Why is a Boeing 707 called a 707?

Siskin

I understand that it's purely an order or process number. When a new model is designed they then take the next production number - something peculiar to Boeing. May 16 02, 7:04 PM

Barrow boy

This is the version I know. The only two jet airliners preceeding the 707 were the de Havilland Comet and an Avro Canada airliner that never made it into production. But both employed late 1940's design features. The 707 followed some three to five years later and a crucial feature was that it had to be bigger and faster. This meant making use of swept wing technology, which had been scarcely used in the earlier Comet. From an early stage it was envisaged that the airliner would have a leading edge sweep of 45 degrees, and that's what eventually emerged. The project was given the number 707 because the sine (and cosine as well) of 45 degrees is 0.707. May 17 02, 7:38 AM

eliasen

Interesting story! I had to check this out--the wing sweep angle seems to be 35 degrees, though--at least according to the article below. I think that would make it the Boeing 819, or the Boeing 573. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/b707.htm May 20 02, 3:28 AM

Barrow boy

I accept defeat! Another urban myth goes out the window! See http://www.neam.co.uk/comet.html May 21 02, 10:40 AM