How A 1960 Douglas DC-8 Test Flight Invented Airliner Re-Engining Decades Before The CFM56

The Douglas DC-8 holds an important place in the history of commercial aviation. The four-engine narrowbody was among the first long-range jet airliners to enter service and marked the dawn of the commercial jet age in the US. It entered the market as a direct rival to Boeing’s 707 and initially attracted strong interest from airlines. Airlines including Pan Am, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines were among the major carriers to operate.