Pinwheel



Capt. at widow



Taxi past



Flight deck



Take-off



Flt deck/Stewardees Nose (in flight)



Peel-off




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The first of a new generation of "jumbo jetliners" begins regular airline service this weekend (Sat.,Feb. 25) between the U.S. Mainland and Hawaii.

The 187-foot long Super DC-8...37 feet longer than the regular DC-8... is the biggest jet in commercial aviation. The 160-ton giant carries a crew of ten; four flight officers and six cabin attendants. Although the Super DC-8 is capable of accommodating 250 passengers in an all-coach configuration, United Air Lines is limiting passenger capacity to 198 in three classes of service.

At speeds up to 600 miles per hour, the nine-million dollar craft can carry its pasengers and 27-thousand pounds of baggage and cargo to destinations more than 3100 miles away. And there will be no quieter jetliner cabin in the sky as result of improved sound insulation in the fuselage. The most noticeable feature of the Super DC-8 is its long nose extending 67-feet forward of the powerful engines ... which develop 72,000 pounds of thrust. United, the world's largest airline, is first to place the Super DC-8 in service.

Eventually, 24 more of the giants will join the carrier's expanding jet fleet. As they are delivered, they will be scheduled on other long-distance routes. The Super DC-8 ushers in the newest chapter in avialation history... the "Era of the jumbo jets".