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Post by Herman on Apr 28, 2017 17:10:07 GMT
JUst curious. Did United's Boeing 720-Short Tail ever enter service?? HJG Image.  Boeing Photo.  United AL Photo.  Herman |
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Post by Peter Liddell - HJG Admin on Apr 28, 2017 17:59:42 GMT
Based on a little photo research...
Only 2 were rolled out with the short fine, N7201U and N7202U. Both were not delivered for several months after the 1st delivery of N7203U. 7203U seems to of been delivered with the later fin.
My guess is they were held back to be rebuilt with the taller fin?
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Apr 28, 2017 20:56:22 GMT
Peter's "CORRECT" .... as the hold-over occurred following the fatal pre-delivery test flight "prang" of one of the BRANIFF B707-220's.
The end result of that particular "prang" was the 3 FT tail extension and ventral fin which was applied to all B707's/B720's from 1960 .... and retrofitted to all earlier deliveries also.
The 3FT tail extension stayed with the B707/B720 right throughout its production .... BUT .... the ventral fin was carried forward only until the early production B707-320B .... and was also i,mplemented to the B707-420 as well.
The B707-320B ADV and -320C both lacked the ventral fin which by the time of their production and entry to service was probably deemed unnecessary .... the tail extension having resolved the earlier stsability issue that was contributing factor to the "prang" of the BRANIFF aircraft during 1959.
COMING BACk TO THE SHORT TAILS .... but ... only in "B707" form.
Excluding the early KC-135's which aren't B707's despite there similar appearance .... initial production short tail B707's entered PAX service from 1958 and in B707-120, -138, -320, and -420 form.
The short tail -120's were flown by AMERICAN, CONTINENTAL, PAN AM, and TWA .... all of which are available from HJG.
The short tail 138's (a similar but different/shorter aircraft than the -120) were a QANTAS exclusive from 1959 .... also available from HJG.
The short tail -320's entered service with AIR FRANCE, PAN AM .... and I think TWA had some too .... each from around 1959/60 .... all of which are available from HJG as well.
AND .... the short tail -420's entered service with AIR INDIA .... and I think LUFTHANSA's earliest deliveries were of this specification too .... and from around 60 .... and which are also available from HJG.
All of these aircraft were very quickly modified with the tail extension, and ventral fin, additions following the 1959 "prang" of the BRANIFF intended B707-220 (it hadn't been delivered to the airline at the time though) .... and which also became a mandatory British CAA airworthiness requirement prior to BOAC being authorized to fly the B707-420.
Mark C
AKL/NZ
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Post by Herman on Apr 28, 2017 22:46:41 GMT
OK, thank you Peter and Mark. All makes sense. Lacking a production and delivery list, I was not sure whether the short fin 720's ever entered revenue service.
Herman
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