The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner In contrast to today's relatively fuel-efficient, turbofan-powered air travel, first generation jet airliner travel was noisy and fuel inefficient. These inefficiencies were addressed by the invention of turboprop and turbofan engines developed by Boeing Boeing Commercial Airplanes is a unit of The Boeing Company, based in Renton, Washington consisting of the Seattle-based former Boeing Airplane Company , as well as the Long Beach-based Douglas Aircraft division of the former McDonnell Douglas Corporation. In 2006, Boeing was the world’s largest civil aircraft company in terms of orders, in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". Boeing delivered a total of 1,010 Boeing 707s including a smaller, faster model of the aircraft that was marketed as the Boeing 720.

Although it was not the first commercial The de Havilland Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland, it first flew in 1949 and was considered a landmark in British aeronautical design. After introduction into commercial service, the initial Comet versions suffered from catastrophic metal fatigue, causing two well- jet A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes — as high as 10,000 to 15,000 meters . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller powered aircraft achieve their maximum efficiency at in service, the 707 was among the first to be commercially successful. Dominating passenger air transport in the 1960s, and remaining common throughout the 1970s, the 707 is generally credited with ushering in the Jet Age The Jet Age is a period of history defined by the social change brought about by the advent of large aircraft powered by turbine engines. These aircraft are able to fly much higher, faster, and farther than older piston-powered propliners, making transcontinental and inter-continental travel considerably faster and easier: for example, aircraft.[3][4] It established Boeing as one of the largest makers of passenger aircraft, and led to the later series of aircraft with "7x7" designations.

Contents

Development

The Boeing 707 was an outgrowth of the Boeing Model 367-80 The Boeing 367-80, or "Dash 80" as it was called within Boeing, is an American prototype jet transport built to demonstrate the advantages of jet aircraft for passenger transport over piston-engined airliners. The "Dash 80" took less than two years from project launch in 1952 to rollout on May 14, 1954, then first flew on July 15, 1954. It was powered by the Pratt & Whitney JT3C engine, which was the civilian version of the J57 used on many military aircraft of the day, including the F-100 The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. As the first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was capable of supersonic speed in level flight. The F-100 was originally designed as a fighter and the B-52 The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since 1955 bomber.

The prototype was conceived as a proof of concept aircraft for both military and civilian use: the United States Air Force The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare, space warfare, and cyberwarfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch was the first customer for the design, using it as the KC-135 Stratotanker The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker was the first jet powered aerial refueling tanker of the US Air Force, replacing the KC-97 Stratotanker. Similar in design to the later and enlarged Boeing 707 airliner, it was initially tasked to refuel strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam war and later conflicts such as Desert Storm to extend midair refueling platform. It was far from certain that the passenger 707 would be profitable. At the time, Boeing was making nearly all of its money from military contracts: its last passenger transport, the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser was a luxurious long-range postwar airliner with four piston-driven engines. It was a civilian version of the C-97 Stratofreighter, had netted the company a $15 million loss before it was purchased by the Air Force as the KC-97 Stratotanker.[5]

The 132-inch (3,350 mm) fuselage of the Dash 80 was only wide enough to fit two-plus-two seating (in the manner of the Stratocruiser). Answering customers demands and under Douglas competition, Boeing soon realized that this would not provide a viable payload, so decided to widen the fuselage to 144 in (3,660 mm), the same as the KC-135 Stratotanker, which would allow six-abreast seating — and the shared use of the KC-135's tooling.[6] However, Douglas Aircraft The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas. It is currently a part of Boeing's Commercial Airplanes division had launched its DC-8 The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972. Launched later than the competing Boeing 707, the DC-8 nevertheless established Douglas in a strong position in the airliner market, and remained in production until 1972 when much larger designs, including the DC-10, made the DC-8 obsolete. Relegated to second-line with a fuselage width of 147 in (3,730 mm). The airlines liked the extra space, and so Boeing was obliged to increase the 707's cabin width again, this time to 148 in (3,760 mm).[7] This meant that little of the tooling that was made for the Dash 80 was usable for the 707. The extra cost meant the 707 did not become profitable until some years after it would have if these modifications had not been necessary.

