The jet age began in earnest when Britain's four-engined de Havilland Comet 4, followed by the Boeing 707, began flying across the Atlantic in 1958. These aircraft shrank the world, but it wasn't just long-haul destinations that would feel the benefit of the revolutionary new powerplants. The need for a short-haul 'bus stop' jet to serve smaller airports was apparent from the start of this new age, but at Boeing in the mid-1950s, every engineer was working flat out to create the 707 Once the big airliner was up and running (first flight on December 20, 1957, and in service with Pan Am on October 26, 1958), the company was able to create a short-haul stopgap with the 720. This was a smaller, lighter 707 optimised for short trips and runways, which first flew on November 23, 1959, and went into service on July 5, 1960. Despite the 720's interim nature, Boeing sold 154 examples, many of which remained in service well into the 1980s, demonstrating the size of the market for a local jet, and the quality of Boeing's products.
展开▼
