On 5 April 1965 Douglas announced the development of the DC-8 Super 60 Series. Two of these new variants, the Super 61 and Super 63, would be easily recognized by their fuselage stretch of an unprecedented 36'8" in length. The subject of this Brief, the Super Series 62, was introduced as an ultra long-range version of the DC-8, and possesed a modest stretch of 6'8" over the DC-8-55 from which it was developed. Length overall was 157 feet

Additional changes included extended wing span of six feet to reduce cruise drag; engine pods of new design that ducted the fan by-pass air the full length of the nacelle; aerodynamically refined engine pylons and fuel capacity increased 872 US gal. to 24,265 US gal. Douglas stated the DC-8-62 was capable of flying against headwinds from central Europe to the US West coast with ample fuel reserves. According to the 1967-1968 Janes AWA, design range with maximum payload of 40,000 lb. (189 pax) was 6,000 miles. Maximum cruising speed at 220,000 lb. was 600 MPH.

Twenty-nine DC-8-62s were built, powered by four 18,000 lb. thrust Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B turbofans with a Maximum Gross Takeoff Weight (MGTOW) of 335,000 lb. Twenty-two DC-8-62Hs were built, powered by four JT3D-7 engines of 19,000 lb. thrust each with a MGTOW of 350,000 lb. In addition to these straight passenger versions, six DC-8-62AFs were built as freight-only aircraft that retained the 335,000 lb. MGTOW but dispensed with all passenger-related equipment, including windows. The ten DC-8-62CF aircraft were built as convertible freighters, capable of all-freight, all-passenger, or mixed loading. Eight of these "combi" aircraft were certified for 335,000 lb. MGTOW, and two, for Alitalia, were 350,000 lb. versions.

The author would welcome contact with anyone with additional photos and comment on the McDonnell Douglas DC-8-62.

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