Early production Boeing 707-329 of Sabena in April 1960 retaining the original short tail-fin and no ventral fin

The first flight of the first production 707-120 took place on December 20, 1957, and FAA certification followed on September 18, 1958.[8] A number of changes were incorporated into the production models from the prototype. A Krueger flap was installed along the leading edge between the inner and outer engines on early 707-120 and -320 models[2][9]

The initial standard model was the 707-120 with JT3C engines. Qantas Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) is the national airline of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an acronym/initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport. It is Australia's largest ordered a shorter body version called the 707-138, which was a -120 that had six fuselage frames removed, three in front of the wings, three aft. The frames in the 707 were each 20 inches (500 mm) long, so this resulted in a net shortening of 10 ft (3 m) to 134 ft, 6 inches (41 m). Because the maximum takeoff weight remained the same 257,000 lbs (116 Tonne) as the -120, the 138 was able to fly the longer routes that Qantas needed.[9] Braniff International Airways Braniff International Airways was an American airline that existed from 1928 until 1982. It operated in the midwestern and southwestern U.S., South America, Panama, and in its later years, Asia and Europe. The airline ceased operations on May 12, 1982, due to factors including escalating fuel prices, aggressive and unsustainable expansion, and ordered the higher-thrust version with Pratt & Whitney JT4A engines, the 707-220. The final major derivative was the 707-320 which featured an extended-span wing and JT4A engines, while the 707-420 was the same as the -320 but with Rolls-Royce Conway turbofan A turbofan is a type of aircraft gas turbine engine that provides thrust using a combination of a ducted fan and a jet exhaust nozzle. Part of the airstream from the ducted fan passes through the core, providing oxygen to burn fuel to create power. However, the rest of the air flow bypasses the engine core and mixes with the faster stream from the engines. British certification requirements relating to engine-out go-arounds also forced Boeing to increase the height of the tail fin The vertical stabilizers, or fins, of aircraft, missiles or bombs are typically found on the aft end of the fuselage or body, and are intended to reduce aerodynamic side slip on all 707 variants, as well as add a ventral fin, which was retrofitted on earlier -120 and -220 aircraft. These modifications also aided in the mitigation of dutch roll by providing more yaw stability.

A Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines Corporation, commonly known as PIA , is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline, with its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, is the 31st largest airline in Asia, operating scheduled services to 23 domestic destinations and 36 international destinations in 25 countries Boeing 707 photographed in Germany, 1961

Eventually, the dominant engine for the Boeing 707 family was the Pratt & Whitney JT3D, a turbofan variant of the JT3C with lower fuel consumption as well as higher thrust. JT3D-engined 707s and 720s were denoted with a "B" suffix. While many 707-120Bs and 720Bs were conversions of existing JT3C-powered machines, 707-320Bs were only available as new-built aircraft as they had a stronger structure to support a maximum take-off weight increased by 19,000 lb (8,600 kg), along with minor modifications to the wing. The 707-320B series enabled non-stop westbound flights from Europe to the US west coast.

The final 707 variant was the 707-320C, (C for "Convertible") which was fitted with a large fuselage door for cargo applications. This aircraft also had a significantly revised wing featuring three-section leading-edge flaps. This provided an additional improvement to takeoff and landing performance, and also allowed the ventral fin to be removed (although the taller fin was retained). 707-320Bs built after 1963 used the same wing as the -320C and were known as 707-320B Advanced aircraft.

An ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138B, owned by John Travolta John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. He first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease. Travolta's career re-surged in the 1990s, with his role in Pulp Fiction, and he has since continued starring in, repainted in vintage Qantas livery

Production of the passenger 707 ended in 1978. In total, 1,010 707s were built for civil use, though many of these found their way to military service. The purpose-built military variants remained in production until 1991.

Traces of the 707 are still found in the 737 The Boeing 737 is a short to medium range, single aisle, narrow body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has nine variants with the -600, -700, -800 and -900 currently in production, which uses a modified version of the 707's fuselage, as well as essentially the same external nose and cockpit configuration as the 707. These were also used on the previous Boeing 727 The Boeing 727 is an American mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner. The first Boeing 727 flew in 1963 and for over a decade it was the most produced commercial jet airliner in the world. When production ended in 1984, a total of 1,831 aircraft had been produced. The 727's sales record for the most jet airliners, while the Boeing 757 The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twinjet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the 757 can carry between 186 and 279 passengers, and have a maximum range of 3,100 to 3,900 nautical miles depending on variant and seating configuration. The Boeing 757 has been produced in two fuselage lengths: the also used the 707 fuselage cross-section. The Chinese government sponsored development of the Shanghai Y-10 during the 1970s, which was a near carbon-copy of the 707; however, this did not enter production.

