1957 introductions

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 50. Chapters: Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Boeing 707, Helvetica, M60 machine gun, Cessna 150, Omega Speedmaster, Whopper, Univers, Tang, Space Age, Azusa, Newport, Area code 509, Sea-Monkeys, IBM 608, Wódka Zoladkowa Gorzka, Formula 409, Sweet'n Low, Vita Cola, Odakyu 3000 series SE, R22, Area code 907, Prince, Clean & Clear, Corn Popper, Dream Pets. Excerpt: The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on October 26, 1958. Boeing delivered a total of 1,011 Boeing 707s including a smaller, faster model of the aircraft that was marketed as the Boeing 720. Although it was not the first commercial jet in service, the 707 was among the first to be commercially successful. Dominating passenger air transport in the 1960s, and remaining common throughout the 1970s, the 707 is generally credited with ushering in the Jet Age. It established Boeing as one of the largest makers of passenger aircraft, and led to the later series of aircraft with "7x7" designations. Boeing, during and immediately after World War II, was known for its military aircraft. The company had produced innovative and important bombers, from the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress, to the jet-powered B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress. The company's civil aviation department lagged far behind Douglas and other competitors, the only noteworthy airliners being the Boeing 314 Clipper and 307 Stratoliner. During 1949¿1950, Boeing embarked on serious studies for a new jet transports, realizing that any design must have the potential to fulfill both the military and civil markets. At the time, aerial refueling was increasingly becoming a standard operational technique, with over 800 KC-97 Stratotankers being on order. With the advent of the jet age, a new tanker was required to meets the USAF's fleet of jet-powered bombers; this was where Boeing's new design would potentially win military orders. Boeing studied a numerous wing and engine configurations for its new transport/tanker, some of which were based on the B-47 and C-97, before settling on Model 367-80. The "Dash 80" took less than two years from project