Boeing 707

The Boeing 707 transformed commercial aviation and made intercontinental jet travel accessible to the masses. Developed from the Model 367-80 Dash 80 prototype, it entered service with Pan Am in 1958 on transatlantic routes. The 707 slashed travel times by half compared to piston airliners and offered a smooth, quiet ride above the weather. It dominated the airliner market and established Boeing as the world's leading commercial aircraft manufacturer. Over 1,000 were built for airlines and military customers. The 707 spawned a family of aircraft including the KC-135 tanker that continues to serve the US Air Force today. It truly made the world a smaller place.