Trans International Airlines Douglas DC-8-63
MODEL BY:
Transamerica
Model Scale:
1/150
MODEL ADDED:
N/A
historical significance
First Albuquerque Visit: 1969
Additional Information:
The Douglas DC-8 is an early long-range narrow-body jetliner designed and produced by the American Douglas Aircraft Company. Work began in 1952 for a jet-powered aerial refueling tanker for the US Air Force but after losing the tanker competition to the rival Boeing in May 1954, Douglas announced in June 1955 that their jetliner project will be marketed to civil operators as the DC-8. The first DC-8 was rolled out in Long Beach Airport on April 9, 1958, and flew for the first time on May 30. Following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in August 1959, the DC-8 entered service on September 18. The DC-8 was produced until 1972 with a total of 556 aircraft built. The DC-8 was replaced by the larger wide-body airliners including the Douglas DC-10. The DC-8 exited passenger service for good during the 1980s and 1990s but some DC-8s remain in use today as freighters.
Trans International Airlines was a charter airline based in Oakland, California. The carrier began in 1947 as Los Angeles Air Service and the name was changed to Trans International in 1960 and again to Transamerica in 1979. Scheduled passenger flights between the United States and Europe began in 1979. Trans International/Transamerica operated many charter flights through Albuquerque using a variety of aircraft until it ceased operations on September 30, 1986. Some of the aircraft known to have flown through Albuquerque include the Douglas DC-8-61, DC-8-63, DC-10, Boeing 747, and Lockheed 188 Electra.
The New Mexico Air National Guard’s (NMANG) 150th Tactical Fighter Group, known locally as the “Tacos”, were federally recognized on 7 July 1947 as the 188th Fighter Bomber Squadron based at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 188th’s mission was changed from fighter-bomber to fighter-interceptor in 1948. In 1957 the unit was renamed the 150th Fighter Group.
Trans International Airlines (TIA) used the DC-8-63, N-48687, to return a contingent of the New Mexico Air National Guard) stationed in South Korea back to Albuquerque in May of 1969. Members of the “Enchilada Air Force” were activated as a result of the “Pueblo Incident”. Pilots and aircraft from the Fighter Group also served in Viet Nam.
A Trans International Airlines Douglas DC-8-63 at Albuquerque in June, 1973.
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