The birth of the classic and game-changing Boeing 707 was no secret – everyone knew – but the lay media has continued to keep pedaling the myth that Boeing stole a march on its competitors by hiding the design under model numbers 367-80.
Another related myth was that Boeing had secret German aerodynamic wing designs and that also gave the company an edge. Again, utter nonsense.
Certainly, Boeing’s George Scharer was at Volkenrode in May 1945 and saw firsthand German aerodynamic data, but the top-secret files were shared. The author has been to the Douglas archives and seen over 10 five-draw cabinets full of German aerodynamic data so that “secret” data was available to Douglas -and all other manufacturers – years before the advent of the 707 vs DC-8 competition.
In fact, Douglas built many military fighters in the late 40s with swept wings and also built B-47s for Boeing at its Tulsa plant in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In its annual report of 1952, Boeing announced under the headline “Jet Transport-Tanker Begun” that work had started on a jet transport prototype in the spring of that year.
It stated: “We are of the opinion that the company can build a prototype transport which will enable it to demonstrate to the military the principal characteristics of a combination tanker and jet transport, and at the same time demonstrate to the commercial airlines the principal characteristics of a production airliner.”
It estimated the cost at $15 million.
That year Boeing reported sales of $739 million and a net profit of $14 million with a backlog at $1.6 billion, so not exactly betting the company as many say.
Down the coast, Douglas Aircraft Co. posted a profit of $10 million on sales of $522 million and held a backlog of $1.8 billion.
It stated in its annual report that it has spent $1 million of engineering work for a jet transport.
Just 12 months later in its 1953 annual report, Boeing showed images of its 707 prototype under construction announcing it would fly in the fall of 1954.
This is the first photo of the 707 shown in Boeing’s 1953 annual report
At Douglas, despite soaring sales, profits, and a backlog of $874 million, $18 million, and $2.2 billion respectively the company dithered saying that studies continued.
On May 14, 1954, the prototype 707, dubbed the 367-80, was rolled out and flew on July 15, 1954.
Douglas would not commit to its DC-8 for another full year and thus lost precious time in what would be the greatest sales race in aviation history.
And because it had not built a prototype and was playing catch up problems arose that were very costly to rectify, damaged sales, and also impaired its ability to compete with Boeing that swept all before it with the slightly smaller 720 and three-engine 727.
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