Boeing 367-80
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
The Boeing 367-80 or "Dash 80", as it was called within Boeing, was a prototype jet transport built in less than two years from project launch in 1952 to rollout on May 14, 1954 for a cost of $16 million dollars (US). This was at the time an enormous risk for the Boeing Company, since they had no committed customers for the project.
The prototype was the basis for both the KC-135, an air tanker used by the United States Air Force, and the Boeing 707 airliner. To enable the fitting of six-abreast seats, the 707's fuselage had to be widened by 6 inches (150 mm) compared to the original 367-80. This unexpected cost made the project even riskier.
Prior to building this prototype, Boeing officials tried to convince airlines and the Air Force that this would be an aircraft that would be useful and economical. These potential customers were unconvinced, because they had no experience with jet transports, and in the case of the airlines, were successful with reciprocating engined aircraft such as the DC-4, DC-7, Boeing 377, and Lockheed Constellation. Boeing decided that only way to convince potential customers was to show them a completed aircraft. In its first demonstration appearance, its pilot performed a barrel roll, which amazed the audience and brought attention to the aircraft.
This one-of-a-kind aircraft was flown to Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. on August 27, 2003 after being fully restored by Boeing. It was later put on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, an annex of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum located at Dulles.
