Service’s DC-8s

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)-based Trans Air Cargo Service has been operating DC-8s for many years now. It acquired the first aircraft (now registered 9S-AJG) in 2007 from African International Airways. That aircraft is now 54.8 years old. The second DC-8 operated by Trans Air Cargo Service (now registered 9S-AJO) is 54.0 years old and was flown by many operators over its lifetime (including DHL and Icelandair). It was acquired by Trans Air Cargo Service in 2011.

Little is known about the condition and maintenance of these two DC-8s operated by TASC. The basic website states, “TACS provides a fast, efficient, and safe service. More than 15 years of experience in Africa.” Otherwise, it lists the destinations served in the Congo, has the specifications of the DC-8s, and has a form for a quote. The “fleet” section of the website only lists DC-8s, so it is possible that the DC-8s are the only aircraft operated by the company.

It’s unclear how often these aircraft are flown or why TASC decided the DC-8 suits Congo conditions. Whatever the case, the Congo in Central Africa has turned out to be an unlikely holdout for the venerable jetliner.

Related

Throwback: When A Douglas DC-8 Broke The Sound Barrier In 1961

The DC-8 performed a dive at altitude to achieve the feat, accompanied by the original record breaker, Chuck Yeager.

Samaritan’s Purse’s DC-8

Samaritan’s Purse acquired its DC-8 in 2015 (now registered N782SP). Compared to the two other DC-8s, that aircraft has had fewer operators. It was originally delivered to Finnair in January 1969 and sold to the French Air Force in 1981. In 2005, Airlift International operated it before being acquired by Samaritan’s Purse in 2015. This aircraft remains active, and its flight history can be found on Flightaware.com. It is unclear how much longer it will be economical for Samaritan’s Purse to keep the 54.4-year-old aircraft airworthy and flying.

Samaritan’s Purse is an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization headquartered in Boone, North Carolina. As part of its Christian missionary work, it aids people worldwide. The organization’s website states, “Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people worldwide. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine…”

Related

Vintage Quadjet: 5 Fun Facts About The Douglas DC-8

The DC-8 was considered the gold-standard intercontinental airliner of its day.

History of the legendary Douglas DC-8

“The story of the magnificent Douglas DC-8 is not so much a story about an airplane but rather a story about a dynasty, trust, and integrity. The dynasty – of the Douglas Aircraft Company, the trust – by its founder that long-time and loyal engineers would deliver and the integrity – that design shortfall problems would be fixed.” – airlineratings.com

The DC-8’s origins date back to 1952. That early work on developing the DC-8 was not to build a jetliner but an aerial refueling tanker for the US Air Force. Douglas Aircraft Company lost the competition to the rival Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

In 1955, Douglas announced it would adapt its failed tanker as a passenger jetliner. Pan Am soon placed an order, and more airlines followed with their orders. The first DC-8 flew in 1958 and entered service with Delta Air Lines in 1959. During this period, the DC-8 competed with the Boeing 707.

The DC-8 has four engines and was produced in many variants. It was manufactured until 1972, when 556 DC-8 jetliners were built. It was superseded by widebody airliners like Douglas’ DC-10 trijet. As the DC-8’s heyday was an era of comparatively high aviation accidents, the DC-8s were involved in 8 hull-loss accidents with 2,255 fatalities. By the 1990s, most DC-8s had been retired (e.g., Delta Air Lines retired its last two DC-8s in 1989). However, with three still in use in the world as freighters, the story of the DC-8 isn’t quite over yet.

Have you ever flown on the Douglas DC-8? Let us know in the comments!