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Forum:Early Space
Topic:The Jet Age: Introduction of the 707 [video]
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moorouge
quote:
Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
The Boeing 707 ushered in the commercial Jet Age.
I was under the impression that the first commercial flight by a jet was a De Havilland Comet. The Comet 4 also beat the 707 to the first trans-Atlantic flight.

SkyMan1958I stand by my statement that the 707 was the jet that made the commercial Jet Age viable.

Yes, the Comet did have the first commercial flights. However, due to the little problem of them breaking up in flight, they were withdrawn from service. They eventually returned in the form of the Comet 2, 3 and by far the most successful version, Comet 4. However, to quote Wikipedia:

The Comet 4 enabled BOAC to inaugurate the first regular jet-powered transatlantic services on 4 October 1958 between London and New York (albeit still requiring a fuel stop at Gander International Airport, Newfoundland, on westward North Atlantic crossings). While BOAC gained publicity as the first to provide transatlantic jet service, by the end of the month rival Pan American World Airways was flying the Boeing 707 on the same route, and in 1960 the Douglas DC-8 as well. The American jets were larger, faster, longer-ranged, and more cost-effective than the Comet. After analysing route structures for the Comet, BOAC reluctantly cast about for a successor, and in 1956 entered into an agreement with Boeing to purchase the 707.
It was the 707 that successfully commercially ushered in the Jet Age.

In any case, the film clip is still a fun time period piece.

moorougeJust as a point for debate: how much of the success of the 707 depended on the accidents to the Comet 1 highlighting the problems caused by stress related metal fatigue in high flying pressurised commercial jets?
KiteVery much so. De Havilland opened up all their research into the accidents to the world so planemakers could ensure it wouldn't happen again. At the time they were a couple of years or so ahead in jet airliners and obviously lost their lead.

Having said that I'm sure the USA would still have caught up, with their huge potential market and resources, and the 707 and DC8 were excellent aircraft.

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