Good Bye UPS DC8s.......article

[Networ-King]

WOW! COMMUTED on the DC-8. Well lord knows THAT makes you the oracle of the '8!

Looks like they wasted a perfectly good little old lady when they put balls on someone who makes a post like that.

sheeeesh ...

Drop Rise...... Drop Rise....Drop Rise........

Enjoy your beloved DC 8 fellas. I'm just glad the 78 year old PFE along with the other 40 PFE's on the property are finally retiring.

Net

 

[b707guy]

I commuted for a full year on that POS and I still stand with what I think about the airplane.....

....What freaking airplane that size doesn't have an APU?

Oh, OK, that puts it all in perspective. I got to climb around in a BA Concorde once. What garbage! Can't believe anyone ever rode or flew that junk!

Airplanes like this that don't have APUs don't have them because the operators decided against them. Not because Mr. Douglas thought they were a bad idea.

At least most of those who have decided they don't like the DC-8 handed it their lunch money AFTER flying it.

 

[MD11Drvr]

A couple of points regarding the lack of an APU.

1. How many small jet engines suitable for an APU are you aware of in the late 50's and early 60's.

2. The DC-8 did not use bleed air for cooling or pressurization Ground AC was accomplished with electric motors driving freon compressors. Pressurization was Turbine compressors driven by bleed air drawing fresh air in and compressing it into the cabin. A similar system to the DC-6 and 7.

3. Bleed air was used to start the engines only and Douglas had an option of nitrogen stored in an upper chamber of the right main to be used to start #3 and cross bleed from there.

Its helps to understand the times and the systems to know why no APU. As for eye to eye Newtor King its more a thing of respect to flame in person then if there is a verbal or physical response either way can be accommodated. No tough guy here but honorable enough to give the other side of a discussion the option. Realized as a young man I enjoyed the physical too much for a long career in Law Enforcement which is how I ended up in Aviation.

 

[b707guy]

Whoops - thanks for the history refresher, MD! A number of our jets had APUs at one time (most recently, the -72s - I believe there was actually a certification problem with their APUs when we picked them up), but all were either removed by us or by previous owners. Part of the rationale was that these planes would be operated primarily out of well-equipped fields, to go with the things you mentioned, so no need for an APU. Same was true of 707s. :beer:

PS: "Newtor King". Funny!

 

[MD11Drvr]

I am not sure but I believe all 8's with an APU were non Douglas installed. I knew of one that ATI had that at one time flew on the Ford contract they had but it was after market as well. The NASI packs and winnebago coolers were all after market for freighters. The one thing I do not miss about the 8 is flying it around South America in the summer time. It was an honest airplane that if maintained properly could out perform jets produced 30 years later. Boeing has wanted the 8 to go away for many years because it has held up sales of 757's and 767's for years. Boeing has supported all of Douglas products the very least they had too and will kill them all eventually with their lack of support.

 

[b707guy]

Yeah, I didn't say it, but I also believe any APUs installed were basically after-market. It just wasn't a thing of the times when these jets were new.

Now that UPS has parked all of their DC-8s, Boeing may get their wish. No clue how this may affect us in the short term, but in the long term, this and the age 65 thing I guess makes my dream of retiring in a DC-8 much less likely. Cest la vie!

 

[freightdogfred]

ps. As for the DC 8's? Good f*&king riddance to that POS..... got rid of the herpes and ripped the bandaid off quick rather than painfully slow.

Wow, what a JackAzz... One of the finest, classiest aircraft ever built and this dumfukk disses it cause he doesn't like the jumpseats on it. Usually people who couldn't fly it didn't like it, but calling it a POS is fightin words.
I just wish this brownstainer would post his real name here so I can ensure I won't make him uncomfortable on my current Douglas/Boeing jumpseat.

 

[Networ-King]

Wow, what a JackAzz... One of the finest, classiest aircraft ever built and this dumfukk disses it cause he doesn't like the jumpseats on it. Usually people who couldn't fly it didn't like it, but calling it a POS is fightin words.
I just wish this brownstainer would post his real name here so I can ensure I won't make him uncomfortable on my current Douglas/Boeing jumpseat.

