Boeing 707

The Boeing 707 is an early American long-range <a href="/facts/Narrow-body_aircraft/M3WuT6tu">narrow-body airliner</a>, the first <a href="/facts/Jetliner/m8gzE0Cq">jetliner</a> developed and produced by <a href="/facts/Boeing_Commercial_Airplanes/Co2Iy6E7">Boeing Commercial Airplanes</a>.
Developed from the <a href="/facts/Boeing_367-80/w7sDA6E2">Boeing 367-80</a> prototype, the initial 707-120 first flew on December 20, 1957.
<a href="/facts/Pan_Am/oo9dqPeH">Pan Am</a> began regular 707 service on October 26, 1958.
With versions produced until 1979, the 707 is a <a href="/facts/Swept_wing/MTVsghhX">swept wing</a> <a href="/facts/Four-engined_jet_aircraft/jBEKIV7p">quadjet</a> with <a href="/facts/Podded_engine/RzlPg5mE">podded engines</a>. Its larger fuselage cross-section allowed six-abreast economy seating, retained in the later <a href="/facts/Boeing_720/PnHD1mDk">720</a>, <a href="/facts/Boeing_727/54HlSsE2">727</a>, <a href="/facts/Boeing_737/Emwxb7JI">737</a>, and <a href="/facts/Boeing_757/BfzqBb1T">757</a> models.
Although it was not the first commercial jetliner in service, the 707 was the first to be widespread, and is often credited with beginning the <a href="/facts/Jet_Age/nsY9BWTB">Jet Age</a>. It dominated passenger <a href="/facts/Airline/CEwakbf5">air-transport</a> in the 1960s, and remained common through the 1970s, on <a href="/facts/Domestic_flight/celzz53w">domestic</a>, <a href="/facts/Transcontinental_flight/EpLyz0eE">transcontinental</a>, and <a href="/facts/Transatlantic_flight/g9QekA7u">transatlantic flights</a>, as well as cargo and military applications. It established Boeing as a dominant airliner manufacturer with its <a href="/facts/Boeing_7x7_series/Co2Iy6E7">7x7 series</a>.
The initial, 145-foot-long (44 m) 707-120 was powered by <a href="/facts/Pratt_%2526_Whitney_JT3C/P8U2yNCp">Pratt & Whitney JT3C</a> turbojet engines.
The shortened, long-range 707-138 and the more powerful 707-220 entered service in 1959.
The longer-range, heavier 707-300/400 series has larger wings and is stretched slightly by 8 feet (2.4 m).
Powered by <a href="/facts/Pratt_%2526_Whitney_JT4A/WMwLGpL0">Pratt & Whitney JT4A</a> turbojets, the 707-320 entered service in 1959, and the 707-420 with <a href="/facts/Rolls-Royce_Conway/gRASumMK">Rolls-Royce Conway</a> turbofans in 1960.
The 720, a lighter short-range variant, was also introduced in 1960. Powered by <a href="/facts/Pratt_%2526_Whitney_JT3D/sQVakSoE">Pratt & Whitney JT3D</a> turbofans, the 707-120B debuted in 1961 and the 707-320B in 1962. The 707-120B typically flew 137 passengers in two classes over 3,600 <a href="/facts/Nautical_mile/V4yJzvKw">nautical miles</a> [nmi] (6,700 km; 4,100 mi), and could accommodate 174 in one class. With 141 passengers in two classes, the 707-320/420 could fly 3,750 nmi (6,940 km; 4,320 mi) and the 707-320B up to 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi). The 707-320C convertible passenger-freighter model entered service in 1963, and passenger 707s have been converted to freighter configurations. Military derivatives include the <a href="/facts/E-3_Sentry/pdIfIP9b">E-3 Sentry</a> airborne reconnaissance aircraft and the <a href="/facts/C-137_Stratoliner/lme5d3Tq">C-137 Stratoliner</a> VIP transport. In total, 865 Boeing 707s were produced and delivered, not including 154 Boeing 720s.

Boeing 707 open-in-new

Boeing 707