The last Douglas DC-8 left flying in America has a critical job to do before it retires at nearly 60 years old

At nearly 60 years old, the Douglas DC-8-72 registered N782SP is the last DC-8 still flying in America.

Once a workhorse of commercial aviation, it now serves a very different purpose: delivering aid to disaster zones around the world.

Operated by the humanitarian group Samaritan’s Purse, this aircraft carries everything from medical supplies to emergency food rations where they’re needed most.

As it nears retirement, the historic jet has one final, critical job to do before it leaves the skies for good.

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One of three operational DC-8 worldwide

The history of this remarkable aircraft stretches back to 1968, when it first rolled out of the Douglas factory.

Delivered in 1969, it has since amassed nearly 99,000 flight hours, a testament to its durability and careful maintenance.

Once a mainstay for passenger and cargo carriers, the DC-8 faded from commercial service decades ago, replaced by newer, more fuel-efficient jets, like the Airbus A350.

NASA itself retired its last DC-8 in 2024, though not before the airplane pulled off a wild move on its final retirement flight.

Since then, N782SP became the only operational DC-8 left in the US, and one of three in the entire world.

Today, the jet’s mission is humanitarian rather than commercial.

Samaritan’s Purse uses it to fly urgently needed supplies to parts of the globe hit by war, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises.

In recent years, the DC-8 has delivered relief to earthquake-stricken regions, hurricane zones, and conflict areas where modern infrastructure has collapsed.

With a payload capacity of over 40 tons, it can carry massive quantities of aid in a single trip, making it a lifeline for communities in need.

The old guard is being phased out

But the end of an era is approaching.

Samaritan’s Purse plans to retire the DC-8 by the end of this year, replacing it with a Boeing 767 to meet modern operational demands.

When N782SP finally lands for the last time, it will close the book on a storied chapter of aviation history.

In fact, the Douglas DC-8 is not the only airplane that is nearing the end of its story.

The Boeing 747, more commonly known as the ‘Queen of the Skies’, began its production in 1968, a decade after the DC-8.

In 2023, the last Boeing 747 was produced, and comparing the first and last ever Boeing 747s really shows how the plane has evolved over time.

While the Boeing 747 is definitely going to outlive the DC-8, especially since Qatar has gifted one to the US, one thing is clear: nothing lasts forever.The post The last Douglas DC-8 left flying in America has a critical job to do before it retires at nearly 60 years old appeared first on Supercar Blondie.