One for the AWACS boys!

[Four Types]

60 years ago today the 707 took its first flight.....the UK AWACS are the 7 last 707s ever built (don't listen to what the French may tell you!)

July 15, 1954: Boeing 707 Makes First Flight | This Day in Tech | WIRED (http://www.wired.com/2010/07/0715boeing-707-test-flight/)

[oldpax]

Mine was a 707 chartered from Aer Lingus to Zambian airways and in 1975 took me from London to Lusaka via Rome .
When my contract in Zambia was over I flew in a 707 to Rome but had to transfer ,it was New years day 1978 and when I stepped onboard was astounded!!It was a 747 of british airways ,I remember looking at a sea of faces(flight originated in Australia)and thinking what on earth is this !!!

[Brian Abraham]

60 years ago today the 707 took its first flightI'll jump in first with pedant mode before ShotOne.

The 367-80 was more a technology demonstrator and a prototype for the 135 and 707 which were to follow. The only similarity of both the 135 and 707 with the -80 was the configuration. Boeing did not get the OK from the USAF to commence work on the 707 until 13 July 1955, as the USAF required Boeing to concentrate on the 135. The first 135 flew on 31 August 1956, and the first 707 on the 20 December 1957. Some of the designation confusion perhaps comes from the 367-80 carrying the registration N70700 and also "Boeing 707" on the fin. That can be put down to marketing. But a 707 it ain't.

Pedant off.

[TBM-Legend]

You didn't mention that the KC-135 series was the Boeing 717....

[SpringHeeledJack]

Apparently the KC-135's are being prepared to go on another 20years!

[Buster Hyman]

Only ever flown on a 707 once, YMML-YSSY to connect with a 747 because...747's would never fly to YMML!!!:rolleyes:

[Brian Abraham]

You didn't mention that the KC-135 series was the Boeing 717All the KCs were, but not all 135s, (numbers built)

717-100A KC-135A (29)
717-146 KC-135A (68)
717-148 KC-135A (635)
717-157 C-135A (15)
717-158 C-135B (30)
717-164 C-135F (12)
717-166 KC-135B (17)
739-700 RC-135A (4)
739-445B RC-135B (10)

[Wensleydale]

Also noteworthy....the UK tried to build an AEW based upon the worlds first jet airliner - failed and so bought one based upon the worlds second oldest airliner.

[salad-dodger]

We also had an ELINT aircraft based on the worlds first jet airliner. That has been replaced by an ELINT aircraft based on..........................


S-D

[oldpax]

Was this not the "Valetta "with two RR Nenes fitted!

[Davef68]

Also noteworthy....the UK tried to build an AEW based upon the worlds first jet airliner - failed and so bought one based upon the worlds second oldest airliner.


Ahem....

Avro Canada C102 Jetliner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_C102_Jetliner)

We also had an ELINT aircraft based on the worlds first jet airliner. That has been replaced by an ELINT aircraft based on

Now there's a question, is the RC-135 an ELINT aircraft or a SIGINT aircraft......

[Wensleydale]

So the C102 "jetliner" prototype carried the mail once but no passengers...it suffered major serviceability problems and had to return by train. No orders were taken for the aircraft and it was cancelled before the second prototype flew. I stand by my original statement - the 707 was the second jet passenger airliner!

[Brian Abraham]

Don't forget the Caravelle Wensley. Prototype flew on the 27 May 1955, 31 months prior to the 707.

[Roadster280]

I've flown on lots of Boeing 717s. They are however in Delta livery (and AirTran in the past). Same engine family as the Nimrod MRA4.

[Boudreaux Bob]

I love this Chest Beating.....all the while ignoring reality.

The 707 and later the DC-8 were the World Standard Airliners of their Day....and not the Caravelle or the Comet.

One can spin it how you will but it was the 707 that set the Standard by which all Jet Airliners were measured.

[Wensleydale]

"Don't forget the Caravelle Wensley. Prototype flew on the 27 May 1955, 31 months prior to the 707."


