The 707 quickly became the most popular jetliner of its time. Its popularity led to rapid developments in airport terminals, runways, airline catering, baggage handling, reservations systems and other air transport infrastructure. The advent of the 707 also led to the upgrading of air traffic control systems to prevent interference with military jet operations.
Though it was introduced in the 50’s, the Boeing 707 revolutionized flying in the 60’s when commercial jetliners became the standard way to fly. There were earlier attempts to break into commercial aviation but until the Boeing 707, nothing changed. Soon, between the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC8, air travel meant flying with jet power. Passengers liked the speed and comfort of the jetliners and air travel began to boom.
Pan American Airways was the first airline to fly the 707 on a non-stop flight from New York to Paris in 1958. Flying reached a new level of speed and comfort. Contrast this with your last flight.
You could argue that the advances in airliners since that time have added nothing to the quality of air travel. Planes don’t travel faster and even though they carry more people, service and comfort have dramatically worsened. There is no reason for this degradation in quality except that the public demands cheap travel and will accept any and all humiliations necessary to make it happen.
A 707 was luxury all right. My first experience with commercial air travel was when I lived in Valdosta, GA, and went to military school in Atlanta…245 miles and three stops away…riund trip twice a month in a Martin 404.
You haven’t lived until you look out the window at that big honking turboprop leaking oil faster than it burned fuel, and then when landing at Albany, GA, the first of the three stops, you peek ahead and see that the pilot had made such a low approach that he is going to have to climb to avoid hitting the 100 foot drop off at the end of the runway…
I guess not. Our most harrowing air flight was from Long Beach to Catalina Island for our honeymoon. Those small planes do nothing to build confidence in air safety. Still we survived to tell the tale.