DC8.org
Newswire
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. - The Douglas Aircraft
Company has broken yet another record with its DC-8 aircraft.
Earlier today, during a routine certification test flight,
Douglas Chief Pilot Bill Magruder flew the aircraft faster
than the speed of sound, making the DC-8 the first
Commercial Jet Transport to break the sound barrier. |
After
climbing to an altitude of 52,090 feet, the DC-8-42 series
aircraft attained a maximum speed of Mach 1.012 or 660 mph
while in a controlled dive through 41,088 feet. The
purpose of the flight was to collect data on a new
leading-edge design for the wing.
A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and a North American F-100
Super Sabre accompanied |
the
record setting flight to confirm the data.
Upon completion
of flight testing, the record setting aircraft will be
delivered to Canadian Pacific Air Lines for regular
scheduled service.
In June, the DC-8
set 3 speed records while being operated by Delta
Airlines. |
