United Jet Mainliner Flight 803 (1959)

Courtesy: Prelinger Archives
N8004U Ship 2304 DC-8-11 delivered 5/29/59 disposed 1/4/78.
Later conversions to DC-8-12, DC-8-21. Sold to Boeing in 1978 and withdrawn from service and stored in Kingman, AZ until destruction in 1981.
John Voss Collection
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[@SkymaxUSA]

WOW! Big windows, big seats and a sense of adventure! And look at that, everyone is dressed up to fly. Love it. Thanks for sharing.

[@mbazell]

This brings back memories of when America had the most advanced and customer friendly airline industry in the world.

[@Alandix]

I only flew on one of these, since the airlines I flew on did 707's mostly, but I enjoyed the one time I did go. I miss, of all the old planes, the Superconstellation, and the Connie clips on youtube are great!

[@NukRobe]

i wish we have food like that on the plane nowadays

[@michaelfraser4767]

We do. In business class.

[@chulaia4]

Being in the service from 65-69 i flew a lot on the dc8s and 707s,it was a real pleasure than,really enjoyed the video and growing up in the 50s seen the props and the beginning of the jet age.than came deregulation,need i say more.

[@OrangeSunshine2]

Thanks for posting... Great memories

[@Sportster20042001]

enjoyed it, thanks for posting.

[@jhmc2121]

I loved the stretch version..although we had an emergency landing on one flight from DEN to ORD...actually returned to DEN for the landing after the hydraulics failed. A little scary but all's well that ends well! Of course all passengers applauded when we stopped rolling.

[@CrystalCaron]

No leading egde slats either. Sooo cool. A great upload. Thanks for sharing this gem.

[@lwerdmann42]

Great video, I'd love to see the modern version. "At United we've upgraded your meal for you, you now have the choice of $7 lunch box or the new $20 lunch box featuring a full size can of Coke. For $50 you can take a piece of luggage with you, for $100 you'll have our guaranty your luggage will actually make it to your location. With our new scheduling software we promise you'll only sit on the runway for 1 extra hour instead of 3." Just kidding, I know how much simpler life was back then.

[@Capn2Mike]

Yes - UAL had 71's - and it was the last model they had in service. The 61's were re-engined with the CFM's which gave the airplane much improved performance - in range and climb. I left PDX for LAX one afternoon with a full load and t-storms on our departure route - we leveled at 410 (on top) 85 miles from PDX. Great ol' bird - I flew it to the end of it's service :-)

[@divisioneight]

Interesting how this DC-8 looks familiar to today's Airbus and Boeing passenger jets, except the engines are fewer, far more powerful, more efficient, cleaner and are of turbofan configuration. I imagine that the new turbofans can go farther than the earlier jet engines in terms of required overhauls. Thanks for the video - fascinating as usual!

[@JETGMC72]

The sixes , seventies , and eighties were the Golden Age of Air Travel ! J. Pittman

[@microdubber]

I love the DC8! I also agree with LateNightCable that the '8 is a more robust airplane than the 707. The proof is that there are many more still in service and also that they took the trouble to re-engine them CFM56 in the early 1980s.

[@kurttappe]

707's got re-engined too, and with hush kits. John Travolta still flies his.

[@tonyde52]

Isn't it just AMAZING that NONE of those passengers ever heard of a CELL PHONE, A TEXT OR AN EMAIL, yet they were perfectly content to sit, relax, converse, & ENJOY their time in the air? What a TRAGEDY that we have actually REGRESSED !

[@EthioMod]

I believe this is 1959 not 1956.

[@heatherstub]

Hey! It quit before the movie ended and went in to this Christmas carrolling contest. Oh well. It was certainly fun while it lasted. I miss that DC8, because it was the airplane I flew in the most as a little girl. I just love to hear it start up. That'whuurrrring sound is so unforgettable. I hope I can find some videos with that here. Thank you Airboyd for these wonderful videos!

[@NiceAfts]

What happened to the beauty of flying with that excellent service and space?

[@necrotacoz]

This is brilliant

[@basketballspinner]

i can tell you one thing for sure, those people on that plane would like to see a youtube video on the Boeing 747 (a look into the future for them and a long gone look into the past for us)

[@johneddy98033]

@CrystalCaron, the DC-8 Series 40s used the Rolls-Royce Conway turbofans. They were flown by Air Canada and Canadian Pacific Airlines.

