10 Places to See a Douglas DC-8 in 2025

With the recent news that Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse intends to retire its Douglas DC-8 aircraft later this year, it brings the total number of active examples down to an all time low.

The aircraft has been a common sight operating on mission trips around the world, and particularly between North America and the Caribbean over recent years. However, with a more modern Boeing 767 expected to take its place, this classic jet is set to be retired in the last quarter of 2025.

So where else can you still see a Douglas DC-8 today, flying or not?

About the DC-8

The Douglas DC-8 was one of the first long-range jet airliners, developed to compete with the Boeing 707 in the early jet age. First flying in 1958, it marked Douglas Aircraft Company’s entry into the jet transport market and quickly gained popularity with airlines around the world thanks to its range, reliability, and payload capabilities.

The DC-8 was produced in several versions, including stretched and re-engined variants like the Super Sixties and later Series 70 with quieter, more efficient CFM56 engines. Though passenger service largely ended by the 1990s, the DC-8 remained a favourite in the cargo world, with a small number still active today, particularly in specialized or military roles—making it a prized sighting for aviation enthusiasts.

Ten Places to See a DC-8

Active Examples

Samaritan’s Purse DC-8. Photo (c) Michael Steffen

There are thought to be four active DC-8s at the time of writing, including the Samaritan’s Purse example, N782SP. This aircraft is based at Greensboro-Piedmont Triad Airport in North Carolina and tends to remain there when not on duty.

Miami International is one of the last remaining hubs for the DC-8. Peruvian carrier Skybus Jet Cargo has an active DC-8-73F freighter in its fleet, both based at Miami and usually operating flights to Haiti.

Finally, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Trans Air Cargo Service operates two DC-8s on cargo services in Africa.

Preserved DC-8s

Moving aside from the active Douglas DC-8s, the next best place to see one is in museum collections around the world. Here are some examples:

F-ZARK preserved at the Air & Space Museum, Paris Le Bourget, France

At the Paris Le Bourge Air & Space Museum, you’ll find DC-8-53 F-ZARK/45570 which previously flew for the French Air Force.

N8066U in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, a famous preserved DC-8 is former United Airlines example N8066U which is mounted on poles outside the California Science Center.

Across the water in Honolulu, Hawaii, a preserved former Air Transport International DC-8-62CF, N799AL, sits lonely at the Barbers Point Air Station. This airfield has closed down and a future location for the jet is still to be decided. But for now it can be seen through the fence not far from Honolulu International Airport.

In Detroi, MI, at Willow Run Airport, National Airlines’ former DC-8-63F N865F is sitting idle awaiting preservation as part of the Yankee Air Museum based at the airport.

Photo Jhony R. Zavaleta

In Idaho, at Pocatello Regional Airport, the DC-8 used by NASA as an airborne laboratory until just a year ago is now used as a ground trainer with Idaho State University.

Brazil has a few DC-8s you can spot. One is at the remote Guarani International Airport, west of Sao Paulo. The aircraft is 3D-FRE, and is preserved next to the terminal. It previously flew for many South American carriers.

Over in Sao Paulo itself, the forward fuselage of DC-8-63F PR-SKC is preserved as part of the Kidzania attraction in the Eldorado Shopping Centre. It wears fake LATAM colours.

Another example is preserved at a private residence north of Manaus Airport. It is PR-SKI.

JA8048 in Shanghai. Photo (c) Alec Wilson

In China, there are two preserved DC-8s. One is the former JA8048 which is preserved in the Shanghai Aviation Enthusiast’s Centre on Humin Road.

Photo (c) G B_NZ

Then, in Beijing at the Datanshan Aviation Museum, former Project Orbis DC-8-21 (which operated for United Airlines between 1960-1980), is preserved for visitors to enjoy.

Other DC-8s Around the World

There are of course many other Douglas DC-8s around the world to see if you know where to look. We have covered the main active and preserved examples, but there are others sitting in derelict condition or storage and scrapping compounds.

These include locations across the USA, Africa and Asia in particular.

Have you spotted a DC-8 that’s not in our list? Let us know the location in the comments below!