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In the early 1970s, Western Airlines, American, and TWA were among the primary air carriers to service Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The Arizona Air Naitonal Guard flew Boeing C-97 Stratofreighters and KC-97 Stratotankers from a base on the south side of the airport.
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. The 720 only had one, while the 707 had two.
TWA Convair 880 at Phoenix, Arizona
on September 10, 1972. Note the Boeing C-97G Stratocruiser of the
Arizona Air National Guard on the far side of the airfield.
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.
TWA L-1011-1 N11003 at Phoenix in April, 1973.
TWA L-1011-1 N11003 at Phoenix in April, 1973.
TWA L-1011-1 N11003 at Phoenix in April, 1973.
American Airlines 707-123B "Luxery Jet" N7554A at Phoenix on May 11, 1973.
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.
TWA Lockheed L-1011-1 N31014 at Phoenix on November 10, 1973.
American Airlines 707-123B at Phoenix on November 10, 1973.
A pair of American Airlines 707-123Bs at Phoenix on November 10, 1973.
American Airlines 707-323C at Phoenix on November 10, 1973.
Arizona Air Guard KC-97L 53-0200 on approach to land at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix on November 10, 1973. Its construction number is 16982 and was built as a KC-97G. It had been retired to MASDC as CH0188 on April 16, 1965. It was converted to a KC-97L and returned to service on March 5, 1970. The cockpit of this Stratotanker survives on display at the WW-II Flying Museum at Gillespie Field, California
Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker 53-0200 Phoenix Sky Harbor November 10 1973: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 8" x 12".
American Airlines 707-123B N7551A landing at Phoenix on November 10, 1973. 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.
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.
TWA Boeing 707-331B N8732 at Phoenix on November 10, 1973.
American Airlines 707-123B N7591A at Phoenix in April 1974.
American Airlines 720-023B at Phoenix in April 1974.
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.
VC-137C, 72-7000 on approach to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on May 10, 1974 for a visit by Richard Nixon. It was one of two 707-353Bs used by the Air Force to transport the president. It carries Boeing construction number 20630 and was delivered to the Air Force on August 9, 1972.
VC-137C 62-6000 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on May 11, 1974. An American Airlines 707-323 rotates for take-off in the background.
VC-137C, 62-6000 carries Boeing construction number 18461. It made its first flight on August 10, 1962 and was delivered to the Air Force on October 9, 1962. It is now on display at the National Museum of the Air Force Presidential Aircraft Hangar.
Link to Museum of the Air Force fact sheet about VC-137C 62-6000
Arizona Air Guard KC-97L 53-0200 on approach to land at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix on November 10, 1973. Its construction number is 16982 and was built as a KC-97G. It had been retired to MASDC as CH0188 on April 16, 1965. It was converted to a KC-97L and returned to service on March 5, 1970. The cockpit of this Stratotanker survives on display at the WW-II Flying Museum at Gillespie Field, California
Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker 53-0200 Phoenix Sky Harbor November 10 1973: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 8" x 12".
Air Charter West DC-3 N100ZZ at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on December 7, 1974 was formerly Royal Canadian Air Force 12972.
Arizona Air Guard KC-97L 53-0200 at Sky Harbor on December 7, 1974.
Arizona Air Guard KC-97L 52-2696 at Sky Harbor on December 7, 1974. It was built as a KC-97G Stratotanker, and its construction number is 17025. Note the TWA Lockheed L-1011 and American Boeing 707s on the left side of the picture.
Arizona Air Guard KC-97L 53-0200 at Sky Harbor on December 7, 1974.
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, 1974. It was destroyed at Beirut by Israeli shelling on June 16, 1982.
Arizona Air Guard KC-97L 53-0243 at Sky Harbor on December 7, 1974. It was built as a KC-97G Stratotanker, and its construction number is 16727. Its nose is on display in the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Nationbal Air and Space Museum.
TWA Boeing 727-131 N852TW at Phoenix on February 8, 1975.
Arizona Air Guard KC-97L departing from Sky Harbor on February 8, 1975.
American Airlines 707-123B at Phoenix on February 8, 1975.
American Airlines 707-123B landing at Phoenix on February 8, 1975.
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.
Western Airlines 720-047B at Phoenix on February 17, 1975.
American Airlines 707-123B at Phoenix on May 3, 1975.
C-97G 52-0923 departing from Sky Harbor in May 1975. It was built as a KC-97G Stratotanker, and its construction number is 16617. It was retired to MASDC a little over a month later on June 30, 1975.
Air traffic at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
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