Boeing's Bid

In a walled-off section of Boeing's airplane factory near Seattle last week, General Curtis LeMay, boss of the U.S. Strategic Air Command, scrambled under scaffolding to inspect the giant, four-jet 707, the first jet transport built in the U.S. Said LeMay: "Quite an airplane. A versatile baby that really ought to make the British look up."

General LeMay was thinking of Boeing's swept-wing 707 as a rival for Britain's Comet jetliners as well as a flying tanker-transport to refuel his jet bombers in midair. To Boeing, which has built more than 600 of LeMay's six-jet B-47 bombers and is now turning out the eight-jet B-52, the big plane was also a lot more than just an aerial nursemaid. Boeing President William M. Allen thinks his new 707 has an even greater future as the first U.S. commercial jet transport, and has gambled $20 million of Boeing money that the airlines will agree. The first test flight is scheduled for August.

If the 707 lives up to the engineering estimates. Bill Allen should win his gamble. The big plane will carry from 80 to 130 passengers at 550 m.p.h., will be able to fly nonstop from New York to London in less than seven hours, Los Angeles to New York in less than five. The 707, say Boeing's engineers, will also be able to operate successfully over almost any medium-range route now flown by airlines. It has a low enough landing speed (105 m.p.h.) to get into any big city airport, a high-enough operating efficiency to carry passengers profitably even on relatively short hauls.

The first models will probably cost about $4,000.000. v. $1,500,000 for the propeller-driven Boeing Stratocruiser. But Boeing figures the airlines will more than make up the difference through faster schedules and easier maintenance. The four Pratt & Whitney J-5U jets have fewer moving parts to get out of whack, are hung under the wings in pods for easy repairs. Pilots will also have things easier. The 707's flight deck has only 179 switches, levers, panel instruments and warning lights, v. 404 on the Stratocruiser.

Boeing's first orders for its 707 will probably come from the Air Force. But Boeing also hopes to line up commercial orders and beat out not only Douglas, but the British as well. Britain's sleek Comet III, the first Comet U.S. airlines are interested in, will be ready late in 1956.

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