Operational history

The first commercial orders for the 707 came on October 13, 1955,[6] when Pan Am Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal US international air carrier from the late 1920s until its collapse on December 4, 1991. Founded in 1927 as a scheduled air mail and passenger service operating between Florida and Havana, Cuba, the airline became a major company credited with many innovations that shaped the committed to 20 707s and 25 Douglas DC-8s, a dramatic increase in passenger capacity over its existing fleet of propeller aircraft. The competition between the 707 and DC-8 was fierce. Several major airlines committed only to the DC-8, as Douglas Aircraft was a more established maker of passenger aircraft at the time. To stay competitive, Boeing made a late and costly decision to redesign and enlarge the 707's wing to help increase range and payload. The new version was numbered 707-320.

Pan Am Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal US international air carrier from the late 1920s until its collapse on December 4, 1991. Founded in 1927 as a scheduled air mail and passenger service operating between Florida and Havana, Cuba, the airline became a major company credited with many innovations that shaped the was the first airline An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit to operate the 707; the aircraft's first commercial flight was from New York New York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over global commerce, finance, media, culture, art, fashion, research, education, and entertainment. As host of the to Paris on October 26, 1958 with a fuel stop in Gander, Newfoundland. American Airlines American Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States and is the world's second largest airline (behind Delta Air Lines) in passenger miles transported, passenger fleet size, and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/ operated the first domestic 707 flight on January 25, 1959. Continental Airlines Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) is a major American airline based and headquartered in Continental Center I in Downtown Houston, Texas. It is the fourth-largest airline in the US based on revenue passenger miles. Continental operates flights to destinations throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions introduced its first two 707 aircraft into scheduled service three months later—the first U.S. carrier to employ the type widely in domestic service. Airlines which had only ordered the DC-8, such as United United Air Lines, Inc., doing business as United Airlines , is a major airline based in the United States and one of the world's largest airlines with 48,000 employees and 360 aircraft. It is a subsidiary of UAL Corporation with corporate offices in Chicago. United's largest hub is Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. United also has hubs in, Delta Delta Air Lines, Inc. is an American airline headquartered in Atlanta and the world's largest airline. Delta operates an extensive domestic and international network, spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Australia. Delta and its subsidiaries fly to 247 destinations in 66 countries ( and Eastern Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, were left jetless for months until September and lost market share on transcontinental flights.

The 707 quickly became the most popular jetliner of its time. Its popularity led to rapid developments in airport terminals, runways, airline catering, baggage handling, reservations systems and other air transport infrastructure. The advent of the 707 also led to the upgrading of air traffic control Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other support for pilots when able. In some countries, ATC systems to prevent interference with military jet operations.[10]

Conway-powered BOAC 707-436 at London Heathrow Airport London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the largest airport in the United Kingdom. It is the fifth busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic and it handles more international passengers than any other airport in the world. It is also the busiest airport in the European Union in in 1964.

As the 1960s drew to a close, the exponential growth in air travel led to the 707 being a victim of its own success. The 707 was now too small to handle the increased passenger densities on the routes for which it was designed. Stretching the fuselage was not a viable option because the installation of larger, more powerful engines would in turn need a larger undercarriage, which was not feasible given the design's limited ground clearance. Boeing's answer to the problem was the first twin aisle airliner — the Boeing 747 The Boeing 747 is a widebody commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by the nickname Jumbo Jet or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first widebody ever produced. Manufactured by Boeing's Commercial Airplane unit in the United States, the original version of the 747 was two and a. The 707's first-generation engine technology was also rapidly becoming obsolete in the areas of noise and fuel economy.

In 1982, during the Falklands War The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom (UK) over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Falkland Islands consist of two large and many small islands in the South Atlantic Ocean east of Argentina; their name and the Argentine Air Force The Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the armed forces of Argentina. As of 2007, it had 14,606 airmen and 6,854 civilians on duty extensively used civilians 707s for long range maritime patrol with some of them being intercepted and shepherded away by Royal Navy Sea Harriers [11], it also lead to the conversion of British Nimrods The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod is a maritime patrol aircraft developed in the United Kingdom. It is an extensive modification of the de Havilland Comet, the world's first jet airliner. It was originally designed by de Havilland's successor, Hawker Siddeley, now part of BAE Systems. A major modification was the fit of a large weapon bay under the to carry Sidewinder air-to-air missiles after a casual encounter.

