Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a groundbreaking commercial jet that marked a significant advancement in aviation history, following the De Havilland Comet. First taking flight on July 15, 1954, the 707 is known for its ultramodern design, featuring a swept-wing configuration and four jet engines mounted below the wings, a design inspired by military aircraft. This innovative approach not only enhanced performance but also minimized metal fatigue, contributing to the aircraft's safety and reliability.
The Boeing 707 set multiple aerial speed and range records and became a popular choice for airlines, with major orders from carriers like Pan American and American Airlines, effectively launching the jet age in the United States. Over its production run, more than a thousand units were built, establishing new benchmarks for passenger travel and maintaining a legacy of excellence in commercial aviation. Although the 707 has been gradually replaced by more modern aircraft since 1970, it continues to serve as a crucial part of cargo air fleets globally. Its impact on the aviation industry endures, symbolizing a pivotal shift towards the dominance of jet transportation.
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Boeing 707
First American jet-propelled transport and passenger plane to go into commercial service
Date Entered service in 1954
The Boeing 707 set new standards for aviation travel, efficiency, and safety while carrying record numbers of passengers.
The age of commercial jet transportation officially began in May, 1952, with the deployment of Great Britain’s De Havilland Comet airliner. Two years later, the Americans followed up with Boeing’s revolutionary model 367-80, more commonly known as the 707, which performed its maiden flight on July 15, 1954. The 707 was an ultramodern, swept-wing aircraft with features adapted from the famous Boeing B-47 Stratojet bomber. Foremost among these features was the positioning of four jet engines in pods below the wings to minimize metal fatigue. Sleek and powerful, the new 707 prototype set several aerial speed and range records for jet aircraft while the British Comet was beset by inexplicable crashes. Within months, Boeing received large orders from Pan American and American Airlines as the United States pioneered the jet transportation revolution. The 707 helped establish America’s dominance of commercial jet manufacture.
Impact
The Boeing 707 established new aviation standards for passenger travel in terms of range, safety, reliability, and ease of maintenance. The company received orders from airlines around the world and ultimately more than one thousand of the planes were built and sold. The commercial fleet of 707s was gradually phased out by newer designs commencing in 1970, but it remains the backbone of cargo air fleets around the world.
Bibliography
Francillon, René J. Boeing 707: Pioneer Jetliner. Osceola, Wis.: MBI, 1999. Fully illustrated history by an aviation authority.
Winchester, Jim. Boeing 707/720. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife, 2002. A unique British perspective on the American aircraft.