"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.