Supersonic DC-8

[boestar]

This may have been posted in the past but always interesting.

This aircraft went on to serve with CP and carried a plaque denoting its acheivement.

http://www.dc-8jet.c...-sst-flight.htm

Aircraft Info:

Type: Douglas DC-8-43

Production Line#: 130

Serial #: 45623

Customer: Canadian Pacific

Delivery Date: 11/15/1961

[Don Hudson]

Thanks Boestar, I remember this being announced at the time. I wonder which registration it was? I have photos of CF-CPA, CF-CPG and I think CF-CPF from the old Vancouver terminal on the south side - I used to walk out onto the ramp and bug the guys on the ramp to let me in the cockpit while the airplane was being serviced...took lots of photos for the "simulator"!

We were returning from Phoenix the other day on an A320 and I had a window seat. For the second time in about 30 years, I witnessed a really, really neat sight: The shock wave just past the leading edge of the right wing. The first time I saw this was on a B747 as a young 2nd Officer I later visited the cockpit (knew the captain) and mentioned it to him he said they reached M0.88 for a brief moment and seemed a bit embarrassed that I "saw a shock wave" in fact, theyre there all the time of course but not always visible the sun was just right and I suspect temperature may have something to do with it although I have no basis for that theory.

As the wing met turbulence, the wave danced fore and aft as the center of pressure moved. The "line" would disappear for a while then return; I took two dozen photos it was difficult to capture as I didnt know where it was…when I focussed on the actual black line on the wing, two images of the wave were apparent, which meant my eyes were not focussed on the wave. I backed the camera off a bit and found good focus in one or two photos. When pressed for air, if you look carefully at the tip of a high-pressure air hose, (home compressor will do it), and in the correct light, (try different backgrounds), you can see a tiny shock wave of "locally high speed air".

Fun. Neat business we're in. Photos below. The tiny wave is a line crossing the black painted line on the wing one a detail of the actual wave.

Don

[Moon The Loon]

The 763 had an MMO of 0.86 under some jurisdictions. From time to time, especially in smooth air where an increasing performance shear was encountered, one could actually feel a little flutter as the power levers closed in an effort to reduce speed. One time, in cruise, I actually deployed the speedbrake because the IAS increased so quickly.

It provided very good discussion points for junior pilots. Not to mention the learning points for this one

[boestar]

Thats Really cool Don.

I was on a flight a few years ago and as we were decending in "Moist" air you could actually see the pressure changes in the air over the wing. Funny thing is it looked EXACTLY like the diagrams in "From the Ground Up".

It is fascinating to actually SEE the stuff that was studied in Theory.

[J.O.]

That's very cool Don, and a first for me. I'd heard about it but have never seen it until now.

[melcrothers]

Thank folks.... I started in the business with CP in YXS in September 1968. I didn't have a clue

about the performance of the DC8 and the altitude it could go to. It is amazing.

Wow.... I remember in Angus Kineer's office in YYZ he had a picture of a B707 doing a flypast

upside down and his chief pilot was the test pilot for Boeing that did the flypast.

Great memories.... Thanks so much for making me smile.

Mel C.

[Kip Powick]

Thank folks.... I started in the business with CP in YXS in September 1968. I didn't have a clue

about the performance of the DC8 and the altitude it could go to. It is amazing.

Wow.... I remember in Angus Kineer's office in YYZ he had a picture of a B707 doing a flypast

upside down and his chief pilot was the test pilot for Boeing that did the flypast.

Great memories.... Thanks so much for making me smile.

Mel C.

Hey Mel..

The only inverted flight , (on purpose), of a B707 on record is that of Tex Johnson's barrel roll and he was a test pilot for Boeing.... He never worked for Angus. If you know of another inverted flight I'd sure like to see the picture or some reference to it. I had the privilege of meeting Tex in 1972 while driving some VIPs around looking at "new" aircraft for the CF....quite a guy and will always be remembered for that infamous roll.

Here is a link to Tex and his roll..

Here is a brief "resume" of Tex's life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_M._Johnston

[melcrothers]

Thanks Kip.... the fellow that was chief pilot for C3 was part of the crew for sure on the B707 inverted flight.... He had taken the picture so I had assumed he was PIC on the flight. I appreciate the update.

Mel

[Moon The Loon]

Thanks Kip.... the fellow that was chief pilot for C3 was part of the crew for sure on the B707 inverted flight.... He had taken the picture so I had assumed he was PIC on the flight. I appreciate the update.

Mel

Great comments, Mel, and a great company with respect our former colleagues. I met you once during the formative days of HMY. I look forward to our next encounter.

MTL

[boestar]

I believe the comments to Tex after the roll went something like "I know it will do it, You know it will do it, Just don't do it again"

The Roll was performed in front of potential customers and the public at a Seattle Boat show.

[Jetkid]

Don,

The registration of the Supersonic DC-8, was CF-CPG.