Trans World Airlines Trans World Airlines renamed TWA Airlines LLC in 2001 was a major United States-based airline with hubs in St. Louis, New York (JFK),with focus cities in Kansas City, Missouri; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Los Angeles, California. The airline operated from 1930 until it was acquired by American Airlines in 2001. Prior to the buyout, TWA was one of flew the last scheduled 707 flight for passengers by a US carrier on October 30, 1983,[12] although 707s remained in scheduled service by airlines from other nations for much longer. For example Middle East Airlines (MEA) of Lebanon Lebanon (pronounced /ˈlɛbənɒn/ or /ˈlɛbənən/; Arabic: لُبْنَان‎ Lubnān; French: Liban), officially the Republic of Lebanon[nb 1] (Arabic: اَلْجُمْهُورِيَّة اَللُّبْنَانِيَّة al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah; French: République libanaise), is a country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean flew 707s and 720s in front-line passenger service until the end of the 1990s. Since LADE of Argentina The Argentine claims in Antarctica along with the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands (administered by the United Kingdom) shown in light green took its 707-320B from regular service in 2007, Saha Air Lines of Iran Iran (Persian: ایران [ʔiˈɾɒn] ), officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and formerly known as Persia, is a country in Central Eurasia and Western Asia. The name Iran has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was widely known as Persia. Both Persia and Iran are is the last airline to keep 707s in scheduled passenger service. Saha's 707-320C is listed for the nightly domestic flight between Tehran Tehran , is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With a population of 18,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the 20th largest city in the world and Kish Island Kish is a resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is part of the Hormozgān Province of Iran. Due to its free trade zone status it is touted as a consumer's paradise, with numerous malls, shopping centres, tourist attractions, and resort hotels. It has an estimated population of 20,000 residents and about 1 million people visit the island annually as well as a weekly flight between Tehran and Mashhad Mashhad is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is located 850 kilometres (530 mi) east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its population was 2,427,316 at the 2006 population census on Friday morning plus ad-hoc flights to numerous other airports in Iran when needed, as of November 2008[update].

In 1984, a Boeing 720 that was flown by remote control was intentionally crashed at Edwards AFB Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and 7 miles (11 km) due east of Rosamond. It is named in as a part of the FAA The Federal Aviation Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. (National Airworthiness Authority). The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the group under the name "Federal Aviation Agency", and adopted its current name and NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an Executive Branch agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's civilian space program and aeronautics and aerospace research. Since February 2006 NASA's self-described mission statement is to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and Controlled Impact Demonstration The Controlled Impact Demonstration was a joint project between NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aimed at acquiring data, as well as demonstrating and testing new technologies, with the intent of improving occupant crash survivability, by crashing a Boeing 720 aircraft. The tests involved the efforts of NASA Ames Research Center, program. The test provided peak accelerations during a crash.[13]

Operations of the 707 were threatened by the enactment of international noise regulations in 1985. Shannon Engineering of Seattle, Washington developed a hush kit with funding from Tracor, Inc, of Austin, Texas. By the late 1980s, 172 Boeing 707s had been equipped with the Quiet 707 package. Boeing acknowledged that more 707s were in service then than before the hush kit was available.[14] "Boeing News" reported the increase in operational 707's prior to April 1989.[citation needed]

Honeywell Honeywell (legally Honeywell International Inc.) is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments operated the last Boeing 720 in operation in the United States, flying out of Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix Phoenix is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the fifth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to approximately 1.5 million people, and is the anchor of the Phoenix metropolitan area (also known as the Valley of the Sun), the 12th largest metro area by population in the United States with. The aircraft had been modified with an extra engine nacelle to allow testing of a turbine engine at altitude, operating on special certification allowing it to be used for experimental use. The aircraft's experimental flight certification was set to expire in 2008, and the 720 is being replaced by a Boeing 757.[15] This 720B was scrapped on June 21 and 22, 2008.[16]

Design

Engines

View of number 1 (top left) and 2 (center) Pratt & Whitney JT3D jet engines on the port side of a British Caledonian Boeing 707-320B. The number 1 engine mount (top) is different from the other three engines.

The 707's used engine-driven turbocompressors to supply high-pressure air for pressurization. The engines could not supply sufficient bleed air for this purpose without a serious loss of thrust. On many commercial 707s the outer port (#1) engine mount is distinctly different from the other three, as this is the only engine not fitted with a turbocompressor.

Wings

The 707 wings are swept back at 35 degrees and, like all swept-wing aircraft, displayed an undesirable "Dutch roll" flying characteristic which manifested itself as an alternating yawing and rolling motion. Boeing already had considerable experience with this on the B-47 and B-52, and had developed the yaw damper system on the B-47 that would be applied to later swept wing configurations like the 707. However, many new 707 pilots had no experience with this phenomenon as they were transitioning from straight-wing propeller driven aircraft such as the Douglas DC-7 and Lockheed Constellation.

