23 October 1959 – This Day in Aviation

American Airlines’ first Boeing 707-123 airliner, N7501A, is rolled out.

23 October 1959: American Airlines accepted delivery of its first jet airliner, Boeing 707-123 N7501A (serial number 17628, line number 7). The new airplane had made its first flight on 5 October. Christened Flagship Michigan, American Airlines advertised its new 707 as the “Astrojet.”

The Boeing 707 was developed from the earlier Model 367–80, the “Dash Eighty.” It is a four-engine jet transport with swept wings and tail surfaces. The leading edge of the wings are swept at a 35° angle. The airliner had a flight crew of four: pilot, co-pilot, navigator and flight engineer. The airliner could carry a maximum of 189 passengers.

The 707-123 was 145 feet, 1 inch (44.221 meters) long with a wing span of 130 feet, 10 inches (39.878 meters). The top of the vertical fin stood 42 feet, 5 inches (12.929 meters) high. The 707 pre-dated the ”wide-body” airliners, having a fuselage width of 12 feet, 4 inches (3.759 meters). The airliner’s empty weight is 122,533 pounds (55,580 kilograms). Maximum take off weight is 257,000 pounds (116,573 kilograms).

Boeing 707-123 N7501A, American Airlines Astrojet, Flagship Michigan, at Seattle. (American Airlines)

The first versions were powered by four Pratt & Whitney Turbo Wasp JT3C-6 turbojet engines, producing 11,200 pounds of thrust (49,820 kilonewtons), and 13,500 pounds (60.051 kilonewtons) with water injection. This engine was a civil variant of the military J57 series. It was a two-spool axial-flow turbojet engine with a 16-stage compressor and 2 stage turbine. The JT3C-6 was 11 feet, 6.6 inches (3.520 meters) long, 3 feet, 2.9 inches (0.988 meters) in diameter, and weighed 4,235 pounds (1,921 kilograms).

At MTOW, the 707 required 11,000 feet (3,353 meters) of runway to take off.

The 707-123 had a maximum speed of 540 knots (1,000 kilometers per hour). It’s range was 2,800 nautical miles (5,186 kilometers).

In 1961, N7501A was upgraded to the 707-123B standard. This included a change from the turbojet engines to quieter, more powerful and efficient Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1. The JT3D-1 was a dual-spool axial-flow turbofan engine, with a 2-stage fan section, 13-stage compressor (6 low- and 7 high-pressure stages), 8 combustion chambers and a 4-stage turbine (1 high- and 3 low-pressure stages). This engine was rated at 14,500 pounds of static thrust (64.499 kilonewtons) at Sea Level, and 17,000 pounds (75.620 kilonewtons), with water injection, for takeoff (2½ minute limit). Almost half of the engine’s thrust was produced by the fans. Maximum engine speed was 6,800 r.p.m. (N1) and 10,200 r.p.m. (N2). It was 11 feet, 4.64 inches (3.471 meters) long, 4 feet, 5.00 inches (1.346 meters) wide and 4 feet, 10.00 inches (1.422 meters) high. It weighed 4,165 pounds (1,889 kilograms). The JT3C could be converted to the JT3D configuration during overhaul.

The 707-123B wings were modified to incorporate changes introduced with the Boeing 720, and a longer tailplane installed.

N7501A was sold to Tigerair, Inc., 12 April 1978. It was then sold to Cyprus Airways in March 1979, and reregistered 5B-DAM. When landing at Bahrain International Airport, 19 August 1979, the airliner’s nose wheel collapsed and it was damaged beyond economical repair.

Boeing 707-123B 5B-DAM (s/n 17628) at Bahrain International Airport after sustaining damage when its nose wheel collapsed on landing, 19 August 1979. (Steve Fitzgerald/Wikimedia Commons)

The Boeing 707 was in production from 1958 to 1979. 1,010 were built. Production of 707 airframes continued at Renton until the final one was completed in April 1991.

Related Posts

CƖose-Up Of M1A2 Abɾɑмs And M2A3 Bɾadley Tanкs Cɾossing The Rιʋeɾ (Video)

In the theater of military operations, where strategic maneuvers and tactical precision shape the outcome of battles, a riveting spectacle unfolds as M1A2 Abrams and M2A3 Bradley…

Breakιng Gɾoᴜnd WiTh TҺe Hybrιd EƖecTɾιc STryкerx TechnoƖogy Deмonstɾɑtoɾ: A Beacon Of InnovɑTιon (Video)

In the realm of military technology, the Hybrid Electric StrykerX Technology Demonstrator emerges as a harbinger of progress and sustainability. This close-up exploration delves into the groundbreaking…

InTrodᴜcιng TҺe AƄrɑmsx: TҺe WoɾƖd’s DeadƖιesT New Tɑnk (Video)

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare, technological advancements play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of battles. The AbramsX, hailed as the world’s deadliest new…

M1 Abɾɑms: The Aмazιng Engineeɾing Of Ameɾιcɑ’s Gɾeat Tɑnк (Video)

The M1 Abrams, a marvel of American engineering, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and technological prowess of the United States in the realm of armored…

RheιnмeTɑƖƖ MoƄiƖe Aιɾ Defence: OerƖikon Sкyɾangeɾ® 30 New (Vιdeo)

Rheinmetall Mobile Air Defence (RMAD) continues to advance its cutting-edge technologies in the realm of air defense with the introduction of the Oerlikon Skyranger® 30, marking a…

Aп Egg Yoυ Doп’t Waпt to Mess With: The MH-6 Little Bird

T𝚑𝚎 MH-6 𝚊п𝚍 AH-6 Littl𝚎 Bi𝚛𝚍s 𝚑𝚊v𝚎 iп𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎п ic𝚘пic 𝚊п𝚍 iпv𝚊l𝚞𝚊𝚋l𝚎 𝚊ss𝚎ts 𝚏𝚘𝚛 U.S. s𝚙𝚎ci𝚊l 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊ti𝚘пs 𝚏𝚘𝚛c𝚎s. T𝚑𝚎i𝚛 sm𝚊ll siz𝚎, m𝚊п𝚎𝚞v𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚋ilit𝚢, 𝚊п𝚍 v𝚎𝚛s𝚊tilit𝚢 𝚑𝚊v𝚎 m𝚊𝚍𝚎 t𝚑𝚎m…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *