avia.wikisort.org - Aeroplane

The Douglas DC-8 was an American piston-engined airliner project by Douglas Aircraft. A concept developed more than a decade before the DC-8 jetliner, the piston-engined DC-8 was to have propellers in the tail, an idea first used at Douglas by Edward F. Burton on a fighter project.[1] The airliner project was canceled after development costs made it commercially unviable.

DC-8
Role	Airliner Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft
Status	Project canceled
Developed from	Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster

Design and development

Based on the cancelled XB-42,[2] the program began shortly after the end of World War II. It was intended to operate on short- and medium-range routes, carrying between 40 and 48 passengers[2] in a then-novel pressurized cabin[2] (which had been pioneered by the Boeing 307 in 1938, but was still not in standard airline use).

The DC-8 was to use the same Allison V1710s as the XB-42[3] (these rated at 1,375 hp (1,025 kW)),[2] fitted below and immediately behind the cockpit.[2] They were to power contra-rotating propellers in the tail,[4] as in the XB-42, by way of driveshafts under the cabin floor[2] (an arrangement reminiscent of the P-39). This arrangement, also proposed for the Douglas Cloudster II general aviation aircraft, reduced drag by 30% and eliminated the problems associated with controlling the aircraft with one engine out.[5][6] Cabin access would have been by airport stair through a single portside door.[7]

Despite performance predicted to significantly surpass conventional twin airliners,[2] excessive complexity and high development costs[2] (with consequent high sales price and operating costs)[2] meant that less risky types, such as Convair's 240 and Martin's 2-0-2, were preferred,[3] and the DC-8 was dropped before a prototype was built.

Specifications (estimated)

Data from DC-8 that might have been [8]

General characteristics

• Crew: three
• Capacity: 40-48 passengers
• Length: 77 ft 8 in (23.67 m)
• Wingspan: 110 ft 2 in (33.58 m)
• Height: 26 ft 9+3⁄4 in (8.17 m)
• Wing area: 1,104 sq ft (102.6 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 11:1
• Airfoil: Douglas S-17
• Empty weight: 24,415 lb (11,074 kg)
• Gross weight: 40,000 lb (18,144 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Allison V-1710-G4L/R liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each (take-off power)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 280 mph (450 km/h, 240 kn) at 20,200 ft (6,200 m))
• Cruise speed: 237 mph (381 km/h, 206 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m) - 60% power
• Range: 2,370 mi (3,810 km, 2,060 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 30,500 ft (9,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 940 ft/min (4.8 m/s)

See also

• Pusher configuration

Related development

• XB-42 Mixmaster
• XB-43 Jetmaster

Bibliography

Notes

References

External links

• DC-8 'Skybus' concept Archived 2007-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
• "Your Pin-up Douglas DC-8 Transport", February 1946, Popular Science bottom of page 96, art work Page 97
• "Tail End Propellers Will Push The New Douglas Air Transport", November 1945, Popular Science early article revealing DC-8 design to general public
• "New U.S. Transports" a 1945 Flight article on the DC-8 and Martin 202

На других языках

---

- [en] Douglas DC-8 (piston airliner)

---

[fr] Douglas DC-8 (avion à hélices)

Le Douglas DC-8 est un projet d'avion de ligne à hélices, conçu par l'avionneur américain Douglas Aircraft à la fin des années 1940. Développé plus d'une décennie avant le DC-8 à réaction, le DC-8 à moteurs à pistons dispose d'hélices placées à l'arrière du fuselage, en configuration propulsive. Le projet est annulé à cause des coûts de développement, ne le rendant pas viable commercialement.

---

[ru] Douglas DC-8 (поршневой самолёт)

Douglas DC-8 — американский проект поршневого пассажирского самолёта компании Douglas Aircraft. Прототип был разработан более чем за 10 лет до появления реактивного DC-8.

---

---