On one customer acceptance flight, where the yaw damper was turned off to familiarize the new pilots with flying techniques, a trainee pilot's actions violently exacerbated the Dutch Roll motion and caused three of the four engines to be torn from the wings. The plane, a brand new 707-227 N7071 destined for Braniff, crash landed on a river bed north of Seattle at Arlington, Washington, killing four of the eight occupants.[17]

In his autobiography, test pilot Tex Johnston described a Dutch Roll incident he experienced as a passenger on an early commercial 707 flight. As the aircraft's movements didn't cease and most of the passengers became ill, he suspected a misrigging of the directional autopilot (yaw damper). He went to the cockpit and found the crew unable to understand and resolve the situation. He introduced himself and relieved the ashen-faced captain who immediately left the cockpit feeling ill. Johnston disconnected the faulting autopilot and manually stabilized the plane "with two slight control movements".

Upgraded engines

Omega Air's 707-330C testbed for the 707RE program takes off from the Mojave Airport

Pratt & Whitney, in a joint venture with Seven Q Seven (SQS) and Omega Air, has developed the JT8D-219 as a re-engine powerplant for Boeing 707-based aircraft, calling their modified configuration a 707RE.[18] Northrop Grumman has selected the -219 to re-engine the United States Air Force's fleet of 19 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (E-8 Joint STARS) aircraft, which will allow the JSTARS more time on station due to the engine's greater fuel efficiency. NATO also plans to re-engine their fleet of E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. The -219 is publicized as being half the cost of the competing 707 re-engine powerplant, the CFM International CFM56, and is 40dB quieter than JT3D engines that are being replaced.[18]

Variants

Note: Although certificated as Series 100s, 200s, 300s, etc. the different 707 variants are more commonly known as Series 120s, 220s, 320s, and so on where the "20" part of the designation is Boeing's "customer number" for its development aircraft.

367-80

The 367-80 (Dash-80) was the original prototype Boeing jet transport. Used to develop the KC-135 Stratotanker and the 707, it was fitted with four Pratt & Whitney JT3C engines, each producing 10,000 lbf (44.5 kN). First flight was 15 July 1954.[19] Upon completion of initial test programs, it found use as a flying testbed for new technologies and for continuing improvements to the 707 series. Later fitted with Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofans, it was retired to storage in Arizona. It is now preserved for public viewing at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM)'s annex near Washington Dulles International Airport.

717

The Boeing designation for C-135 Stratolifter and KC-135 Stratotanker derivatives of the 367-80. The designation was later used in renaming the McDonnell Douglas MD-95 to Boeing 717 after the company was merged with Boeing.

707-120

Boeing 707-123B cockpit

The 707-120 was the first production 707 variant. The variant featured a longer, wider fuselage and greater wingspan than the original Dash-80. A full set of rectangular cabin windows was included for the interior, which was capable of a seating 179 passengers. It was designed for transcontinental routes and often required a refuelling stop when used on the North Atlantic route. It was fitted with four Pratt and Whitney JT3C-6 turbojets, civilian versions of the military J57 model, which produced 12,500 lbf (55.6 kN) each, allowing a 257,000 lb (117,000 kg) takeoff gross weight. First flight was on December 20, 1957. Major orders were the launch order for 20 707-121 aircraft by Pan American and an American Airlines order for 30 707-123 aircraft. The first revenue service of a 707 was on October 26, 1958.[20] A total of 69 were built.

The 707-138 was based on the -120 but had a 10 ft (3.05 m) reduction to the rear fuselage and were capable of increased range. It was a variant for Qantas and included Boeing customer number of 38 for Qantas. A total of 13 -138s were built.

707-120B (VC-137B) wing, showing the new inboard leading edge from the 720.

The 707-120B was the first major upgrade to the design was a re-engining with JT3D-3 turbofans, which were quieter, more powerful, and more fuel-efficient, producing 18,000 lbf (80.1 kN) each. The aircraft also received the wing modifications introduced on the 720. The tailplane was also enlarged on the -120B. A total of 72 of these were built, and many more were converted from 707-120 aircraft, including Qantas' aircraft, which became 707-138B aircraft upon conversion. The first flight of the -120B was on 22 June 1960.

707-220

The 707-220 was designed for hot and high operations with powerful Pratt & Whitney JT4A-3 turbojets, only five of these were produced, however only four were ultimately delivered with one being lost during a test flight. All were for Braniff International Airways and carried the model number 707-227. This version was made obsolete by the arrival of the turbofan-powered 707-120B.

707-320

British Caledonian Boeing 707 shown at Prestwick International Airport, South Ayrshire, Scotland, c. 1972.

