Beyond the Textbook: DC-8 Airplane Inspires Retired Students

In May 2024, Idaho State University’s Class of 2025 received a new learning tool from NASA. The DC-8 aircraft served the global scientific community for decades as a platform in NASA’s Airborne Science Program before retiring to Idaho State University (ISU) to provide a hands-on learning experience for students in the university’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology program.

“The DC-8 has quickly become a cornerstone of our aircraft maintenance technology program at ISU,” said Jake Dixon, director of marketing and recruiting for ISU’s College of Technology. “It has already enhanced our summer courses before its full integration at the start of the new school year this fall.”

The DC-8 made its final flight from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, to Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, in May 2024. The flight marked the aircraft’s retirement after 37 years of supporting airborne science missions as NASA’s flagship aircraft.

“The ability for students to interact directly with aircraft systems and features greatly extends their learning beyond what theory or textbooks can provide,” Dixon said.

The DC-8 has served as an educational platform for years. Beginning in 2009, the DC-8 served as an airborne science laboratory for NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), where senior students were selected to participate in a real science campaign and gain hands-on research experience. The educational impact of the DC-8 is evident in the professional growth of the scientists who have experienced it.

“Almost everything I’ve learned about using an airplane to collect scientific data can be traced back to my DC-8 flight projects,” said Jonathan Zawislak, a flight director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Aviation Operations Center. “That project left an indelible mark on the Earth science community and undoubtedly paved the way for a new generation of scientists, as it did for me and my career as a scientific aviator.”

Real-world platforms like the DC-8 are an exciting and meaningful learning tool that allows students to go beyond the textbook and have a lasting impact on the communities adjacent to their operations.

“We have seen such excitement around the arrival of the DC-8 that we will be hosting an open house to allow the community and aviation enthusiasts to experience this historic aircraft,” Dixon said. “This will help preserve the DC-8’s remarkable legacy, ensuring it continues to inspire and educate for years to come.”

Whether a scientific platform or a unique aircraft, the DC-8 has a legacy that continues to inspire and educate generations of scientists, engineers and aviators.

Learn more about NASA’s SARP program

Learn more about the retired DC-8 aircraft Learn more about NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center