Originally Posted by
SOPS
Sorry for the thread drift...but a question, what was the range difference between a 720B and a 707 ( of any type)?
I believe the difference was actually in the tankage, to get a reduced MTOW; the engines were the same, these stepped forward from turbojets to fan jets on both types. The 720 had a lighter internal structure and landing gear because of the lighter weights. The 720B, with the engines off the 707-320B but lighter weights, was regarded as a real Pocket Rocket.
Aer Lingus used 720s (non-fan) on Shannon to New York, and sometimes could not make it and had to drop into Gander.
Because of the lightweight structure and reduced MTOW the 720 was never suitable for conversion to a freighter.