The predecessor to the Boeing 707 series of aircraft was the Dash 80 seen here at it’s public “roll out” on 15 May 1954. Although it has a smaller fuselage cross section that the eventual 707 models, it non-the-less established the basis for the first truly successful passenger jetliner and of all subsequent Boeing passenger jets. Then boeing President Bill Allen gave to go ahead for the program on 18 May 1952. In just two years Boeing went from concept design to flying prototype. Much of the design was based on lessons learned at the Boeing Military Airplane Company from their design and construction of the B-47 and B-52 bombers for the USAF’s Strategic Air Command. In fact many of the earliest design proposals included high mounted wings with two engines hung on “pods” slung under the wings a la the B-47 and later B-52.
Continental Airlines flies 4 Boeing models in several variants and expects to receive its first 787 model in the first quarter of 2012. United also flies 4 Boeing models including the 747-400.
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