N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1626 posts, RR: 69 Posted (6 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3575 times:
Hi everyone
On 26 May 2012, Jet Classic Tours arranged an Aviation enthusiasts charter of ATI DC-8-62CF from McClellan Airfield near Sacramento to Long Beach.
When the tour was announced, I jumped on the opportunity without even thinking about it, the tour was a huge sold out success immediately. The possibility of flying a DC-8 in year 2012 was quite amazing!
ATI DC-8-62 Combi have 32 passengers seats in the rear compartment of the DC-8, with the front as cargohold. The captain operating the flight told us, "Flying the DC-8 is like driving a dumb truck, while the B707 is like a Cardillac". Our flight feels extremely overpower and sturdy. Takeoff took only about 20 seconds to airborne. We flew over So Cal coast line and by pass LAX on the way out of Long Beach.
During our time on the ground at Long Beach, we were taken to the old McDonnell Douglas factory site for a tour. We took photograph under the old "Fly DC Jets" sign, which is now a historical sight and forbidden to be taken down.
Please enjoy all the sight and sounds of the DC-8 flight:
N747PE From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 92 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3575 times:
Thanks for the wonderful memories Sam. I grew up in Sacramento and McCellan AFB was a big part of my life. It is nice to see so much of the base is still there. I am so glad they have kept the fly DC Jet sign. My uncle Preston hired on with Douglas fresh out of college and was transfered to St. Louis after ten years. I always loved it when he could sneek me in for a tour at Long Beach. Thanks again Mike
okapi From France, joined Jun 2006, 184 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 3573 times:
Great, great, great!!! I could not resist viewing and commenting on the youtube video! Now I think in 20 years or so, you'll be writing a report about flying a classic A340 on an historic flight! That'll be funny.
daviation From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 432 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 3573 times:
This looks like a great adventure. My first flights were on DC-8s (specifically the DC-8-63s of Capitol Intl Airlways and Overseas Natl Airlines) in 1970 when I was 14.
I still think the DC-8-63 is the most beautiful airliner ever produced.
As for my flights (JFK-NAS-JFK and JFK-Las Palmas-Lisbon-Las Palmas-JFK), they were all wonderful except for the fact that the airplane seemed to take forever to get up to takeoff speed and lift off.
cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 7708 posts, RR: 55 Reply 6, posted (6 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 3572 times:
Great memories - what a trip - I wonder if ATI and / or Classic Jet Tours will do another one when the DC-8 is retired, which is probably quite soon. Anyway thanks so much for posting this, was an unforgettable day out.
Quoting TUGMASTER (Reply 2): I'm the guy on the other end of the phone to Kirsten at 06.31 in the video....
And it's my phone!
PS watch out for Classic Jet Tours in 2013 - will be a VIP 727-100 or a VIP 707-300. Either is amazing, but a seven-oh in the USA in the twenty-first century, well, that would really be like something out of a dream...
fly Saha Air 707s daily from Tehran's downtown Mehrabad to Mashhad, Kish Island and Ahwaz
UK_Dispatcher From United Arab Emirates, joined Dec 2001, 2550 posts, RR: 32 Reply 7, posted (6 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 3572 times:
Hi Sam,
Somehow I missed this when you posted it, so I'm glad you mentioned it the other day.
Your photos and video took me straight back to that memorable day back in May! There was a good bunch of guys on this trip which, aside from the aircraft of course, makes these trips all the more great to look back on.
N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1626 posts, RR: 69 Reply 8, posted (6 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 3521 times:
Thanks Charlie and Ian
Judging the number of response on the DC-8 Trip Report, I assume there's not an awful lot of enthusaism around this type, on A.net compare to a brand new A380 inaugural etc but that's understandable given the audience here. I am only too happy to have flown the DC-8 once (or twice) now in my life.
I have an incredible time onboard the DC-8 , I really appreciate the opportunity to fly one in 2012. Amazing treasures to bag.
Sam
Quoting okapi (Reply 4): Now I think in 20 years or so, you'll be writing a report about flying a classic A340 on an historic flight! That'll be funny.
We shall see that day if it comes! Merci Beaucoup
Quoting TUGMASTER (Reply 2): I'm the guy on the other end of the phone to Kirsten at 06.31 in the video....
Gutted i couldnt make the trip.
Sorry to hear that. But the phone call was classic! Great timing just before airborne!
Quoting N747PE (Reply 1): Thanks for the wonderful memories Sam. I grew up in Sacramento and McCellan AFB was a big part of my life.
It is nice to see my TR can be related to someone in Sacramento!
Quoting daviation (Reply 5): I still think the DC-8-63 is the most beautiful airliner ever produced.
lychemsa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 904 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (6 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3211 times:
You make me feel old.
I flew on a Pan Am DC-8 in 1964 from London to New York and in the early 1970s on Finnair Amsterdam to New York and Canadian Pacific Amsterdam to Montreal.
UK_Dispatcher From United Arab Emirates, joined Dec 2001, 2550 posts, RR: 32 Reply 10, posted (6 months 1 day ago) and read 3196 times:
Quoting N178UA (Reply 8): Judging the number of response on the DC-8 Trip Report, I assume there's not an awful lot of enthusaism around this type, on A.net compare to a brand new A380 inaugural etc but that's understandable given the audience here.
It is certainly no reflection on your report or video, Sam. People are more interested in meals, service, etc than what we consider true aircraft enthusiasm. That is one of the reasons why I don't bother with trip reports or visit this forum so often nowadays. That said, I'm glad you documented this one and look forward to more adventures with you, Charlie and the rest of the hard core in 2013!
Boy, you've got that right ... I remember when the -62/63 were brand new and being introduced. I have flown hundreds of flights in the DC-8 from the -30 to the 70, and it makes me feel very old to read of it as the centre attraction of a "classic" flight.
Quoting N178UA (Reply 8): Judging the number of response on the DC-8 Trip Report, I assume there's not an awful lot of enthusiasm around this type, on A.net compare to a brand new A380 inaugural etc but that's understandable given the audience here.
I think it is more a reflection that the aircraft is only "recently a classic". And people don't think of it as all that old. But ... as we all know, if you want to fly on a type, fly on it NOW, they rarely last long.
Last year, I flew on the DC-7B out of Florida. I jumped at the chance, and I am glad I did. It now looks like the aircraft is grounded forever.
Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down .... Barefoot Blue Jean Night
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