707 Year One
Documentary (1960)
Production:
Don Usher (Writter and Director)
Al Hansom (Photographer)
Les Chipman (Photographer)
Gordon Williams (Photographer)
Gene Sargent (Music)
Promo film about Boeing 707 produced by the Boeing Motion Pictures Group. Presentation of technical tests and commercial development of different variants in the last years of the 1950s.
Boeing 707
Beginning the film.
Boeing 707-320 Intercontinental
Series 320 Prototype first flight at Boeing's Renton plant.See discussion tab (1)
Registration N714PA, c/n 17592/13. First flight in November 1958. Delivered to Pan American World Airways in August 1959, as Boeing 707-321 named Jet Clipper Golden Eagle. Leased to Southern Cross Airways between June 1971 and August 1972. Sold to Falcon Co. in June 1974, registered N714FC. Sold to Perfect Air Tours in September 1975. Leased to Mekong Airlines in June 1978. Subleased to Willis Co. between May to October 1979. Broken up in August 1981 at Boeing Field (King County International Airport (BFI/KBFI)).
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.
Boeing 707-123
Inauguration of delivery of a 707-120 Series to American Airlines.
Registration N7503A, c/n 17630/9. Delivered new to American Airlines in December 1958, named 503-Flagship California. Converted later to 707-123B. Wfu in September 1977. Broken up in October 1977.
Boeing 707-123
Boeing 707-121
At New York International Airport (John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK/KJFK) nowadays. (See discussion tab (2) from where Pan American started its commercial 707 Intercontinental operations in October 1958.
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
2x Air France's C-47 on the apron of Aéroport de Paris-Le Bourget (LBG/LFPB). See discussion tab (3)
Unidentified Aircraft in the background to the right.
To the left, the 707-121 which has just arrived, displayed right below.
Boeing 707-121
Final taxiing at Aéroport de Paris-Le Bourget. See discussion tab (3)
Unreadable name.
Boeing 707-121
Goes up runway 33 for imminent takeoff at Aeroporto Ciampino Ovest (Aeroporto Internazionale di Roma–Ciampino "G. B. Pastine" (CIA/LIRA)) nowadays. See discussion tab (4)
Douglas DC-6
On the apron of Aeroporto Ciampino Ovest. See discussion tab (4)
707 described above has taken off from Runway 13.
Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation
On the apron. The same 707 flies over Aeroporto Ciampino Ovest.See discussion tab (4)
Vickers Viscount
Parked on the tarmac next to the Super Constellation, difficult to say if it's a Series 700 or an Series 800, but apparently from BEA-British European Airways.
Boeing 707-131
On the apron of San Francisco International Airport (SFO/KSFO).See discussion tab (5)
Inaugural day of TWA's entry into service of the Boeing 707-131.
Background:
Registration N731TW, c/n 17658/18. First flight in December 1958. Delivered to TWA in January 1959. Sold to IAI in December 1971, converted to freighter. Sold to Ramacos AG in November 1975. Sold to Compagnie Air Fret in September 1976, registered F-BUZJ. Stored in 1982 at Flughafen München-Riem (EDDM/MUC). Sold to Lukum Air Service (LUKAS) in March 1983, registered 9Q-CBD. Sold to Omega Air in March 1984, registered 9Q-CKP. Stored in December 1984. Broken up at Shannon Airport (EINN/SNN) in November 1986.
Unknown registration in the foreground.
Boeing 707-131
At New York International Airport. See discussion tab (2)
In the sky on New-York/San Francisco route.
Boeing 707-131
Back again at San Francisco International Airport (SFO/KSFO).See discussion tab (5)
Registration N732TW, c/n 17659/19.First flight in Februry 1959. Delivered to TWA in March 1959. Leased to Phoenix Airways from March to October 1972. Sold to IAI in October 1972. Sold to TEA-Trans European Airways in March 1973, registered OO-TEC. Leased to Nigeria Airways in November 1977. Returned to TEA in December 1977. Broken up in March 1982 at Brussels National (EBBR/BRU), used for fire training.
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
Tail fin of a TWA's Constellation in the foreground left.
Boeing 707-321
Return to test sessions on a pre-production 707-321 wearing Pan American livery.
Service ceiling 42000ft, cruise speed of 665mph.
North American F-86 Sabre
At 20000ft , chase plane for external observation and recording with camera.
