flight profile described by DC-8-71 Captain Carlos Roldos
As in any airplane you are looking for a 3 degree glideslope. At 258,000 lbs which is the max landing weight for this series you will need about 142 v-ref and it will give you about a 500-700 feet per minute decent. As in any other airplane, if you are not stable by 500 feet agl abandon the approach. One thing you can do to get the feel of an airplane is always fly an approach coupled to the autopilot and you control the airspeed. Stabilize the airplane at around 700 foot per minute decent and look at what speed you get.
Here is a little profile you can fly with the dc8. It is the actual profile we fly at ATI. It sort of makes me enjoy the simming experience more as well as keep me sharp in real life.
Take off: Since we dont have speed bugs I always rotate at about 140 kts. I have to trip the nose down to keep bird on runway. Never rotate more then 8 degrees initially or you can hit tail on runway. After lift off go to 15 degrees and hold it. Once I take off I hold 160-170kts to 1000 feet, select flaps 15 and continue to accelerate. At about 200kts I raise flaps and continue to 230kts to 3000 feet agl. At 3000 feet agl we decrease vertical speed by half and accelerate to 250kts then hold that to 10000 feet. At 10000 again decrease vsi to accelerate to 300 knots and climb at 300kts to cruising altitude.
On approach: On downwind or 18-20 miles on a straight in I select flaps 15 (Approach check) and right away flaps 25. On GLIDESLOPE ALIVE Gear Down (Before landing check), On 1 dot above the glideslope flaps 35. On glideslope intercept FLAPS 50. This is the profile we fly for real even on a visual approach.
Because the 8 is such a clean fuselage and has no FLIGHT SPOILERS it takes great planning when approaching a terminal area. Often controllers think we are like a Boeings with speedbrakes. One thing you might not know, the DC-8 can use and we do use them, specially going to San Jose, CA and JFK, the thrust reversers in flight. 2 and 3 can be used inflight to full reverse thrust. 1 and 4 can only be used when the gear is down.
- Carlos
Note, the large CFM engines do not permit any bank angle greater than 6 deg on touchdown. For larger bank angles # 2 or # 3 engine nacelle will scrape the runway!! Therefore this airplane is landed in a crab all the way to touchdown in a cross wind. The landing gear is sturdy enough to take the side force. The trade off is more tire wear.
-Gerhard Opel
Regarding "no flight spoilers", The DC-8-71 has spoilers that are designed for dumping lift after the wheels touch down, they are not designed to be used in flight.
--Mike
Special screenshot page to showcase Peter Hagars
DC-8-71
