Goleta Air and Space Museum: Early Boeing Quad Jets

Early Boeing four-engine jet airliners, beginning with the 707-120, shared a 130-foot 10-inch wingspan. Boeing's first production jet airliner, the 707-120, was 144 feet 6 inches long. To suit QANTAS need for a longer range, the 707-138 was ten feet shorter than the standard 707-120 but kept the same take-off weight. Boeing built the 720 with a shorter, lighter fuselage for short range operations.

JT3C turbojet engines of an American Airlines 707-123 in June 1961. Photographer: Richard Lockett

Western Airlines 720-047B at Los Angeles International Airport on February 10, 1972. This picture was taken before the requirement that all doors must be outlined to improve their visibility.

Western Airlines 720-047B N93145 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in February 1972. Its construction number is 18451. It first flew on July 19, 1962 and was delivered to Western Airlines on July 27, 1962. Sheikh K.Adham acquired it in August 1978 and leased it to Quadriga as HZ-NAA on August 1. It was returned to Sheikh K.Adham as HZ-KA1 on June 5, 1980. Comtran registered it as N2143J in December 1989. JAR Ac registered it as N720JR in November 1991 and leased it to the Congo Republic. It returned to JAR Aviation in 1999. Due to overhaul concerns it was banned from Swiss airspace and parked at Beirut in September 2003. It flew to Malta on March 11, 2004, where it was eventually broken up. One easy way to tell the difference between the 720 and 707 was number of over-wing emergency exit doors. Most 720s only had one, while the 707 had two.

TWA 707-131B N749TW at Los Angeles International Airport on July 11, 1972. Its construction number is 18388. It first flew on May 7, 1962 and was delivered to TWA on May 18, 1962.

Continental Airlines 720-024B N17207 at Los Angeles on July 22, 1972. Its construction number is 19002. It first flew on February 8, 1966 and was delivered to Continental Airlines on February 16, 1966. Continental parked it at Los Angeles on January 21, 1976. Allen Aircraft Ciorporation bought it on March 24, 1976 and scrapped it later that year.

Continental Airlines 720-024B N17207 at Los Angeles on July 22, 1972. You can purchase prints of this photo as large as 8 inches by 12 inches.

Western Airlines 720-047B N93147 at Phoenix on September 10, 1972. Its construction number is 18453. It first flew on August 22, 1962 and was delivered to Western Airlines on August 28, 1962. Sheikh K.Adham registered it as HZ-KA4 in June 1978. JAR Aviation registered it as P4-NJR by May 2002. It has probably been scrapped at Beirut since its arrival in 2001.

American Airlines 707-123B "Astrojet" N7518A at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on September 16, 1972. Its construction number is 17645. It first flew with JT3C turbojets on July 12, 1959 and was delivered to American Airlines as Flagship Tennessee on July 31, 1959. Its engines were changed to JT3D turbofans on January 31, 1962. Ports of Call bought it on August 26, 1980, registered it as N702PC in November 1980, and then changed its name to Skyworld on September 12, 1985. It was retired to AMARC for scrapping in 1987. Its engines and vertical stabilizer were transferred to a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker.

Western Airlines 720-047B N3155 at Phoenix on May 11, 1973. Its construction number is 18828. It first flew on May 10, 1965 and was delivered to Western Airlines on May 19, 1965. Middle East Airlines registered it as OD-AGG in March 1974. Gulf Air leased it in December 1975 and returned it in January 1976. It was written off at Beirut in Agust 1, 1982.

American Airlines 707-123B N7551A landing at Phoenix on November 10, 1973. This was not the first Boeing quad jet to be registered N7551A. American Airlines 720-023B, construction number 18037, was registered N7551A from its first flight on June 28, 1961 until it was leased to Pan Am as N782PA on April 29, 1963. Its construction number is 18883. It first flew on May 6, 1965 and was delivered to American Airlines on May 26, 1965. It was withdrawn from use at Marana Airpark by May 1981. Its engines and vertical stabilizer were transferred to a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker.

367-80 Stratoliner Prototype N70700 in storage at MASDC on November 12, 1973. It is the first of all Boeing jetliners. It is not a 707. It is a jet-powered development of the model 367 Stratofreighter (C-97). Its construction number is 17158. It has always been registered as N70700. It first flew on July 15, 1954. After serving as a testbed for a multitude of projects, it was retired to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona in 1969.

Boeing 367-80 Stratoliner Prototype N70700 in storage at MASDC on November 12, 1973.

