Big Eight: A Biography of an Airplane

This book is a detailed "biography" of the Douglas DC-8, which first flew less than two years before this book was published. It discusses all aspects of this first-generation American jetliner, emphasizing the Douglas Aircraft Company philosophy of producing the best possible airplane for both customers: the airlines and their customers. The Douglas DC-8 was a revolutionary step beyond the world of piston-powered airliners; with the enthusiasm of the early Jet Age, the author speculates on the future of air - and space - travel, at a time when anything seemed possible.