Boeing 707-320
Controls of airframe in an hydrostratic test tank.
Boeing 707-320 Intercontinental
Examination by the FAA for certificate of airworthiness in desert of California.
Boeing 707-321
Brakes testing in a simulation of a takeoff cancellation.
Boeing 707-320 Intercontinental
Taking off on 3 engines.
Thrust calibration on each Pratt & Whitney JT4A.
Boeing 707-320 Intercontinental
Rest and preparation of the machine for the maximum take-off weight test (MTOW).
Weighing in with cans filled of water featuring 180 passengers.
In the early morning, ready for test.
Heavy taking off at MTOW 315000lb. Concluding.
Boeing 707-320 Intercontinental
Long range test, Seattle to Rome direct, 5800 miles trip.
Boeing 707 Intercontinental livery, white with blue stripes.
5800 miles in 11h06mn. Arrival at Aeroporto Ciampino Ovest. See discussion tab (4)
Vickers 700 Viscount
On stand by along the runway at Aeroporto Ciampino Ovest.
Boeing 367-80 Dash 80
5 years after the first flight of the Dash 80, the 707 program has met all expectations.
Registration N70700, c/n 17158.
Same aircraft seen in other movies - IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.
Boeing 707-138
Specific version for Qantas, 3m shorter than 707-120 and fitted with Pratt & Whitney JT3C then JT3D turbofans after conversion in 1961 (707-138B). Seen here at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD/YSSY) for an inaugural flight to San Francisco, on 28th July 1959. See discussion tab (6)
Registration VH-EBC, c/n 17698/44. First flight in June 1959. Delivered to Qantas in July 1959, initially named City of Melbourne, renamed City of Canberra before inaugural passenger flight. Sold to Standard Airways in April 1967, registered N791SA. Leased to Sudflug from May to September 1967. Leased to CP Air in October 1967. Written off in February 1968 at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR/YVR) overran runway on landing.
Same aircraft seen in other movies - IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.
Lockheed Constellation of Qantas to the left.
Boeing 707-124
Brand new 707-124 introduced in mid-1959 on Los Angeles-Chicago route.
Another one among the five 707-124 operated by the company.
Boeing 707-321
First Jet Polar route between Los Angeles or San Francisco to London in August 1959.
Registration N715PA, c/n 17593/20. First flight in November 1958. Delivered to Pan American in July 1959, named Jet Clipper Liberty Bell. Sold to Turkish Airlines in January 1971, registered TC-JAH. Sold to Greyfin Nassau in October 1974, registered G-41-174. Registered HS-BBA for Bira Air but never taken up. Sold to Tempair in November 1974, registered 9G-ACB. Leased to Gemini Airlines Ltd from December 1974 to September 1975. Leased to DETA Linhas Aereas Mozambique in February 1976, registered C9-ARF. Stored as Tempair owner in August 1980. Broken up in 1983 at Brussels National (EBBR/BRU).
Same aircraft seen in other movies - IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.(***)
Douglas DC-6
On the apron. Boeing 707-321 mentioned above gains altitude.
Boeing 707-321
N715PA Jet Clipper Liberty Bell involved again for an inaugural Transpacific Jet Service to Honolulu, Tokyo, Hong Kong.See discussion tab (7)
Same aircraft seen in other movies - IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.(***)
Boeing 707-227
Braniff International Airways ordered 5 aircraft of the 707-220 series, a model designed for hot and high operations with more powerful 15,800 lbf (70.3 kN) Pratt & Whitney JT4A-3 turbojets. Only five of these were produced, but only four were ultimately delivered, with one being lost during a test flight. This version was made obsolete by the arrival of the turbofan-powered 707-120B.
This one is wearing a four square block checkerboard on the fuselage used for photogrammetry on flight test aircraft. Can be a clue to say it's the first Boeing 707-227 produced.
Registration N7071, c/n 17691/45. First flight in June 1959. Written off in October 1959 before delivery on acceptance flight Everett WA on emergency landing off airport after loosing 3 engines during violent Dutch Roll maneuver.
To the left background, one of the firts Rolls-Royce powered Boeing 707-436 delivered to B.O.A.C in early months of 1960.
Douglas DC-3 on the ground foreground.
