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weight and performance calculations for the Douglas DC-8-63
KLM DC-8-63 PH-DEG c/n 46092
Douglas DC-8-63
role : medium-range jet airliner
importance : ****
first flight : 10 April 1967 operational : July 1967 (KLM)
country : United States of America
design : Arthur Raymond & Ed Burton
production : 41x DC-8-63 53x DC-8-63CF
general information :
In early April 1965, Douglas announced that it had a new extended version of the DC-8 in development. It was given the designation Super Sixty and was offered in 3 versions, the -61, -62 and -63. The -63 had the same length as the -61 but had also the structural and aerodynamic improvements of the -62 and more powerful JT3D-7 engines. The -62 and -63 had a little bigger main wheel tires : 44.5 in (113 cm)
primary users : KLM, CP Air, Capitol Airlines, VIASA, Iberia
Accommodation:
flight crew : 4 cabin crew : 7
flight crew consist of pilot, co-pilot, navigator and flight engineer
passengers : seating for 215 in two class : 20 business class and 195 economy class
seats ( 32 -in pitch) exit limit : 269 passengers, high density seating for 256 passengers
engine : 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3D-7 turbofan engines of 84.62 [KN] (19023.0 [lbf])
Measured chord at root : 10.12 [m] at tip 2.89 [m]
dimensions :
wingspan : 45.24 [m], length : 57.12 [m], height : 12.92 [m]
wing area : 271.93 [m^2] fuselage exterior width : 3.73 [m]
weights :
empty weight : 69739 [kg]
operating empty weight : 72004 [kg] max. structural payload : 32324 [kg]
Zero Fuel weight (ZFW) : 104328 [kg] max. landing weight (MLW) : 117028 [kg]
max.take-off weight : 161028 [kg] weight fuel : 73513 [kg] (91891 [litres])
performance :
Max. operating Mach number (Mmo) : 0.89 [Mach] (965 [km/hr]) at 9150 [m]
critical Mach speed : 0.83 [Mach]
max. cruising speed : 925 [km/hr] (Mach 0.85 ) at 9140 [m] (45 [%] power)
economic cruising speed : 880 [km/hr] (Mach 0.81 ) at 9140 [m]
service ceiling : 12000 [m]
range with max fuel and Max.TOW : 8890 [km] (ATA domestic fuel reserves - 370.0 [km] alternate)
description :
cantilever low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear with nose wheel
Wings : two main spar fail-safe wing structure
with double slotted trailing edge flaps with leading edge slots ,with spoilers airfoil : NACA
sweep angle 3/4 chord: 30.0 [°]
engines attached with pylons to the wing, main landing gear attached to the wings, fuel tanks in the wings and fuselage
Fuselage : Pressurized all-metal aluminium-alloy stressed-skin structure of elliptical 0 section
calculation : *1* (dimensions)
wing chord at root : 9.67 [m]
wing chord at tip : 2.22 [m]
taper ratio : 0.230 [ ]
mean wing chord : 6.01 [m]
calculated average wing chord tapered wing with rounded tips: 5.94 [m]
wing aspect ratio : 7.53 []
Oswald factor (e): 0.687 []
seize (span*length*height) : 33387 [m^3]
calculation : *2* (fuel consumption)
oil consumption : 11.8 [kg/hr]
fuel consumption (econ. cruise speed) : 6986.1 [kg/hr] (8732.6 [litre/hr]) at 32 [%] power
distance flown for 1 kg fuel : 0.13 [km/kg] at 9140 [m] height, sfc : 65.0 [kg/KN/h]
total fuel capacity : 91891 [litre] (73513 [kg])
calculation : *3* (weight)
CP Air DC-8-63 CF-CPQ c/n 45928, Schiphol airport, July 1969
weight engine(s) dry : 8200.0 [kg] = 24.23 [kg/KN]
weight 174 litre oil tank : 14.77 [kg]
oil tank filled with 2.1 litre oil : 1.9 [kg]
oil in engine 4.1 litre oil : 3.7 [kg]
fuel in engine 18.5 litre fuel : 13.54 [kg]
weight fuel lines : 173.6 [kg]
weight engine cowling : 880.0 [kg]
weight double thrust reversers : 575.4 [kg]
total weight propulsion system : 9863 [kg](6.1 [%])
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Accommodation cabin facilities:
typical 2-class cabin layout for 215 passengers : economy : pitch : 81.3 [cm] 32.0 [-in]
( 3+3 ) seating in 36.5 rows
weight seats : 1130.0 [kg]
