posted 10-28-2014 04:07 PM               

The Boeing 707 ushered in the commercial Jet Age. Boeing built 1,010 707s for commercial airlines between 1958 and 1978, and a another 800 for the military up until 1991.

I found this fun 1959 Pan American film documentary (propaganda/advertisement piece) on YouTube. It is called: "The Wonderful Jet World of Pan American."

It's a nice "timepiece" that shows a bit about the conception of flight during the year the Mercury astronauts were picked. It's about 25 minutes long.

posted 10-28-2014 04:33 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
The Boeing 707 ushered in the commercial Jet Age.

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posted 10-28-2014 10:04 PM               

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 However, due to the little problem of them breaking up in flight, they were withdrawn from service.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.