Douglas DC-8

The Douglas DC-8 was an early long-range narrow-body jetliner designed and produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Work began in 1952 against a United States Air Force requirement for a jet tanker, and after Douglas lost that competition to the Boeing KC-135 it announced a derived jetliner in June 1955; Pan Am placed the first order that October alongside its order for the rival Boeing 707. The first aircraft was rolled out on April 9, 1958 and first flew on May 30, and after certification in August 1959 it entered service with Delta Air Lines on September 18. The four-engined jet seated six abreast, 556 were built until 1972, and from 1975 a Series 70 retrofit fitted quieter CFM56 turbofans.