high density seating passengers : 256 [pax] at 6 -abreast seating in 42.6 rows, pitch
81.3 [cm] 32.0 [-in]
pax density, normal seating : 0.64 [m2/pax], high density seating : 0.54 [m2/pax]
weight 6 lavatories : 85.3 [kg]
weight 5 galleys : 328.9 [kg]
Capitol airlines DC-8-63 interior
weight overhead stowage for hand luggage : 75.2 [kg]
weight 4 wardrobe closets : 43.0 [kg]
weight 15 movie screens : 122.9 [kg]
weight 75 windows (47x38cm) : 67.5 [kg]
weight 2 (1.83 x 0.88 [m]) main entry doors : 112.0 [kg]
weight 2 (1.63 x 0.85 [m]) service doors : 96.7 [kg]
weight 4 (1.12 x 0.91 [m]) freight doors (belly) : 123.9 [kg]
total belly baggage/cargo hold volume : 70.74 [m3]
cabin volume (usable), excluding flight deck : 286 [m3]
passenger compartment volume : 208 [m3]
passenger cabin max.width : 3.51 [m] cabin length : 44.30 [m] cabin height : 2.21 [m]
floor area : 137.9 [m2]
weight cabin facilities : 2185.5 [kg]
safety facilities:
weight 4 type III over wing emergency exits (51x97 cm): 68.5 [kg]
weight 4 type I emergency exits (61x142 cm): 121.3 [kg]
evacuation time with 256 passengers : 45 [sec]
weight 10 hand fire extinguisher : 31 [kg]
weight cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR): 20.0 [kg]
weight oxygen masks & oxygen generators : 139.8 [kg]
weight emergency flare installation : 10 [kg]
weight 4 emergency evacuation slides : 182.3 [kg]
weight safety equipment & facilities : 573 [kg]
fuselage construction:
fuselage aluminium frame : 15139 [kg]
floor loading (payload/m2): 234 [kg/m2]
weight rear pressure bulkhead : 195.6 [kg]
fuselage covering ( 498.1 [m2] duraluminium 3.40 [mm]) : 4449.1 [kg]
weight floor beams : 871.8 [kg]
weight cabin furbishing : 1214.4 [kg]
weight cabin floor : 2096.6 [kg]
weight (sound proof) isolation : 359.9 [kg]
weight 26362 [litre] main central fuel tanks empty : 1476.3 [kg]
weight empty 248 [litre] potable water tank : 21.9 [kg]
weight empty waste tank : 20.5 [kg]
weight fuselage structure : 25844.9 [kg]
Avionics:
weight VHF radio and Selcal : 9.0 [kg]
weight flight and service attendants intercom : 5.0 [kg]
weight dual cloud-collision radar : 25.0 [kg]
weight weather radar : 25.0 [kg]
DC-8-63CF cockpit
weight VOR/ILS,RMI,DME,radio altimeter : 12.0 [kg]
weight Sperry automatic flight control system, with SP-30 auto-pilot : 25.0 [kg]
weight artificial horizons, compass, alti-meters : 7 [kg]
weight engine monitoring gauges & control switches : 12 [kg]
weight avionics : 101.0 [kg]
Systems:
Air-conditioning and pressurization system maintains sea level conditions up to 7100 [m]
and gives equivalent of 2000 [m] at 12200 [m]. pressure differential : 0.62 [bars] (kg/cm2)
pressurized fuselage volume : 517 [m3]
weight air-conditioning and pressurization system : 295 [kg]
weight APU / engine starter: 42.3 [kg]
weight lighting : 71.0 [kg]
weight 210 bar hydraulic system : 111.3 [kg]
weight engine-driven 40kVA electricity generators : 53.8 [kg]
weight 22Ah battery : 12.0 [kg]
weight controls : 22.9 [kg]
weight systems : 608.0 [kg]
total weight fuselage : 29312 [kg](18.2 [%])
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average Take-off weight : 129129 [kg](80.2 [%])
total weight aluminium ribs (1233 ribs) : 5174 [kg]
weight engine mounts : 169 [kg]
weight 6 wing fuel tanks empty for total 65529 [litre] fuel : 3670 [kg]
weight wing covering (painted aluminium 3.21 [mm]) : 4720 [kg]
total weight aluminium spars (multi-cellular wing structure) : 4651 [kg]
weight wings : 14544 [kg]
weight wing/square meter : 53.48 [kg]
weight thermal leading-edge anti-icing : 49.8 [kg]
weight ailerons (11.45 [m2]) : 306.9 [kg]
weight fin (34.72 [m2]) : 931.1 [kg]
weight rudder (18.27 [m2]) : 470.4 [kg]
weight tailplane (stabilizer) (71.17 [m2]): 2099.5 [kg]
weight elevators (17.08 [m2]): 247.36 [kg]
weight flight control hydraulic servo actuators: 55.6 [kg]
Venezuela DC-8-63 YV-125C coming in with flaps fully deployed at Miami, September 1980.
