The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is preparing to say goodbye to its old but iconic Douglas DC-8. NASA has operated the Douglas quadjet for decades, first taking it in February 1986, and using it ever since as a flying science laboratory.

The airplane was not new when it arrived with NASA, having originally been delivered to Alitalia in 1969 and flying with Braniff from 1979 until 1986. For NASA, it flies under registration N817NA, and is used to collect data for a range of experiments on behalf of the world’s scientific community, with operations costing scientists approximately $6,500 per hour.
NASA DC-8 flying science lab
Photo: NASA

The DC-8-72 is now approaching 54 years old, and despite being meticulously maintained by NASA, she is reaching the end of her useful life. As such, the Administration has lined up a replacement for the jet - a Boeing 777. //

The DC-8 is fast becoming a rare breed in terms of aircraft still flying. Just three airplanes are listed as being in active service today, the other two with Trans Air Cargo Service, according to ch-aviation. A further two are in maintenance just now, suggesting they could soon fly again. One operates for humanitarian purposes with Samaritan’s Purse, while the other is taken care of by SkyBus Cargo Charters.