Pan Am 707-139B N778PA in storage at Marana Airpark on November 12, 1973. Its construction number is 17903. It was ordered by Cubana, but when the trade embargo was imposed, it was leased to Western Airlines. It first flew with JT3C turbojets on March 20, 1960 and was delivered to Western Airlines on May 13, 1960. It was returned to Boeing on September 21, 1962. It was sold to Sally Leasing Corporation and leased to Pan Am as Clipper Skylark on December 5, 1962. Pan Am bought it and registered it as N778PA on February 28, 1964. Its engines were changed to JT3D turbofans in November 1964. Pan Am leased it to Air Vietnam as N74613 in 1973 and then to THY as TC-JBE on April 1, 1974 before retiring it in December 1974. Pan ayer bought it on February 7, 1975. Trans Asian bought it in January 1976 and leased it to Bangladesh Biman as S2-AAL on April 17, 1976. It was registered as 9G-ACJ in June 1977 and leased to Saudia, Merpati Nunsantara Airlines, Bahamas World, Ariana Afghan Airlines, Air Lingus, Olympic, and Mandala. It was registered as G-TJAA on April 4, 1979 and leased to British Caledonian and Egyptair. Grant E. Sita registered it as N778PA on August 20, 1980 and lesed it to Maof Airlines which subleased it to El Al. It was stored at Tel Aviv on January 13, 1983 where it served as a prop in the movie Delta Force. Jet Avionic Systems Incorporated bought it on May 28, 1985. Aerocar Aviation acquired it in January 1986 and sold it to Boeing Military Aircraft Company on March 20, 1986. It was retired to AMARC for scrapping. Its engines and vertical stabilizer were transferred to a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker.

Western Airlines 720-047B N93151 at Phoenix in April 1974. Its construction number is 18749. It first flew on May 7, 1964 and was delivered to Western Airlines on May 21, 1964. Pakistan International Airways bought it and registered it as AP-AXM on September 16, 1974. It was stored at Karachi in November 1985. It was sold to ATASCO Lesing in April 1986 and reportedly broken up for parts.

American Airlines 707-123B N7583A landing at Phoenix in April 1974. Its construction number is 19333. It first flew on May 27, 1967 and was delivered to American Airlines on June 6, 1967. Guy America Airways bought it on May 5, 1981 and sold it to Boeing Military Aircraft Company on April 8, 1983. It was retired to AMARC for scrapping. Its engines were transferred to a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker.

American Airlines 707-123B N7510A at San Francisco on August 6, 1974. Its construction number is 17637. It first flew with JT3C turbojets on March 11, 1959 and was delivered to American Airlines as Flagship Massachusetts on April 23, 1959. Its engines were changed to JT3D turbofans on May 27, 1961. Pan International bought it and registered it as D-ALAM on November 18, 1970. American Airlines repossessed it as N8418 on October 22, 1971 and re-registered it as N7510A on August 1, 1972. Aerocondor bought it and registered it as HK-1818 on March 22, 1976. It was stored in Bogota, Columbia on April 23, 1979. It was subsequently used as living quarters by locals before it was broken up for scrap on 1990.

American Airlines 707-123B N7503A at San Francisco on August 6, 1974. Its construction number is 17630 and it was the ninth 707 built. It first flew with JT3C turbojets on December 5, 1958 and was delivered to American Airlines as Flagship California on December 31, 1958. Its engines were changed to JT3D turbofans on September 29, 1961. It was withdrawn from use in September 1977 and scrapped in October 1977.

Western Airlines 720-047B N3160 at Phoenix on December 7, 1974. Its construction number is 19161. It first flew on March 4, 1966 and was delivered to Western Airlines on March 12, 1966. Middle East Airlines registered it as OD-AGR in April 24, 1978. It was destroyed at Beirut by Israeli shelling on June 16, 1982.

American Airlines 707-323B landing at Phoenix on February 8, 1975 illustrates the longer wing of the 707-320 series. The inboard engines are farther from the fuselage and the inboard flaps are longer than on the 707-120 series.

TWA 707-131B N86741 landing at Los Angeles on March 28, 1975. Its construction number is 20057. It first flew on January 9, 1969 and was delivered to TWA on January 23, 1969. Boeing Military Aircraft Company bought it on May 12, 1982. It was retired to AMARC for scrapping. Its engines and vertical stabilizer were transferred to a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker.

