Boeing aircraft models begin and end with a 7?
707, 727, 787, etc.
[FONT=arial,helvetica]The Model 367-80 had never been intended as anything more than an internal designation. Models in the 500s had been reserved for gas turbine engines and the 600 series for missiles. The 700 series was again intended for aircraft, so the company board decided to officially christen the Dash-80 as the Model 707.[/FONT]
I dunno
Maybe for the same reason that all Bell civilian turbine helicopters begin with 2 or 4? 206, 206L, 214, 230, 407 (oh, how I want one!), 412, 427, 430...
Or soon 6 (609). Bell's numbers depend on how many main rotor blades the helicopter has (According to my dad anyway, who retired from there.) The 609 tilt rotor civil version will have 6 blades. The 400 series all have 4, and the 200 series all have 2 unless they were modified after production.
Doh! Talk about overlooking the obvious. The connection between the first number and the number of blades never occurred to me
I have heard - and would appreciate any confirmation available - that the KC-135, a 707 variant, was officially designated the 717.I do find it interesting they went from 707 to 727 then 737 which is still in production. Only after they bought out MD did they re-designate the newer design of the Stretch 80 as the 717.
There appears to be so...I have heard - and would appreciate any confirmation available - that the KC-135, a 707 variant, was officially designated the 717.
It was different from the 707 in some material ways, such as a larger fuselage diameter. There were also a lot of common parts.
The distinction was originally made as Boeing anticipated some civilian sales for the 717/KC-135 airframe. But obviously that never happened - not enough different from the 707 to attract a market. So Boeing retired the 717 model name and stuck with the KC-135 designation.
So the 717 name was eventually hung on the MD-80 variant.
Any truth to this?
-Skip
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_717The 717 name had in fact been used within the company to refer to the narrower-cabin military version of the 707, which the U.S. Air Force designated the KC-135 Stratotanker. 717 had also been used to promote an early design of the 720 to airlines before it was modified to meet market demands. This left 717 available to rebrand the MD-95.
So the 717 name was eventually hung on the MD-80 variant.
Any truth to this?
-Skip
I thought the MD-80 was a variant of the McDonald Douglas DC-9.
I thought the MD-80 was a variant of the McDonald Douglas DC-9.
I thought the MD-80 was a variant of the McDonald Douglas DC-9.
I was under the impression that although the 717 is a similar design on the outside, it is not a direct descendant of the DC-9/MD-8x line. It requires an entirely different type rating, doesn't it?
I have heard - and would appreciate any confirmation available - that the KC-135, a 707 variant, was officially designated the 717.
It was different from the 707 in some material ways, such as a larger fuselage diameter. There were also a lot of common parts.
The distinction was originally made as Boeing anticipated some civilian sales for the 717/KC-135 airframe. But obviously that never happened - not enough different from the 707 to attract a market. So Boeing retired the 717 model name and stuck with the KC-135 designation.
So the 717 name was eventually hung on the MD-80 variant.
Any truth to this?
-Skip
the 135 models, KC, RC, C, EC, all used the original Dash-80 fuselage which I *thought* was actually narrower than the 707 not wider.
I'm not really sure about which is larger, but I was pretty sure that they were different.
-Skip
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/707family/index.htmlThe first commercial 707s, labeled the 707-120 series, had a larger cabin and other improvements compared to the prototype.
these latter aircraft have thrust reversers.the KC-135 and 707/720 are all different:
1) 367-80 has an upper lobe width of 132 inches and a fuselage
cross-sectional height of 164 inches.
2) The 717/KC-135 upper lobe is 144 inches wide and the height is 168
inches.
3) The 707 upper lobe is 148 inches wide and the height is 170.5 inches.
Additionally:
1) The KC-135 fuselage is the same length as 367-80's. The 707-138 and
720 are 20 inches longer, the 707-120 is 120 inches longer and the
707-320 and -420 are 200 inches longer.
2) The 707-120 has essentially the same wing as the KC-135 (and
367-80). The 720 has a glove over the root area of the inboard wing,
which increases the max cruise Mach number of the aircraft. The
707-320/-420 doesn't have this glove, but it has a root plug extending
the span and a different planform to the inboard wing area.
Additionally, it has a different tip planform and some of the wing
airfoils has been modified.
3) The type of Aluminum used in the construction of the KC-135 is
different than the 707 series. Sorry, I don't remember the alloy
numbers off the top of my head.
4) KC-135s first had J57s (JT3Cs) without thrust reversers. Some were
reengined with TF33s (JT3Ds) with thrust reversers (taken off of
scrapped 707s), while others got F108s (CFM56s), without thrust
reversers. 367-80 and all early 707s and 720s were powered by JT3Cs,
with thrust reversers. Most were reengined with JT3Ds, with thrust
reversers. 707-320s were powered by JT3Ds, while -420s were powered by
RR Conways, both with thrust reversers. There was one 707-700 built
with CFM56s (with thrust reversers), but this was later reengined with
JT3Ds and sold as a -320. Some military 707s (RAF and French E-3s, USN
E-6s and one E-8C) were built with F108s (CFM56s). I am not certain if
Ok, I'll accept that it's a descendant, but IIRC after talking to some 717 pilots, they've said that it's a completely different a/c with a different type rating.
They are different. The -135's fuselage was not as round. I tried looking for a picture but all I found was this from the Boeing site.
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/707family/index.html
Didn't the 707 predate the DC-8? Wikipedia, here I come....IIRC, the passenger versions of the 707 were made larger in order to compete with Douglass's DC-8. There are a lot more DC-8's still flying than 707's.
Did anyone answer the question about why the 7s at the beginning and end of Boeing numbers? I didn't see it.
This was posted on another board. So I cannot vouch for it's accuracy
these latter aircraft have thrust reversers.
No, McDonalds! (Anyone remember Folks! with Don Ameche? Part of it was filmed at Clow!)Also note the spelling of McDonnell.