Alright alright ladies stop getting your skirts in a wad... you guys are like bitter old wives... can't anyone have an opinion that doesn't match yours?????

I take it back.... How bout I just say that the DC 8 is one of my least aircraft that I have had the pleasure of being around and riding in, smelling it, hearing stories from 8 crews that weren't born on it, using the sh!tter.....etc...

MD,

I hear what you're saying and touche..... I guess I am glad that this wonderful piece of machine is off the UPS property, due to the PFE's finally getting to enjoy retirement and 65 year olds finally having to retire and not shelter themselves on the FE panel and hanging around forever. Ok... back to bashing me for not liking the mighty 8 .

Net

 

[MD11Drvr]

Newtor-King,

You are are a funny guy and with your permission I would like to nominate you for the "Evinrude of the Cess Pool" award on F.I. for the month of May. You have some tough competition out there but you have a good start on the month. Its all in good fun and if it not folks should consider getting off the computer and into a bottle a little more. Just don't get into the bottle and then come post on F.I. I think that may be the unfair advantage some are employing to acquire the E.C.S. Award.

Fly safe out there and best regards......MD11Drvr

 

[hvydriver]

FWIW, I was told by one of our 8 systems instructors (an ex maintenance instructor) that the ones that had an APU belonged to Adan Kashoggi, (sp?) an arms dealer. I was under the impression that there were only 2 that were modified like this. The only time I miss an APU is in the summer. I like being gassed by the kerosene ground heaters in the winter.

 

[freightdogfred]

A couple of points regarding the lack of an APU.


3. Bleed air was used to start the engines only and Douglas had an option of nitrogen stored in an upper chamber of the right main to be used to start #3 and cross bleed from there.

Close, but not quite correct. It was a chamber in the top of the right main strut that was pressurized by an ambient air compressor, electrically driven and stashed back in the aft right wing root. The problem was water/moisture was continually introduced into this high pressure area, and caused corrosion and internal failure problems. I believe there was actually a fatality to a Mx tech who was working in the area when a strut failed.

 

[MD11Drvr]

Close, but not quite correct. It was a chamber in the top of the right main strut that was pressurized by an ambient air compressor, electrically driven and stashed back in the aft right wing root. The problem was water/moisture was continually introduced into this high pressure area, and caused corrosion and internal failure problems. I believe there was actually a fatality to a Mx tech who was working in the area when a strut failed.

You got me there as I have not seen the 8 for 10 years and I never saw the system work just the switch which was deactivated. I gladly stand corrected. Still a hell of an aircraft despite the shortcomings of the day.

 

[Dick Cabeza]

Well....

You guys definitely have the right to your opinions about the DC 8 and so do I. I commuted for a full year on that POS and I still stand with what I think about the airplane.
Net

I hope you NEVER need a ride on anyone's DC-8, or if you do they figure out you are a Tool, and do not let you on!

 

[727gm]

After jumpseating on MD-80's, SD-360, B-737, B-727, the DC-8 jumpseat was great! Lift, turn, slide, semi-recline.....and that shelf under the Circuit breaker panel on the right side where you could rest your feet on while sleeping. The last time was with ATI in February, thanks guys - Home nonstop, many hours earlier!

I always wanted to fly the DC-8 but the hiring onto them was never in synch with my job searches, but plenty of jumpseating in them. What a wonderful, beautiful, machine.

 

[General Lee]

Alright alright ladies stop getting your skirts in a wad... you guys are like bitter old wives... can't anyone have an opinion that doesn't match yours?????

I take it back.... How bout I just say that the DC 8 is one of my least aircraft that I have had the pleasure of being around and riding in, smelling it, hearing stories from 8 crews that weren't born on it, using the sh!tter.....etc...

MD,

I hear what you're saying and touche..... I guess I am glad that this wonderful piece of machine is off the UPS property, due to the PFE's finally getting to enjoy retirement and 65 year olds finally having to retire and not shelter themselves on the FE panel and hanging around forever. Ok... back to bashing me for not liking the mighty 8 .

Net

Okay now--****************************** alert! Check this guy out, what a total jerk. That 78 year old PFE was undoubtably a better PFE than you are a pilot. Have fun in RFD.

Bye Bye--General Lee