Tigerair 707-138B N138TA at Santa Barbara Airport in November 1981. The 707-138 produced for QANTAS was ten feet shorter than the standard 707-120. The empty weight was reduced, but the Maximum Take-off Weight remained the same, so it could carry more fuel for increased range. This is the first 707-138 built. Its construction number is 17696. It first flew with JT3C turbojets as Boeing Company demonstrator N31239 on January 9, 1959 and was delivered to QANTAS as VH-EBA on July 16, 1959. Its engines were changed to JT3D turbofans in September 1961. Pacific Western bought it and registered it as CF-PWV on November 3, 1969. Tigerair bought it and registered it as N138TA on October 19, 1978. Airmark Corporation acquired it on October 16, 1983 and changed its registration to N220AM in September 1984. Community Transport Incorporated bought it in December 1985 and registered it as N138MJ in October 1986. It was sold to the Saudi Government and registered as HZ-123 in September 1987. It was used by the Saudi ambassador in the United States. It was stored in Southend in September 30, 1999. It flew again after restoration in QANTAS colors on December 2, 2006. It made its last flight to Longreach, Australia for permanent display on June 10, 2007.

Former FAA 720-027 N23 at Nasa Dryden Flight Research Center on July 3, 1982. Its construction number is 18066. It was ordered by Braniff Airways as N7078, but was not taken up. It first flew on May 5, 1961 and was delivered to the FAA as N113 on May 12, 1961. Its registration was changed to N23 on January 24, 1975, back to N113 on February 28, 1975 and then to N23 again on February 16, 1977. It was transferred to NASA as N2697U on December 5, 1981 and then registered as N833NA in December 1983.

Former FAA 720-027 N23 at Nasa Dryden Flight Research Center on July 3, 1982. It was crashed to destruction intentionally by radio control on December 1, 1984 in a test of anti-misting fuel additive. The remote pilot was Fitzhugh Fulton, a test pilot for the Air Force and then NASA at Edwards since the 1950s.

367-80 in storage at the renamed Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) on December 19, 1984.

Jet Charter 720-051B N2464K has given its engines to the KC-135E re-engining program at AMARC on December 19, 1984. 707-138B N793NA is visible behind N2464K. The 720 was ordered by Northwest Orient Airlines but was not taken up. Its construction number is 18382. It first flew on July 25, 1961 and was leased to TWA as N792TW on August 2, 1961. It was leased to Northwest Orient Airlines as N731US on September 21, 1962. Monarch acquired it and registered it as G-AKZM on January 25, 1972. Jet Charter Service bought it and registered it as N2464K in April 1983. It was retired to AMARC for scrapping. Its engines were transferred to a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker. It is reported that its front section and cockpit survived in the National Aircraft Scrapping Yard on South Kolb Road in Tucson until at least July 2005.

Airmark Corporation 707-138B N220AM at Santa Barbara in June 1986 is the same airplane seen as Tigerair 707-138 N138TA in November 1981.

VC-137B 58-6972 at Rhein-Mein Air Force Base on June 21, 1989. Three VC-137As, Boeing model 707-153 with Pratt and Whitney JT-3 turbojets, were acquired by the Air Force to serve as presidential transports. They were redesignated VC-137B when they were refitted with JT3D turbofan jet engines. It carries Boeing construction number 17927. It was delivered to the Air Force on June 30, 1959. It was scrapped in 1996 due to severe corrosion.

Ethiopian Airlines 720-024B N550DS and Air Malta 720-047B N110DS at AMARC on September 9, 1989. The construction number of 720-024B N550DS is 18417. It first flew on May 18, 1962 and was delivered to Continental Airlines as N57202 on May 27, 1962. Ethiopian Airlines bought it and registered it as ET-AFK on November 1, 1974. Saudia leased it from March 10, 1975 to June 30, 1975. AAR Corporation acquired it, registered it as N550DS on October 19, 1988, and stored it at Marana Airpark. It was retired to AMARC on August 9, 1989 for scrapping.

Ethiopian Airlines 720-024B N550DS and Air Malta 720-047B N110DS at AMARC on September 9, 1989. The construction number of 720-047B N110DS is 18063. It first flew on May 25, 1961 and was delivered to Western Airlines on June 7, 1961. It was stored at Las Vegas in March 1977. Air Malta bought it and registered it as 9H-AAK on march 30, 1978. AAR Allen bought it and registered it as N110DS in April 1988. It was retired to AMARC in August 1989 for scrapping. Its cockpit was, and may still be, displayed at the Pima Air Museum.

367-80 in storage at AMARC on September 9, 1989. It flew from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington on January 27, 1990. It was restored by Boeing staff and placed into storage until it was delivered to the National Air and Space Museum. It made its final flight on August 27, 2003.

Allied Signal 720-051B TFE731-40 Engine Testbed N720GT at the Williams-Gateway Airport, Arizona on March 31, 1996. This 720 is the oldest Boeing jet airliner that still flies in the United States. It wears construction number 18384. It first flew on September 15, 1961. TWA leased it as N794TW beginning on August 27, 1961. Northwest leased it as N733US on October 26, 1962 and then bought it on July 1, 1968. Maersk Air registered it as OY-APZ in January 1973 and leased it to Nigeria Airways in December 1974. TEA leased it as OO-TYA on November 6, 1979 and returned it to Maersk on January 19, 1980. Conair acquired it on February 16, 1981. Allied Signal registered it as N720GT on November 24, 1987 and mounted an engine test pylon on the right side of the forward fuselage.

