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Post by aharon on May 22, 2015 19:45:49 GMT -5
Fresh out of Douglas factory presenting brand new DC-8-63PF specially built for Eastern!!!!  Thank you for viewing!! Stay tuned for next exciting flight. Regards, Aharon |
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 22, 2015 20:09:43 GMT -5
Eastern was always so frugal. They bought the PF because it was cheaper than the "real" convertible model. It didn't have the reinforced floor, as I remember, which means that had to be installed when eventually used for cargo. I don't know how many actually got converted, but I assume some did.
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Post by aharon on May 23, 2015 8:38:18 GMT -5
Tom,
I do not know where you get information from. Maybe you have better sources or access to real information than I do.
All I know is that Eastern in preparation for fat MAC (Military Airlift Contracts) contracts meaning lots of military charter flights had ordered Douglas to build six units of specially modified version DC-8 called DC-8-63PF and the main purpose of that version EXISTING ONLY for Eastern was reinforced floor. DC-8-63PFs had more reinforced floor than normal DC-8-63Fs and DC-8-63PFs did have convertible version switching between hauling cargo and ferrying soldiers. Only six units of DC-8-63PFs were built specially for Eastern for purpose of MAC operations. When Vietnam war was over, those planes were switched to passenger service for one or two year until Easter found cargo airlines willing to buy those six planes.
That is what I learnt from history of Eastern.
I do not know who is right.
By the way, Eastern DC-8-63PF set world speed record from KMIA to Frankfurt that still stands now.
Regards,
Aharon
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 23, 2015 10:43:17 GMT -5
Hi, Sorry they did have the reinforced floor, but not the forward cargo door: "PF aircraft were essentially standard PAX configured DC8-63's strengthened to CF/AF aircraft specifications but lacked the heavy forward fuselage main-deck cargo door and associated mechanism, as it was intended for these versions to make future conversion to pure freighters with relative ease and economy." Read more: tonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/768/dc8-digest-super-60-eights#ixzz3aycWFyk3So they didn't have real cargo capability as built, but could rather easily be converted later. |
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Post by aharon on May 23, 2015 14:01:40 GMT -5
Tom,
It is no problem. The main purpose of DC-8-63PFs was extra reinforced floors to prevent wear, tear, and damage during MAC operations where soldiers put heavy guns or weapons or heavy helmets or so on under seats on floor. Eastern was the only airline to have six of this type.
Regards,
Aharon
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Post by ejoiner on May 28, 2015 18:12:24 GMT -5
Eastern was always so frugal. They bought the PF because it was cheaper than the "real" convertible model. It didn't have the reinforced floor, as I remember, which means that had to be installed when eventually used for cargo. I don't know how many actually got converted, but I assume some did. DHL, UPS and others wound up with these aircraft and did have to install hard decks etc. DHL's actually were inherited from Airborne. Airborne had a unique air container called a C container that would fit through the front passenger door. They had hard decks installed but didnt have the big cargo doors cut. Later, DHL, licensing the aircraft on an ACMI basis from ASTAR and Airborne Logistics, had cargo doors cut. Always LOVED the DC-8-61's etc because I loaded these in the late 70's working as a summer intern for Delta in Atlanta. Huge flight decks. When I went to work for DHL years later, It was like seeing an old friend going aboard the freighters. At the Airborne hub in Wilmington Ohio, they had a full DC-8 simulator with (6 DOF motion!). Had to be one of the last to have that. Eric |
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