weight trailing-edge double slotted flaps (49.68 [m2]) : 1134.4 [kg]
weight leading edge slots (1.94 [m2]) : 31.8 [kg]
weight spoilers (13.0 [m2]) : 173.7 [kg]
total weight wing construction : 23883 [kg] (33.2 [%])
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tire pressure main wheels : 13.80 [Bar] (nitrogen), ply rating : 23 PR
tire speed limit : 364 [km/hr]
total tyre footprint : 0.55 [m2]
Aircraft Classification Number, MTOW on rigid runway and medium subgrade
strength (B) : 50 [ ]
Can only operate from unpaved runways with reduced weight and reduced tyre pressure
wheel pressure : 17713.1 [kg]
weight 8 Dunlop main wheels (1130 [mm] by 420 [mm]) : 1206.7 [kg]
weight 2 nose wheels : 150.8 [kg]
weight multi-disc wheel-brakes : 104.3 [kg]
weight Hydro-air flywheel detector type anti-skid units : 9.0 [kg]
weight oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers : 139.1 [kg]
weight wheel hydraulic operated retraction system : 1422.7 [kg]
weight undercarriage struts (four-wheel bogies) with axle 4009.9 [kg]
total weight landing gear : 7042.6 [kg] (4.4 [%]
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calculated empty weight : 70101 [kg](43.5 [%])
weight oil for 11.5 hours flying : 149.6 [kg]
weight lifejackets : 96.8 [kg]
weight 4 life rafts : 134.4 [kg]
weight catering : 274.1 [kg]
weight water : 219.3 [kg]
weight crew : 891 [kg]
weight crew lugage,nav.chards,flight doc.,miscell.items : 138 [kg]
operational weight empty : 72004 [kg] (44.7 [%])
********************************************************************
weight 215 passengers : 16555 [kg]
weight luggage : 3440 [kg]
weight cargo : 12329 [kg] (cargo+luggage/m3 belly : 211 [kg/m3])
zero fuel weight (ZFW): 104328 [kg](64.8 [%])
weight fuel for landing (1.8 hours flying) : 12700 [kg]
max. landing weight (MLW): 117028 [kg](72.7 [%])
max. fuel weight : 145517 [kg] (90.4 [%])
payload with max fuel : 167 passengers+luggage 15511 [kg]
published maximum take-off weight : 161028 [kg] (100.0 [%])
Iberia DC-8-63CF EC-BMZ
calculation : * 4 * (engine power)
power loading (Take-off) : 476 [kg/KN]
power loading (Take-off) 1 PUF: 634 [kg/KN]
max. total take-off power : 338.5 [KN]
calculation : *5* (loads)
manoeuvre load : 7.1 [g] at 1000 [m]
limit load : 2.5 [g] ultimate load : 3.8 [g] load factor : 1.0 [g]
design flight time : 2.55 [hours]
design cycles : 13565 sorties, design hours : 34591 [hours]
max. wing loading (MTOW & flaps retracted) : 592 [kg/m2]
wing stress (2 g) during operation : 187 [N/kg] at 2g emergency manoeuvre
calculation : *6* (angles of attack)
angle of attack zero lift : -1.78 ["]
max. angle of attack (stalling angle, clean) : 13.25 ["]
max. angle of attack (full flaps) : 12.71 ["]
angle of attack at max. speed : 1.83 ["]
calculation : *7* (lift & drag ratios
lift coefficient at angle of attack 0° : 0.15 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. speed : 0.30 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. angle of attack : 1.27 [ ]
max. lift coefficient full flaps : 1.83 [ ]
drag coefficient at max. speed : 0.0326 [ ]
drag coefficient at econ. cruise speed : 0.0289 [ ]
induced drag coefficient at econ. cruise speed : 0.0066 [ ]
drag coefficient (zero lift) : 0.0223 [ ]
DC-8-63CF Seaboard world N8631 c/n 45936
lift/drag ratio at econ. speed : 9.35 [ ]
calculation : *8* (speeds
take-off decision speed (V1) : 250 [km/u] (135 [kt])
lift-off speed (VLOF) : 276 [km/u] (149 [kt])
take-off safety speed (V2) : 292 [km/u] (158 [kt])
steady initial climb speed (V4) : 318 [km/u] (172 [kt])
flap retraction speed (V3) at 500m (OW loaded : 154042 [kg]): 323 [km/u] (174 [kt])
