The 707-320C is a 4-engine, narrow-body commercial jet aircraft developed and manufactured by American aerospace company Boeing. The -320C is the final variant of the historic 707 family, an aircraft line that first took to the sky on December 20, 1957.
By the early 1950s, Boeing had established a strong lineage of military aircraft, notably the B-17 Flying Fortress of World War II fame, the B-47 Stratojet, and the enduring and iconic B-52 Stratofortress. With sights set on the growing commercial market, the company unveiled the 707 in 1954. The 707 quickly became one of the most successful aircraft to that point in the company’s history. It was the opening of the incredibly successful 7x7 lineage, and it ushered in the Jet Age. The 707-120, the initial release of the 707 line, was followed by a series of improved variants. These saw use on all types of commercial air routes, globally. They were also put into military service for a variety of mission types, including in-flight refueling and intelligence gathering.
Boeing introduced the 707-320C, the final version of the 707 line, in the early 1960s. The -320C was a “convertible” (hence “C”) variant, able to serve as a passenger carrier or to move cargo. The C was an enhanced iteration of the 707-320B, the most distinguishing feature of the C being the fuselage cargo door. The -320C also boasted an updated wing with three leading-edge flaps and improved take-off and landing performance.
The 707-320C was the most successful and the most numerous of the 707 family with 337 manufactured. Airlines including Northwest, Pan Am, Air France, and Braniff flew the airframe, using it on a wide variety of lines due to its versatility. Produced until 1978, 707-320C flew into the early 21st Century.
The 707-320C was crewed by three and could carry up to 219 passengers, 13 pallets of cargo, or a combination of both. The aircraft measures 152 feet, 11 inches in length, stands 42 feet tall, and has a wingspan of 145 feet, 9 inches. It is powered by four wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT3D low-bypass turbofan engines, each developing up to 19,000 pounds of thrust. The jetliner has a range of 3,337 miles and it cruises at 604 miles per hour.