Boeing VC-137A Stratoliner
One of the 3x VC-137A delivered to the Military Air Transport Service of the US Air Force in May and June 1959, operated in Eisenhower's Eleven-Nation Tour in December 1959: visit to Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Greece, Tunisia, France, Germany, and Morocco.
Visit Italy, TWA's Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellationor Super Constellation to the left background.
Turkey.
Pakistan.
France.
Morocco.
Boeing 707
Boeing 707 production plant at Renton. See discussion tab (1)
Production line of Boeing 707-441 for VARIG.
Future registration PP-VJA, c/n 17905/114. Delivered new in June 1960. Sold to RDC Marine in April 1979, registered N59RD. Sold to BCF Aviation (Blue Air) in July 1989. Broken up at Hobby, Houston (KHOU/HOU) in July 1990.
100th built, a Boeing 707 for Air India.
Future registration VT-DJJ, c/n 17723/100. First flight in January 1960. Delivered as Boeing 707-437 in February 1960, named Annapurna. Renamed later as Gauri Shankar. Written off in June 1982 at Sahar International, Bombay (VABB/BOM) slid off runway after landing in bad weather.
Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
Boeing 720-022
Boeing 707-120 derivative for shorter flights from shorter runways. Reduced length by 8.33 feet (2.54 m), modified wing and a lightened airframe for a lower maximum takeoff weight. The model was originally designated Boeing 707-020 before being changed to 720 on request from of United Air Lines.
The aircraft shown here is the second produced, was promised additional tests before delivery.
Registration N7202U, c/n 17908/95. First flight in January 1960. Delivered to United Air Lines in July 1960. Sold to Aviation Sales in March 1976. Broken up at Minneapolis-St Paul International (KMSP/MSP) in December 1976.
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
Boeing 707-437
Air India operated 14x Boeing 707 Intercontinental of which the first 6 were equipped with Rolls-Royce Conway 508 (707-437).
Boeing 707-430
One of the 5 first 707 of Lufthansa fitted with Rolls-Royce Conway 508.
Boeing 707-329
One of the 5 aircraft operated by SABENA in this first version.
Boeing 720-022
Prototype.
Registration N7201U, c/n 17907/85. First flight in November 1959. Delivered after tests and certification to United Air Lines in October 1960, named Walter T.Varney. Sold to Contemporary Entertainment in January 1973. Leased to McCulloch International Airlines from November 1975 to November 1977. Sold to AeroAmerica in July 1978. Leased to Private Jet Services in September 1978. Returned to AeroAmerica in March 1979. Broken up in July 1982 at London Luton (EGGW/LTN).
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
Boeing 707-436
B.O.A.C have operated 18 aircraft of the type 707-436
Seen few minutes later in the film.
Boeing 707-328
Air France purchased 36 aircraft of the type.
Seen few minutes later in the film. The first of Air France.
Registration F-BHSA, c/n 17613/65. First flight in November 1959. Delivered to Air France in October 1959, named Château de Versailles. Written off at Hamburg in July 1961 after a crash when take off (no fatalities).
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle 02
Interview of an airline crew about the future of Jet age in aviation. Behind is the French aircraft, acting as well in this future.
Registration F-BHHI, c/n 02. First flight in May 1956, registered F-WHHI. Re-registered F-BHHI in March 1957. Withdrawn from use in 1968, stored at Vilgenis. Broken up in January 1976. Nose section delivered to Musee de l'Air Paris Le Bourget.
Same aircraft in other works at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
Boeing 707-227
Another one in commercial exploitation this time.
Boeing 707-331
TWA's 707-331 Intercontinental started operation in November 1959.
Boeing 707-124
Boeing 707-123
Seen few minutes later in the film. A TWA's 707 is taxiing behind.
Boeing 707-121
Seen few minutes later in the film.
Landing at Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport (HKG/VHHH).
Boeing 707-437
Landing at Bombay Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport-Mumbai (BOM/VABB) nowadays).
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See also
- Unidentified Aircraft
- Boeing 707
- Boeing 720
- Boeing C-137 Stratoliner
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain
- Douglas DC-3
- Douglas DC-6
- Lockheed Constellation
- North American F-86 Sabre
- Air France
- Air India
- Alitalia
- American Airlines
- Braniff International Airways
- British Overseas Airways Corporation
- Continental Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Pan American World Airways
- Qantas
- SABENA
- Trans World Airlines
- United Air Lines