The Success Story

The Boeing success story begins with Boeing winning the contract from the US Air Force for building a new Tanker/Transport aircraft. Boeing having previously been a large supplier of military aircrafts had shown little interest for the Civil Aircraft scene. This had largely been fulfilled by the likes of Dougls Co. and Lockheed, with their successful line of propeller driven Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7 and Lockheed's L1049 Constellation.

With the introduction of Boeing's Model 367-80, this would change. Securing a military contract with the 367-80, Boeing began studies for a passenger version. The 367-80 first flew at Renton on July 15, 1954. The model Dash 80 was a similar design, which was a testing model for what would later become known as the Boeing 707. On October 5, 1954 Boeing was offically awarded the contract by the Air Force for the tanker/transport later known as the KC-135A (Boeing called it the B717, but this was never used by the Air Force. That honour later going to the MD-95). Another year were to lapse before a civil contract were signed, the 707 first being ordered by Pan American (Pan Am).

The aircraft were from the start offered in different versions, and with different engine options. This is a concept Boeing have continued throughout its selection of models. The inital model had a weight of 108,860kg (240,000lb) with seating for 179 (single-class). The design featured 4 engines in pods under the wing, initially with the Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 engines.

The Pan Am order literally triggered a "jet buying spree" by the worlds airlines, which let Boeing (and other manufacturer with other jet proposals) to go to full scale production, and the first Boeing 707 to go off the production line flew on 20 December 1957. Fulltype approval was given on 23 September 1958, and entered revenue service with Pan Am on 26 October.

While the Boeing 707 wasn't the first jetliner flying, (having been beaten into service by the deHavilland Comet and the Tuploev Tu-104) it was the most successful of the early jetliners put into service. This success stemmed the way for further Boeing sales records and sucess with later aircraft.

The identificatinon of the different models were through dash number, the early version with the JT3C engines were generally known as the Boeing 707-120. All first customer opted for the long body 707, with only Qantas chosing the short bodied version. Fuselage length was 41.00m (134ft 6in) with the longer fuselage version being 44.04m (144ft 6in). A more powerful version, the 707-220 with JT4A-3 or 5 turbojets was offered for the US domestic market. Only Braniff chose this version.

A long range version, the 707 Intercontinental was offered from the outset of the programme. It featured a lenthed fuselage to seat up to 189 passengers, longer wingspan, more fuel and higher weights. Engine choice were either the JT4A or Rolls-Royce Conway engines. Depending on engine choice these were designated the 707-320 or 707-420. Pan Am put the 707-320 into service on 26 August 1959. The 707-420 was put into service with BOAC in May 1960. Considerable flight testing were needed to obtain the British certification, ultimatly leading to several new features being implemented in the design. These included a taller fin and rudder and a ventral fin, which became available for all 707 variants in due course.