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SHARON DUKER
DC-8 DESIGN
May 16, 1975 Washington C.H. Record-Herald
Plane readied for take off from Wilmington
Crew remodels jet aircraft for bicentennial
celebration
The Independence bicentennial plane will be on
display today and Saturday at the Overseas National
Airways Maintenance Facility in Wilmington before
flying on an extensive tour of the United States
and nations abroad. The patriotically painted DC-8
aircraft in bright red, white and blue was
completely redecorated at the Wilmington base by
approximately IOO employes, several of whom are
from the Washington C.H. area.
The bicentennial project required two weeks for
painting and an additional two months for a complete
mechanical overhaul in Wilmington, where maintenance
is conducted on 16 DC-10, DC-9 and DC-8 aircraft
carriers for Overseas National Airways. Customer
service for passenger and cargo handling is also
done there. The 180-passenger bicentennial aircraft
was designed by Sharon Duker, a flight attendant
with ONA in New York and features "flag blue” wings
and basic red and white striped body and tail.
A circle of 13 stars depicting the original 13
American colonies is illustrated on the tail,
along with four large white stars on the blue
nose of the plane and one additional white star
on the front tip of the aircraft. Inscribed in
bold white lettering on the side of the plane
are U.S.A., the bicentennial dates "1776-1976,”
and the christened name of the N1776R Independence.
The interior includes red, white and blue headrest
covers and passenger services and is accented with
appropriate plaques and a large color photograph of
the aircraft exterior. A sister ship to the
Independence is now in the planning
stages by Overseas National Airways, according to
Wayne Manning of the Wilmington base.
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