The controversial charity setting up hospital tents in NYC uses a 51-year-old plane to transport COVID-19 supplies. Take a closer look at its DC-8.

Thomas PalliniApr 17, 2020, 23:16 IST

A Samaritan's Purse Douglas DC-8.Samaritan's Purse

Christian evangelical charity Samaritan's Purse operates a fleet of over 20 aircraft for humanitarian aid, the flagship of which is a rare Douglas DC-8.
The 51-year-old aircraft began life for Finnair as a combination jet flying passengers and freight.
While most aircraft of the DC-8's age would have been retired long ago, Samaritan's Purse has now deployed the aircraft on COVID-19 missions.
The charity has recently come under fire due to its requirement to have employees sign a "Statement of Faith" that criticizes homosexuality and gay marriage.
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The plummeting demand for travel due to the novel coronavirus has allowed airlines and aircraft operators to advance the retirement of older aircraft, leaning out their fleets with modern equipment that's less of an economic burden.

One 51-year-old aircraft, however, is still going strong despite its younger colleagues disappearing from the skies. Its operator is an evangelical charity, Samaritan's Purse.

The international relief charity operates a fleet of over 20 aircraft positioned around the world to quickly reach even the most remote locations in need of humanitarian assistance.

The organization is not without controversy. Following the construction of the Central Park field hospital, multiple groups spoke out against the evangelical charity for its requirement to have employees and volunteers sign a "Statement of Faith," which disavowed homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

The flagship of the nonprofit's fleet is a Douglas DC-8 aircraft built in the late 1960s. It's a workhorse from a defunct manufacturer that's long since been retired by the world's airlines. For the charity, however, the Greensboro, North Carolina-based DC-8 frequently stretches its legs flying humanitarian aid around the world.

The dual freighter and passenger jet, known as a "combi," has now taken to the skies to assist in the COVID-19 airlift transporting supplies and aid. One of its first mission during the pandemic, bringing an emergency field hospital to Italy.

See how this DC-8 still gets the job done even at 51 years of age.

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In response, the charity's president Franklin Graham stood by the Statement of Faith but said he doesn't believe this is the right time for the debate.

The statement includes bible verses that guide the charity's work; however, it also includes a position on homosexuality and gay marriage. "We believe God's plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological persons made to complete each other," states the document. "For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female."

The statement includes bible verses that guide the charity's work; however, it also includes a position on homosexuality and gay marriage. "We believe God's plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological persons made to complete each other," states the document. "For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female."

Samaritan's Purse is a controversial organization. It drew criticism after it began constructing tents in Central Park for requiring employees and volunteers to sign a "Statement of Faith."

It's just one of 23 aircraft in the Samaritan's Purse fleet. Other unique birds include this World War II-era Douglas DC-3 used to access remote regions inaccessible for the DC-8.

Despite its old age, the jet allows Samaritan's Purse to get directly to the places that need assistance. Other missions the DC-8 has embarked on include humanitarian aid trips to Iraq, Mozambique, Ecuador, and the Bahamas.

Despite its old age, the jet allows Samaritan's Purse to get directly to the places that need assistance. Other missions the DC-8 has embarked on include humanitarian aid trips to Iraq, Mozambique, Ecuador, and the Bahamas.

After the Italy missions, the DC-8 was tasked with flying a supply mission to Alaska and delivered supplies including hospital beds and personal protective equipment at the behest of the state's governor.

After the Italy missions, the DC-8 was tasked with flying a supply mission to Alaska and delivered supplies including hospital beds and personal protective equipment at the behest of the state's governor.

And belly-hold underneath the main cabin.

The DC-8 is capable of carrying around 84,000 pounds of cargo both in the primary cargo hold...

Field hospital setups are common cargo for the DC-8, reserved for severe situations that require additional medical infrastructure.

The jet ultimately made two trips back-to-back trips to Italy from its base in Greensboro, North Carolina. One on March 17 and the next on March 21.

Italy had just over 2,500 deaths when the field hospitals were airlifted across the Atlantic, intended to relieve pressure on overworked hospitals. That number has since risen to over 20,000 despite a nationwide lockdown.

Italy had just over 2,500 deaths when the field hospitals were airlifted across the Atlantic, intended to relieve pressure on overworked hospitals. That number has since risen to over 20,000 despite a nationwide lockdown.

New York City received similar field hospital setups in Central Park built by the charity in conjunction with the Mount Sinai Hospital System. Those, however, were trucked in from North Carolina.

The mobile field hospitals can house 68-beds and include a respiratory care unit and intensive care unit.

Here's a look inside one of them in Cremona, Italy near Milan after being constructed by the charity's support staff.

They can be easily loaded into the DC-8's main cargo hold via a standard freight loader on hand at most large airports.

These grey-tents will be the structures that house the field hospital.

Large pallets of medical supplies were loaded on to the aircraft for the journey as the charity would be setting up an emergency field hospital in the region.

The DC-8 undertook its first European COVID-19 mission in mid-March, making its first trip to Verona in Northern Italy on March 17.

Samaritan's Purse began flying COVID-19 missions in March when Italy became the first European country to fall prey to the virus.