The 707-320 Intercontinental is a stretched version of the turbojet-powered 707-120, powered by JT4A-3 turbojets producing 15,800 lbf each. The interior allowed for up to 189 passengers due to an 80-inch (2,000 mm) fuselage stretch (from 138 ft 10 in to 145 ft 6 in), with extensions to both the tail and horizontal stabilizer extending the aircraft's length further.[21] while a longer wing carried more fuel, increasing range by 1,600 miles (2,600 km) and allowing the aircraft to operate as true transoceanic aircraft. The wing modifications included outboard and inboard inserts, as well as a kink in the trailing edge to add area inboard.[9] Takeoff weight was increased to 316,000 lb (143,000 kg). First flight was on January 11, 1958, and 69 turbojet 707-320s were produced.No -320 Intercontinental models were re-engined with fan engines in civil use, but around year 2000 the Israeli Air Force re-engined two ex-Sabena -320 based military tankers.

The 707-320B is a re-engined version undertaken in parallel with the -120B, using the same JT3D-3 turbofans and incorporating many of the same airframe upgrades as well. The wing was modified from the -320 by adding a second inboard kink, a dog-toothed leading edge, and triangular wingtips instead of the earlier blunt ones.[9] These new wingtips increased overall wingspan by three feet. Takeoff gross weight was increased to 335,000 lb (152,000 kg).The 175 707-320B aircraft produced were all new-build, no original -320 models were converted to fan engines in civilian use. One of the final orders was by the Iranian Government for 14 707-3J9C aircraft capable of VIP transportation, communication, and in-flight refuelling tasks.

The 707-320B Advanced is a slightly improved version of the -320B aircraft, adding three-section leading-edge flaps. These reduced takeoff and landing speeds, and also altered the lift distribution of the wing, allowing the ventral fin found on earlier 707s to be removed. The same wing was also used on the 707-320C.

The 707-320C has a convertible passenger–freight configuration which became the most widely produced variant of the 707. The 707-320C added a strengthened floor and a new cargo door to the -320B model. 335 of these variants were built, including a small number with uprated JT3D-7 engines and a takeoff gross weight of 336,000 lb (152,000 kg). Despite the convertible option, a number of these were delivered as pure freighters.

The 707-420 is a version of the 707-320 originally produced at specific request for BOAC and powered by Rolls-Royce Conway 508 turbofans, producing 17,500 lbf (77.8 kN) each. Although BOAC initiated the programme, Lufthansa was the launch customer and Air India was the first to receive a 707-420 on February 18, 1960. A total of 37 were built to this configuration.

The 707-700 was a test aircraft used to study the feasibility of using CFM International's CFM56 powerplants on a 707 airframe and possibly retrofitting them to existing aircraft. After a testing in 1979, N707QT, the last commercial 707 airframe, was refitted to 707-320C configuration and delivered to the Moroccan Air Force as a tanker aircraft. (This purchase was considered a "civilian" order and not a military one.) Boeing abandoned the program, since they felt it would be a threat to the Boeing 757 program. The information gathered in the test led to the eventual retrofitting program of CFM56 engines to the USAF C-135/KC-135R models, and some military versions of the 707 also used the CFM56. Ironically the Douglas DC-8 "Super 70" series by Cammacorp did develop commercially, extending the life of DC-8 airframes in a stricter noise regulatory environment, so there are today more DC-8s in commercial service than there are 707s.

720

Boeing 720-048 of Aer Lingus-Irish International in 1965

The 720 was originally designated 707-020 but later changed for marketing reasons. It was a modification of the 707-120 designed for medium-range operation from shorter runways. It had four frames removed in front of the wing, and one aft, making it 8 feet 4 inches (2.54 m) shorter than the -120, and certified to a lower maximum takeoff weight. The wing modifications consisted of adding Krueger flaps outboard of the outboard engines to lower takeoff and landing speeds and thus shorten field length, and a thickened inboard section at the leading edge which had a slightly greater sweep. This modification increased the top speed over the -120, and was later available on the -120B and on -120s retrofitted to the B standard.[9] This model had few sales but was still profitable due to the minimal R&D costs associated with modifying an existing type. At one point in the promotion stage to airlines it was known as the 717, although this was the Boeing model designation of the KC-135 and remained unused for a commercial airliner until it was applied to the MD-95 following Boeing's merger with McDonnell Douglas.[22] The 720 was used before the Boeing 727 replaced it in the market. First flight was on November 23, 1959 with 64 of the original version built.