720-060B Hughes AIRMS Testbed, Embraceable Annie, N7381 at the Mojave Airport on July 27, 1997. The 720-060B Airborne Infrared Measurement System (AIRMS) Testbed carried construction number 18977. It first flew on September 1, 1965. It was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines as ET-ABP on September 20, 1965. Ethiopian Airlines leased it to Middle East Airlines from January 1, 1966 to March 31, 1968. On December 7, 1972, it was seized by hijackers at Addis Ababa. A grenade detonated on board during the hijacking. AAR Allen Aircraft registered it as N440DS on January 19, 1988 and stored it at Marana, Arizona.

Hughes Aircraft Corporation acquired it on March 1, 1989 and registered it as N7381 in February 1990. It was flown to the Lockheed facility in Greenville, South carolina where an 8-foot by 6-foot port was installed on the left side of the forward fuselage. Hughes installed the AIRMS at the Van Nuys Airport in 1993. The 720 received the name Embraceable Annie. It was transferred to the Air Force in October 1993. Data acquisition flights were conducted from the Mojave Airport and Edwards Air Force Base. It was returned to Hughes Aircraft on January 17, 1997. At the conclusion of the test program, it was retired to the Mojave Airport.

720-023B C-FWXL formerly of Middle East Airlines at Mojave on Septamber 10, 2001. It now carries Canadian registration. Its Boeing construction number is 18021. It was delivered to American Airlines as N7535A Flagship Florida in 1960. Middle East Airlines purchased it in 1973 and registered it as OD-AGB. Pratt& Whitney of Canada acquired it as a spares source for their 720 testbed in 1995.

Embraceable Annie at the Mojave Airport on September 10, 2001. She has had her fanjets replaced with straight turbojets. Embraceable Annie was scrapped on October 17, 2003.

VC-137B 58-6971 at the Pima Air Museum on Setpember 26, 2005. It Boeing construction number 17926. It was delivered to the Air Force on May 31, 1959. It was redesignated VC-137B when it was refitted with JT3D turbofan jet engines in April 1963. It has been displayed at the Pima Air Museum since October 1999.

707-138B N707JT at Los Angeles International Airport on March 2, 2006. It carries construction number 18740. It first flew on July 29, 1964. It was delivered to QANTAS on September 10, 1964. Braniff Airways registered it as N108BN on June 24, 1969. Tracey Investment bought it in September 1975 and sold it to TAG Aviation in October 1977. TAG rergistered it as N707XX in July 1990 and then sold it to Aviation Methods in 1995. Jet Clipper Johnny LLC acquired it on May 20, 1998 and gave it its current registration on December 12, 1998. It has been restored in vintage QANTAS livery. John Travolta flies it and it is based at his home in Florida. The 707-138 is ten feet shorter than the standard 707-120.

Honeywell 720-051B N720H at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on April 11, 2006. The 720-051B Engine Testbed was registered as N720H in February 2000. Honeywell International acquired it and installed a Honeywell AS977 engine. Honeywell conducts frequent engine test flights with it.

720-051B N720H at Phoenix on April 11, 2006. Camelback Mountain looms in the distance.

The mobile work shelter has been rolled back from 720-051B N720H revealing that there is no engine on the test pylon.

Stereo pair of 720-051B N720H at Phoenix on April 11, 2006. Cross your eyes until the images line up to see the 720 in 3-D.

Honeywell 720-051B N720H made a six hour long flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Thursday December 27, 2007. It filed a flight plan from Williams-Gateway to Phoenix. It actually departed from Phoenix and activated its flightplan over Williams-Gateway. Four Peaks is faintly visible in the distance.

Another small puff of smoke was produced as 720-051B N720H nose gear touched down.

Specifications of Boeing Quad Jets
	367-80B	707-120B	707-138B	720B	707-320B
Length	127 feet 10 inches	144 feet 6 inches	134 feet 6 inches	136 feet 2 inches	152 feet 11 inches
Wing Span	129 feet 8 inches	130 feet 10 inches	130 feet 10 inches	130 feet 10 inches	145 feet 9 inches
Height	38 feet	38 feet 8 inches	38 feet 8 inches	37 feet 11 inches	41 feet 7 inches
Range	3,530 miles	3,075 miles	5,400 miles	5,240 miles	4,630 miles
Maximum Take-off Weight	190,000 pounds	257,000 pounds	257,000 pounds	229,000 pounds	335,000 pounds
Number produced	1	125	13	153	545