Sorry Brian....the first production 707 flew 31 months after the Caravelle, but the first prototype of the 707, the 367, flew in July 1954 which beats the Caravelle by a few months (if we are playing prototypes). The Comet prototype flew in July 49.


Dates come from Wiki - I am not a spotter.

[Rhino power]

http://img.pandawhale.com/76190-oh-my-god-who-the-hell-cares-m-W4nV.png ;)

-RP

[Wensleydale]

You are asking a Yorkshireman to admit he was wrong? Even worse, you are asking a Yorkshireman to admit that he was wrong when he wasn't?


"You can always tell a Yorkshireman, (but you can't tell him much)". ;)

[Four Types]

Nice one RP well said

It looks like a 707, it flies like a 707, it smells like a 707....

IT's a 707!!!:ugh:

[Brian Abraham]

It looks like a 707, it flies like a 707, it smells like a 707....On the basis of that logic then, the 135 is a 707. Yes? :E

Rhino, you must be the squadron aircraft recognition guy, no?

[EW73]

A KC-135 is not a REAL 707, the real one had a Flight Engineer!

[Buster Hyman]

A KC-135 is not a REAL 707, the real one had a Flight Engineer!
Like the 767's?

[Brian Abraham]

Some 135s did have a flight engineer. To be precise the RC-135D, only 4 built though, and later converted back to KC minus the engineer.

[Roadster280]

Like the 767's?

Indeed, and here's his station:

http://www.airteamimages.com/pics/166/166103_800.jpg

[Krystal n chips]

Some of the early 767's did have an F/E..notably those operated by TAA.

Have a look at the link below and click on the before and after images.

767 Flight Engineer station | Jetcareers (http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/767-flight-engineer-station.118121/)

The panel configuration also varies significantly depending on the operator, however, as a jump seat, it's very comfortable and you can happily spend many hours watching the two monkeys in front perform their onerous task of watching television screens..... and eating at the same time...the latter was not always a pretty sight. :p

As for F/E's, Air France, being Air France, also carried them on the Caravelle and the early 737's....quite why remains a mystery known only to AF however.

[Rick777]

Not getting into an argument over KC135 vs 707 since I have flown both, but the FAA issued me a 707 type rating based on my flying the 135. The systems are very different, and the 135 is both shorter and narrower than the 707-320Bs that I flew, but they fly pretty much the same. The biggest difference is in the landing. The 707 has slats that the 135 does not and touches down at a much steeper deck angle. My first few landings in the 707 were interesting to say the least. At least I was flying freight and Mr. Box doesn't complain about firm touchdowns.

[stilton]

Very funny Roadster280 !


That is a standard 767 cockpit with the normal 'auxiliary panel' where a flight engineer panel was installed on those few Ansett Aircraft.

[salad-dodger]

Not getting into an argument over KC135 vs 707 since I have flown both, but the FAA issued me a 707 type rating based on my flying the 135. The systems are very different, and the 135 is both shorter and narrower than the 707-320Bs that I flew, but they fly pretty much the same. The biggest difference is in the landing. The 707 has slats that the 135 does not and touches down at a much steeper deck angle. My first few landings in the 707 were interesting to say the least. At least I was flying freight and Mr. Box doesn't complain about firm touchdowns.
You should have paid more attention then as the KC-135 does have leading edge devices. I won't get into the argument of whether they should be referred to as slats or flaps, but the manual calls them flaps. The big difference is the length of the leading edge devices. The KC-135 only has a short span between the engines, on the 707 they are much longer.

S-D

[Buster Hyman]

Stamping all over my subtlety there Roadster! :ok:

And stiltons correct Krystal. Ansett had the three crew 767's. TAA operated A300's

[Rick777]

SD. Of course I know the 135 has small leading edge devices. Regardless of what they are called they only give you 6 knots on final. The 135 lands with a very flat pitch attitude with the nose gear barely off the ground unlike the 707.