The 720B was the turbofan-powered version of the 720, with JT3D-1-MC6 turbofans producing 17,000 lbf (75.6 kN) each. Takeoff gross weight was increased to 235,000 lb (107,000 kg). A total of 88 of these were built in addition to conversions of existing 720 models.[23]

Military

Main articles: C-137 Stratoliner and Air Force One USAF E-3 Sentry in flight RAAF 707-368C at Perth International airport, Australia Boeing 707s at AMARG being used for salvage parts for the KC-135s.

The militaries of the United States and other countries have used the civilian 707 aircraft in a variety of roles, and under different designations. (Note the 707 and U.S. Air Force's KC-135 were developed in parallel from the Boeing 367-80 prototype.) The Canadian Forces also operated Boeing 707 with designation CC-137 Husky (707-347C) from 1972 to 1997.

The VC-137C variant of the Stratoliner was a special-purpose design meant to serve as Air Force One, the secure transport for the President of The United States of America. These models were in operational use from 1962 to 1990. The two aircraft remain on display: SAM 26000 is at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio and SAM 27000 is at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

See also: E-3 Sentry

Operators

See also: List of Boeing 707 operators

In the 1980s, the USAF acquired around 250 used 707s to provide parts for the KC-135E Stratotanker program.[24]

Although 707s are no longer employed by major airlines, as of August 2009, 58 aircraft were in commercial use, mainly with air cargo operators. Commercial operators of the Boeing 707 are Saha Airline (5), Skymaster Airlines (5), TMA (5), BETA Cargo (4), Iran Air (4), Libyan Airlines (4), Angola Air Charter (3), Hewa Bora Airways (3), and Sudanese States Aviation (3) and other users with fewer than three aircraft.[25] The Romanian Government uses a 707-320C as a Presidential Aircraft, being operated by Romavia.[citation needed] American actor John Travolta owns, and is qualified to fly as second in command, an ex-Qantas 707-138B, registration N707JT.[26]

The list of customer codes used by Boeing to identify specific options and trim specified by customers was started with the 707, and has been maintained through all Boeing's models. Essentially the same system as used on the earlier Boeing 377, the code consisted of two digits affixed to the model number to identify the specific aircraft version. For example, Pan American Airlines was assigned code "21". Thus a 707-320B sold to Pan Am had the model number 707-321B. The number remained constant as further aircraft were purchased, thus when Pan American purchased the 747-100 it had the model number 747-121.

Accidents and incidents

As of May 2007, the 707 has been in a total of 166 hull-loss occurrences[27] with 2,733 fatalities.[28]

Notable accidents

Aircraft on display

Retired South African Air Force Boeing 707-328C at the South African Air Force Museum, Pretoria

Specifications

720 (707-020) 707-120B 707-320B
Cockpit crew Three
Passengers 140 110 (2 class) 179 (1 class) 147 (2 class) 202 (1 class)
Length 136 ft 2 in (41.25 m) 145 ft 1 in (44.07 m) 152 ft 11 in (46.61 m)
Wingspan 130 ft 10 in (39.90 m) 145 ft 9 in (44.42 m)
Tail height 41 ft 7 in (12.65 m) 42 ft 5 in (12.93 m)
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) 222,000 lb (100,800 kg) 257,000 lb (116,570 kg) 333,600 lb (151,320 kg)
Empty weight 103,145 lb (46,785 kg) 122,533 lb (55,580 kg) 146,400 lb (66,406 kg)
Takeoff run at MTOW 8,300 ft (2,515 m) 11,000 ft (3,330 m) 10,840 ft (3,280 m)
Fuel Capacity 16,060 US gal (60,900 l) 17,330 US gal (65,590 l) 23,820 US gal (90,160 l)
Landing run 5,750 ft (1,740 m) 6,200 ft (1,875 m) 5,950 ft (1,813 m)
Operating range (Max Payload) 3,680 nmi (6,820 km) 3,735 nmi (6,920 km)
Range at MTOW (max fuel) 3800 nmi (7,040 km) 4,700 nmi (8,704 km) 5,750 nmi (10,650 km)
Cruising speed 540 kn (1000 km/h) 525 kn (972 km/h)
Fuselage width 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Powerplants (4 x) Pratt & Whitney JT3C-7: 12,000 lbf (53.3 kN) Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1: 17,000 lbf (75.6 kN) PW JT3D-3: 18,000 lbf (80 kN) PW JT3D-7: 19,000 lbf (84.4 kN)

Sources:[52][53][21]

Deliveries

1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982
1 1 5 14 4 5 0 9 4 3 8 8 8
1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969
2 3 6 13 8 9 7 21 11 4 10 19 59
1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956
111 118 83 61 38 34 68 80 91 77 8 0 0

Notable appearances in media

The 707 is mentioned in the songs "Boeing Boeing 707" by Roger Miller; "Jet Airliner" performed by the Steve Miller Band and written by Paul Pena; and "Early Morning Rain", written by Gordon Lightfoot and popularized by artists such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary.

