Company jet-power experience dated back to World War II, and valuable knowledge was gained from the design of the D-558 program that was useful in developing new jet aircraft for the navy. Jet bombers and fighters went into production in the early 1950s as the company explored the possibilities of commercial jets.
Douglas Aircraft now had a formidable rival in the Boeing Airplane Company, which had produced hundreds of jet bombers for the United States Air Force since World War II. When this vast knowledge and experience were used to build a passenger prototype of the 707, Boeing gained a significant advantage.
Douglas delayed entering the jet commercial market for several reasons. As he told his associates, "the airlines have a billion-and-a-half dollars worth of propeller airplanes. Many of them are almost new. If we bring out a jet transport too soon the airlines will face financing difficulties."
He and his top associates also were aware of what could happen unless the way was paved carefully with solid engineering date. They had watched the DeHavilland Comets come along and, at first, it seemed the British would capture the world market for jet transports. When two of them blew up, killing 110 passengers and theirs crews, the people at Douglas suspected metal fatigue, because their early experience had given them ample warnings that a jet passenger cabin needed new design techniques to withstand pressures that were twice those of the DC-7.
After the Comets crashed Douglas sent a cable to DeHavilland offering sympathy and any technical or theoretical aid possible.

Sales staff went out for orders in July 1955, headed by Nat Paschall, vice-president of sales, and Project Engineer Ivar Shogran. The DC-8 was still a "paper" airplane so Paschall and Shogran listened to what the airlines had to say. They found a great difference of opinion. Some airlines wanted just a transcontinental airplane, while others insisted upon intercontinental range. It was a difficult position for the salesmen because Douglas had given strict orders that changes were to be held to a minimum to keep costs down.

Sales efforts were the most intense anyone at Douglas could remember. Douglas personally worked with the sales teams. The efforts to win Eastern Air Lines reached their climax after Rickenbacker told Paschall, " I don't want to talk to sales teams any more. I want to talk to Don."
When they met in New York Rickenbacker insisted that Douglas guarantee noise levels. "I want a noise level no higher or even less than the DC-7. Can you guarantee that?"
"I'll have to confer with my engineers," Douglas said, and they walked out to talk privately in another room.
Raymond said, " we made fine progress and chances are we'll be ale to do it by the time the DC-8 is certified for service."
"What about right now?" Douglas said.
"We can't guarantee it."
Douglas was resigned to loss of the vital Eastern contract. "Let's go back in."
He was deeply troubled, and he walked into Rickenbacker's office with a solemn face. "Eddie, we can't promis it."
"Hell, I know you can't. I just wanted to see if you're still honest. You've just sold $165 million worth of airplanes. What I'm buying isn't the DC-8. It's integrity!"
Rickenbacker's decision reaffirmed one of Douglas's basic beliefs that honesty pays off in the end.

Flight tests of the DC-8 proved it to be a rugged, comfortable airplane but there were basic design deficiencies. Despite problems, airlines continued to place orders, and United's Patterson reaffirmed his faith in the company by increasing his original order to forty DC-8s. United placed its first DC-8 into service in September 1959.

Homework
1) Compile the history of the Douglas Aircraft Company.

2) What were its most important commercial airplanes?

3) What Douglas airplanes were used by Swissair?

4) Tell the story of Swissair's DC-8s.

5) What's your opinion on Swissair's demise. Could we have it saved?

6) What do you think of Douglas's decision to wait with the development of a jet airliner?

7) What do you think of Rickenbacker's buying tactic?

8) Are business men still as honest as Donald Douglas? Does honesty still pay off?

9) Who are the main competitors in today's commercial airliner market? What design philosophies do they follow?

10) What was the D-558 program and what were its goals?

11) Try to explain 'metal fatigue' and 'the terrorists wore fatigues'.

12) Consider the aircraft business, its peculiarities, financing and outlook.

13) Name former and current Swiss aircraft manufacturers.