Fortunately, the operation was completely successful and meticulous records were found, including information on a new concept, "swept-back" wings. The Germans had run wind tunnel tests and found that the swept back principle reduced drag and improved performance tremendously. Information from the German files also showed the advantages of having jet engines placed in pods hung from the wings on struts. Up to that point, engineers worked on the theory that they could use existing airframe designs, simply replacing piston engines with jet engines. They discovered, however, that aircraft behaved differently at jet speeds. They had also been working with the concept of rigid straight wing bombers with the engines buried in the wings. With this new information, aircraft manufacturers found it necessary to go back to the drawing board. Some straight wing aircraft were produced, but became obsolete within a few months. Boeing was the first manufacturer to build a successful jet bomber, the B-47, utilizing the swept wing concept.
The data accumulated while testing the B-47 gave Boeing the idea for a commercial jet transport. Converting various configurations of the B-47 to the standards of a jet transport was an expensive project. Boeing therefore decided to design an aircraft whose major components could be used either for military or civilian applications. A military version was essential since start-up costs for a commercial transport would not be covered by initial orders. Various designs incorporating features of both the B-47 and B-52 were tested. In 1952, a prototype called the Dash-80 was built. The 707 was developed from the Dash-80, and in July 1955 Pan Am placed its first order for the 707.
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The first commercial jet flights began in the United States in 1958 with the Boeing 707. SIFCO Forge Group provided compressor components for the J-47 Engine which powered the 707. |
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