The aircraft has had major roles in the Airport and Airplane films, and has been alluded to in both television and theatrical movies.

See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Boeing 707 Jet Transport." aviation-history.com. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Bowers 1989, p. 434.
  3. ^ Wilson, p. 13. "The Boeing 707, the airliner which introduced jet travel on a large scale."
  4. ^ Wilson 1999, p. 48. Quote: "The USA's first jetliner, the 707 was at the forefront of jet travel revolution..."
  5. ^ "Gamble in the Sky." Time, July 19, 1954. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Bowers 1989, p. 433.
  7. ^ Irving 1994, pp. 194–197.
  8. ^ Pither 1998, p. 21.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Boeing 707." airlinercafe.com. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  10. ^ "Jets Across the U.S." Time, November 17, 1958. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  11. ^ Finlan, Alastair. The Royal Navy in the Falklands Conflict and the Gulf War: Culture and Strategy (British Politics and Society). London: Rutelage, 2004. ISBN 978-0-7146-8569-4.
  12. ^ "Farewell Flight." Time, November 14, 1983. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  13. ^ "Flight test experience and controlled impact of a remotely piloted jet transport aircraft, NASA-TM-4084." NASA, November 1, 1988. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  14. ^ Federal Aviation Administration issued Supplemental Type Certificate SA2699NM to SHANNON engineering March 6, 1985.
  15. ^ "Boeing 707." Goleta Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  16. ^ "Resident Boeing 720B." visitingphx.com. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  17. ^ Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
  18. ^ a b "Boeing 707." Flug Revue, May 12, 2002. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  19. ^ Pither 1998, p. 12.
  20. ^ Pither 1998, p. 22.
  21. ^ a b "707 Airplane Characteristics: Airport Planning." The Boeing Company, December, 1968. Retrieved: April 15, 2010.
  22. ^ Lombardi, Michael. "The first KC-135 rolled out 50 years ago this month." Historical Perspective, Start of a Proud Mission: Boeing Frontiers, July 2006. Retrieved: April 17, 2010.
  23. ^ "Boeing 707/720 Short History." Boeing. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  24. ^ "KC-135E." Global Security. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  25. ^ "World Airliner Census". Flight International, August 18–24, 2009.
  26. ^ "N707JT". FAA Registry. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  27. ^ "Boeing 707 Accident summary." Aviation-Safety.net, May 5, 2007. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  28. ^ "Boeing 707 Accident Statistics." Aviation-Safety.net, July 5, 2005. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  29. ^ "Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report 2-1754." US Department of Transportation. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  30. ^ "Sabena Flight 548 accident summary." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  31. ^ "Northwest Airlines flight 705." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  32. ^ "PIA flight 705." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  33. ^ "Pan Am flight 292." Aviation-Safety.net.
  34. ^ "South African Airways." Aviation-Safety.net.
  35. ^ "Pan Am Accidents: 1950:1969." panamair.org.
  36. ^ "Pan Am Flight 160." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  37. ^ "Pan Am Flight 812." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  38. ^ "Boeing 707-321C JY-AEE." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: February 26, 2010.
  39. ^ Bladd, Joanne. "MEA flight 438." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  40. ^ "Varig cargo 707-323C." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: October 16, 2009.
  41. ^ "707 crashed in Santa Cruz, Bolivia." bbc.co.uk. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  42. ^ "Varig Flight 797." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  43. ^ "Argentinian Air Force crash info." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  44. ^ "Incident report of Togo Government aircraft loss." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  45. ^ "Bangui incident." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  46. ^ "BETA Cargo." Aviation-Safety.net.
  47. ^ "10/23/2004 incident 707 body information." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  48. ^ Wakabi, Michael. "Cargo 707 clipped rocks before crashing into lake." Flight Global, March 29, 2005. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  49. ^ "Saha Air Flight 171 crash report." Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  50. ^ Bladd, Joanne. "Six dead as cargo plane crashes at Sharjah Airport." Arabian Business, October 21, 2009. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  51. ^ Jadallah, Ahmed and Inal Ersan. "UAE crashed cargo plane owned by Sudan's Azza Air." Reuters, October 21, 2009. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  52. ^ "Boeing 707 Family." Boeing. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
  53. ^ "Boeing 720." Boeing. Retrieved: December 27, 2009.
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