United Airlines show case their latest passenger jet aircraft, the Douglas DC-8 which entered service with the airline on September 18, 1959 . The film shows various planes operated by United Airlines, with a focus on the safety, training and luxury offered by their newest aircraft. Technical innovations of the DC-8 are showcased, along with the red carpet service you can expect when travelling with United Airlines.
The Douglas DC-8 (also known as the McDonnell Douglas DC-8) is a four-engine long range narrow-body jet airliner built from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Launched after the competing Boeing 707, the DC-8 nevertheless kept Douglas in a strong position in the airliner market, and remained in production until 1972 when it began to be superseded by larger wide-body designs, including the Boeing 747, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. The DC-8's design allowed it to hold slightly more cargo than the 707 and some re-engined DC-8s are still in use as freighters.