climb speed (to FL150 with 63 [%] power) : 534 [km/hr] (288 [kt])
max. endurance speed (Vbe): 626 [km/u] min. fuel/hr : 5865 [kg/hr] at height : 8534 [m]
max. range speed (Vbr): 874 [km/u] (0.82 [mach]) min. fuel consumption : 7.27 [kg/km] at
cruise height : 10668 [m]
max. cruising speed : 925 [km/hr] (499 [kt]) at 9140 [m] (power:36 [%])
max. operational speed (Mmo) : 965 [km/hr] (Mach 0.89 ) at 9150 [m] (power:41 [%])
airflow at cruise speed per engine : 168.6 [kg/s]
speed of thrust jet : 1575 [km/hr]
initial descent speed 10000 - 7315 [m]: Mach 0.82
descent speed 7315 - 3048 [m]: 537 [km/u] (290 [kt])
approach speed 3048 - 500 [m] (clean): 463 [km/u] (250 [kt])
stalling speed clean at 500 [m] height at Max.Landing Weight : 117028 [kg]): 272 [km/u]
(147 [kt])
DC-8-63 VREF at MLW 117028 kg (258000 lb) : 142 kt (263 km/u)
DC-8-63 VREF at MLW 117028 kg (258000 lb) : 142 kt (263 km/u)
final approach speed (landing speed) at sea-level with full flaps VREF (max. landing weight):
263 [km/u] (142 [kt])
ICAO Aircraft Approach Category (APC) : D
stalling speed at sea-level with full flaps VSO (max. landing weight): 202 [km/u]
rate of climb at sea-level ROC (loaded, 63 % power) : 658 [m/min]
rate of climb at sea-level ROC (loaded, 75% power) : 930 [m/min]
rate of climb at 1000 [m] with 1 engine out (PUF/MTOW, 100 % power on remaining engines) : 1651 [m/min]
rate of climb at 1000 [m] with 2 engines out (2xPUF / MTOW) : 838 [m/min]
max.rate of descent with landing gear extended, with use of spoilers: 457 [m/min]
calculation : *9* (regarding various performances)
high wheel pressure, can only take off from paved runways
take-off distance at sea-level concrete runway : 3106 [m]
ICAO Aerodrome Reference Code : 4D
DC-8-63 FAR takeoff run at mtow 355000 lb (161028 kg) JT3D-3B engines 80.17 KN, standard day, sea-level : 11800 ft (3595 [m]), FAA TO-distance according to Jane’s all the world aircraft 1970-71 : 11500 ft (3505 [m]). Calculated FAR take-off distance with JT3D-7 engines 84.62 [KN] : 3418 [m] (11200 ft), the more powerful engines give a TO-run reduction of around 175 [m]
take-off distance at sea-level over 15 [m] height : 3309 [m]
FAR TO runway length requirement at MTOW, standard day at SL (ASDA): 3418 [m]
landing distance (MLW) : 846 [m]
DC-8-63 landing runway with max. landing weight 117028 [kg] (258000 LB) > landing distance 6135 ft 1870 [m] on a dry runway (see also Jane’s all the world aircraft 1970-71 page 396)
landing distance (C.A.R.) from 15 [m] at SL, dry runway : 1905 [m]
landing distance (C.A.R.) from 15 [m] at SL, wet runway : 2205 [m]
FAR landing runway length requirements at SL : 1867 [m]
max. lift/drag ratio : 13.51 [ ]
climb to 5000 [m] with max payload : 7.03 [min]
climb to 10000 [m] with max payload : 21.64 [min]
descent time from 10000 [m] to 250 [m] : 24.33 [min]
ceiling limited by max. pressure differential 16225 [m]
theoretical ceiling fully loaded (mtow- 60 min.fuel: 154042 [kg] ) : 16000 [m]
calculation *10* (action radius & endurance)
range with max. payload: 6921 [km] with 32324.0 [kg] max. useful load (77.1 [%] fuel)*
range with high density pax: 8095 [km] with 256 passengers (88.8 [%] fuel)*
range with typical two-class pax: 8624 [km] with 215 passengers (93.9 [%] fuel)*
Range 4800 [nm] (= 8890 km) with max fuel 24275 US Gallon (91891 litre) and 35.000 lb (15876 kg) payload. Ferry range 5500 nm (10186 km)
range with max.fuel : 9260 [km] with 11 crew and 167 passengers and 100.0 [%] fuel*
ferry range : 9818 [km] with 4 crew and zero payload (100.0 [%] fuel)*
max range theoretically with additional fuel tanks total 112606 [litre] fuel : 11692 [km]*