[@johneddy98033]

@icemachine79, the twin-engine DC-5 was developed primarily for KLM.

[@MarcusLeepapi]

That is nice...Our industry is so nice....Wow!!

[@johneddy98033]

@jhmc2121, I know that United used the "Super 60" version, but did they use the "Super 70," the version with CFM56 engines?

[@McLauderdale]

What was the seat pitch back then?

[@johneddy98033]

Did United use the DC-8 Series 50, the version with the Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofans?

[@dralberthofmann]

loved the simulator

[@Malibujimbo]

Yes, those & the JT4s

[@briangillespie9833]

The greatest airline jet ever. Better than the 707 and others except for maybe the 990 or VC-10.

[@zyzzbrah154]

The 707 is a old school plane

[@RegularGuy76]

The Golden Age!

[@varigdc10]

This video is quite real and shows for the most part the way it used to be back then, some things are not true, at the end landing on runway 12, SFO does not have a 120* (12) runway.

[@ambulet]

Now if I can only get over to the Studebaker dealer to pick up my new Lark....

[@icemachine79]

Boeing didn't re-engine the 707 because they were afraid that it would compete with the 757. MD didn't have any such concerns hence the upgrade.

[@RustyAimer787]

I wonder what ever happened to runway 12 in SFO ?! :-) Captain Ross Aimer (UAL Ret.)

[@CrystalCaron]

Did the DC 8 10 series not have Rolls Royce Conways as well?

[@cherifbar]

We will never see these says again!

[@Malibujimbo]

They added leading slots early. Not sure if this plane had slots, or not.

[@LeonelEBD]

great

[@basketballspinner]

all of that was filmed in hollywood in a mock-up of the actual plane

[@billchen0014]

correct me if i am wrong, but aren't the pilots suppose to wear Headsets back then and even now??

[@RiceMachine]

It was a commercial, they make it look classy, I bet it was classy.

[@RiceMachine]

Yes, any aircraft are required to wear headsets.

[@williamboynton3335]

Where "Trickle Down Economics quickly became "Vacuum cleaner Economics".

[@juanminsua]

What happen with Airlines????

[@Longhornmaniac8]

Saha Air in Iran still has a 707 flying.

[@icemachine79]

12:15 Did he lose count there? Oh yeah, let's not mention the DC-5.

[@dralberthofmann]

loved the

[@TheJellyPlane]

Coach class then = business class today

[@doulasc]

You could smoke on the plane back then,Most airlines around the world today do not allow smoking.

[@MerleOberon]

That will be $3 for the salad, $5 for the entree, $4 for the pillow....

[@kirgiz1981]

DC-8 was a wonderfull airliner but it had some segnificant disadvantages vs Boeing 707 - small cargo compartements which is very important. by the way usual for the US in the 50s - no black people on the screen....

[@aaronbocknek858]

everyone dressed. not a fat slob in the bunch. no flip flops, no sweat pants, no exposed boxers or bras. how civilized.

[@denverthuggit]

Deregulation, mergers, etc. They gouge for everything now that it's more competitive.

[@benbujwah]

Haha try and fire one up now, just like at 7:16

[@javacup912]

Not only did these passengers dressed up, as mentioned on a comment below, but no carry-on, other than a coat/hat, and purse for the ladies. No gadgets. Yes indeed, we've regressed. Soon we will regress even more when we'll have to put up with nuisance cell phone calls, people spilling their guts, and gossiping for 2, 3, 4 or even 5 hours. Can you say, noise-cancelling headphones market?

[@nordschleifefan]

lol!

[@airboyd]

Stupid ten key...thanks

[@xyoop]

who cares about that anymore? I just want to fly from point A to point B as cheaply as possible

[@McLauderdale]

Ronald Reagan.

[@LateNightCable]

Of course there are no black people on the screen, there were hardly any flying! Back then, there was a place for everything, and everything was in it's place. Including minorities... And anyone who knows what they're talking about would disagree with you on the DC-8 being at a disadvantage to the 707. The DC was sturdier built - including the floor, designed to be extended, and excels at hauling cargo to this day. The 707 was not an ideal freighter.