Combi aircraft are increasingly rare, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines remaining one of a handful of airlines still operating such aircraft with a Boeing 747 combi. The fleet was retired from passenger service in March and the Dutch flag carrier shifted to small twin-engine aircraft.

Combi aircraft are increasingly rare, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines remaining one of a handful of airlines still operating such aircraft with a Boeing 747 combi. The fleet was retired from passenger service in March and the Dutch flag carrier shifted to small twin-engine aircraft.

Pallets are loaded in the cargo section on the main level, which takes up a majority of the airframe, while smaller boxes and items are loaded in the smaller belly cargo hold.

And up to 32 passengers in the back. Finnair had used the DC-8 on its first transatlantic route between Helsinki and Amsterdam, taking advantage of the combi to earn additional cargo revenue on the trip.

And up to 32 passengers in the back. Finnair had used the DC-8 on its first transatlantic route between Helsinki and Amsterdam, taking advantage of the combi to earn additional cargo revenue on the trip.

The jet flies both cargo and passengers, known as a combi aircraft with freight being loaded in the front...

Arriving at Samaritan's Purse in 2015, the now-51-year-old DC-8 serves as the flagship of the charity's fleet of more than 20 aircraft.

The DC-8 currently in use with Samaritan's Purse first flew with Finnair in 1969 then had subsequent stints with the French Air Force and Air Transport International, a US cargo airline.

And Delta Air Lines.

The four-engine jet offered long-range jet service and was widely used by American carriers including Pan American World Airways, United Airlines...

An all-American aircraft, the DC-8 was built by Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California at the very beginning of the jet age in the 1950s.

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The controversial charity setting up hospital tents in NYC uses a 51-year-old plane to transport COVID-19 supplies. Take a closer look at its DC-8.

In response, the charity's president Franklin Graham stood by the Statement of Faith but said he doesn't believe this is the right time for the debate.

Samaritan's Purse is a controversial organization. It drew criticism after it began constructing tents in Central Park for requiring employees and volunteers to sign a "Statement of Faith."

It's just one of 23 aircraft in the Samaritan's Purse fleet. Other unique birds include this World War II-era Douglas DC-3 used to access remote regions inaccessible for the DC-8.

Despite its old age, the jet allows Samaritan's Purse to get directly to the places that need assistance. Other missions the DC-8 has embarked on include humanitarian aid trips to Iraq, Mozambique, Ecuador, and the Bahamas.

After the Italy missions, the DC-8 was tasked with flying a supply mission to Alaska and delivered supplies including hospital beds and personal protective equipment at the behest of the state's governor.

And belly-hold underneath the main cabin.

The DC-8 is capable of carrying around 84,000 pounds of cargo both in the primary cargo hold...

Field hospital setups are common cargo for the DC-8, reserved for severe situations that require additional medical infrastructure.

The jet ultimately made two trips back-to-back trips to Italy from its base in Greensboro, North Carolina. One on March 17 and the next on March 21.

Italy had just over 2,500 deaths when the field hospitals were airlifted across the Atlantic, intended to relieve pressure on overworked hospitals. That number has since risen to over 20,000 despite a nationwide lockdown.

New York City received similar field hospital setups in Central Park built by the charity in conjunction with the Mount Sinai Hospital System. Those, however, were trucked in from North Carolina.

The mobile field hospitals can house 68-beds and include a respiratory care unit and intensive care unit.

Here's a look inside one of them in Cremona, Italy near Milan after being constructed by the charity's support staff.

They can be easily loaded into the DC-8's main cargo hold via a standard freight loader on hand at most large airports.

These grey-tents will be the structures that house the field hospital.

Large pallets of medical supplies were loaded on to the aircraft for the journey as the charity would be setting up an emergency field hospital in the region.

The DC-8 undertook its first European COVID-19 mission in mid-March, making its first trip to Verona in Northern Italy on March 17.

Samaritan's Purse began flying COVID-19 missions in March when Italy became the first European country to fall prey to the virus.

Combi aircraft are increasingly rare, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines remaining one of a handful of airlines still operating such aircraft with a Boeing 747 combi. The fleet was retired from passenger service in March and the Dutch flag carrier shifted to small twin-engine aircraft.

Pallets are loaded in the cargo section on the main level, which takes up a majority of the airframe, while smaller boxes and items are loaded in the smaller belly cargo hold.

And up to 32 passengers in the back. Finnair had used the DC-8 on its first transatlantic route between Helsinki and Amsterdam, taking advantage of the combi to earn additional cargo revenue on the trip.

The jet flies both cargo and passengers, known as a combi aircraft with freight being loaded in the front...

Arriving at Samaritan's Purse in 2015, the now-51-year-old DC-8 serves as the flagship of the charity's fleet of more than 20 aircraft.

The DC-8 currently in use with Samaritan's Purse first flew with Finnair in 1969 then had subsequent stints with the French Air Force and Air Transport International, a US cargo airline.

And Delta Air Lines.

The four-engine jet offered long-range jet service and was widely used by American carriers including Pan American World Airways, United Airlines...

An all-American aircraft, the DC-8 was built by Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California at the very beginning of the jet age in the 1950s.