* calculated ranges without fuel reserves
Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) : 1964664 [paskm]
useful load with range 1000km : 32324 [kg]
useful load with range 1000km : 256 passengers
production (theor.max load): 29900 [tonkm/hour]
production (useful load): 29900 [tonkm/hour]
production (passengers): 216192 [paskm/hour]
oil and fuel consumption per tonkm : 0.234 [kg]
calculation *11* (operating cost)
fuel cost per hour (8733 [litre]):5239 [eur] (25 [pax-km/litre fuel])
fuel cost per seat 1000km flight (234 [pax] 2-class seating): 24.23 [eur/1000PK]
oil cost per hour: 49 [eur]
crew cost per hour : 1500 [eur]
list price 2023 : 186 [mln USD]
average flying hours in 1 year : 3500 [hours] technical life : 10 [year]
real average service life : 11 [years]
economic hours (average real flown hours) : 38500 [hours]
financing interest per flying hour : 1238 [EUR]
write off per flying hour : 4157 [EUR]
time between engine failure : 10354 [hr]
can continue fly on 3 engines, low risk for emergency landing for PUF
workhours per day : 12.41 [hr]
average flight hours till crash : 0.72 [mln hr] (207 service years)
safe flight hours till fatality : 5972 [hr] (1.7 service years)
reservation pax liability/flying hour : 21.57 [SDR*] (26.96 [eur])
insurance cost per hour : 284 [eur]
engine maintenance cost per hour : 236.4 [eur]
wing maintenance cost per hour : 234.6 [eur]
fuselage maintenance cost per hour : 153.21 [eur]
tire life (time till worn out) : 104 [cycles]
maintenance cost per hour (excluding engines): 2167 [eur]
direct operating cost per hour: 14898 [eur]
KLM DC-8-63 PH-DEH “Vasco da Gama” c/n 46075
DOC per seat 1000km flight (234 [pax] 2-class seating): 68.91 [eur/1000PK]
DOC per seat 1000km flight (high density seating): 63.02 [eur/1000PK]
DOC per kg cargo for a 1000km flight : 0.50 [eur/kg] (= DOC/tonkm)
passenger service charge (depart at Schiphol): 11.34 [eur]
security service charge (depart at Schiphol): 10.08 [eur]
airport take-off fee / passenger : 4.11 [eur/pax]
airport landing fee / passenger : 4.11 [eur/pax]
retour ticket price 1000km trip : 216.82 [eur/pax]
price retour ticket Schiphol-Barcelona : 254.72 [eur/pax]
accidents with fatalities > see the accident file
notes : it has the highest MLW : 117028 [kg] in its category
It has the shortest technical life in its category : 10.1 year. Largest wetarea : 1042 [m2], largest seize (length x span x height) : 33878 [m3]
Literature :
https://www.boeing.com/search/results.html?q=airplane+characteristics
Jane’s commercial transport aircraft page 184,185
Jane’s all the world aircraft 1970-71 page
Observers airliners page 135
https://contentzone.eurocontrol.int/aircraftperformance/default.aspx?
operations-and-technical-data/aircraft-characteristics
confidence rating regarding source data : medium - all information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
DISCLAIMER Above calculations are based on published data, they must be
regarded as indication not as facts.
Calculated performance and weight may not correspond with actual weights
and performances and are assumptions for which no responsibility can be taken.
Calculations are as accurate as possible, they can be fine-tuned when more data
is available, you are welcome to give suggestions and additional information
so we can improve our program. For copyright on drawings/photographs/
content please mail to below mail address
(c) B van der Zalm 08 October 2023 contact : info.aircraftinvestigation@gmail.com ac jetpax 2020.py python 3.7.4
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