Difference between DC8 and a B707 ?

[Captain]

Hello,

This is before my time, but can somoene tell me the differences between the DC8 and the Boeing 707?

Anyone got numbers or a guess on how many are still in operation?

Captain

[Skystef]

Hi,

both were produced for the medium to long range pax and cargo jetservices. The DC8 came a bit later on the market (both in the fifties). The DC8 has a slightly larger fuselage cross-section and is "slightly" heavier.

Here some brief numbers

B707/B720

Build: 1013 (with 95 "AWACS"),

version 020 or B720 (short body medium range): 154 build
version 120 (medium range): 141 build
version 320 (long range): 69 build
version 320B (improved for long rang): 188 build
version 320C (improved for long range and convertible): 336 build
version 420: (long range with Rolls Royce engines iso PW): 37 build


Current number in civil use: around 40. Stage III noise limits meant the end of 707 operations in Europe and USA since 2002.

Current AWACS in service: 91.

The tanker version was named "KC135" of which 820 were build and around 600 remain in service.



DC8

Build 556

version 10 (medium range): 28 build
version 20 (longe range with improved engines): 34 build
version 30 (longe range with improved engines): 57 build
version 40 (long range with Rolls Royce engines iso PW): 32 build
version 50 (long range with improved engines): 141 build
version 61 (stretched medium range): 88 build
version 62 (slightly stretched long range): 68 build
version 63 (stretched long range): 107 build
version 70 (reengined): around 100 were converted with CFM turbofans

No military version and around 140 remain in civil (most cargo) use.

Hope this is of help. I suggest to surf a bit on the internet as "books " can be told on both frames.

Brgrds S

[SN30952]

Look at this guy surfing (?) on a DC8...
To read more about DC8's goto dc8.org (includes movies)

And the DC-8 Skybus never made to the skies:When the DC-8 designation was finally applied to a production aircraft, it was used on the swept-wing jet that we are all familiar with. About the only thing common to the first and final configurations of the DC-8 was application of air intake scoops on each side of the nose. The clean, unencumbered wing design of the Skybus finally appeared on the DC-9.

btw, No examples of the DC-8 Skybus were ever built. See also The DC-8 Skybus Proposal

A art job for our MD11?

[Comet]

The 707 had a "projection" (don't know the purpose ) on top of its tail fin, which is not on the DC8. The DC8 has "intakes" on each side of the nose when viewed front on. The intakes do not appear on the 707.

[Skystef]

an eye-catcher on a B707 is the (antenna? pitot intake?) sticking out forward on top of the tail fin

Correct, and this is an high frequency antenna. But not all B707/720 did have this antenna. Check for example the picturesof the United B720s, and pictures of American Airlines B707s.

Brgrds S

[realplaneshaveprops]

The DC8 has "intakes" on each side of the nose when viewed front on. The intakes do not appear on the 707.

Those intakes are for the Environmental Control System.

Koen

[sn-remember]

If I remember well, the DC8 was not starting its engines the same way a 707 did; The boy I was remembers a DC8 engine would start with a big sound burst and with ground assistance (and some pollution) whereas the 707 engines would start more smoothly (and without ground assistance am I right ??)
Greetz
Christophe

[vliegtuigfreak]

Wow, i didn't knew that there were so much B707's and DC-8's still in service.
It's allways nice when you see them again.

Greetingzz
Sonny