Boeing 720 (N7527A)

Great piece of history thanks - love the background

Sweet.

That is definitely CLE.
The SkyWay Lounge which became a Girves Brown Derby, then torn down and now a gas station and fast food restaurant.

Love these old shots. Thanks!

I have never heard of a 720. This looks like a 707 to me.

the Boeing 720 is the short haul version of the 707, shorter fuselage and less range.

Thank you very much. Good to learn new trivia facts.

I was an inspector on 707 Final Assembly in Renton 1958-59. An extremely well engineered and built aircraft. When the first 707 presidential jet came through Final Assembly, it was triple inspected, by Boeing, FAA and Secret Service personnel.

Brookpark Rd and Rocky River Drive don't look like that anymore, and haven't for years.

Great shot.

There were a lot of differences between the Boeing 707-120 and 020. It was very soon designated model 720 because United Boss Pat Patterson did not want United Air Lines to "appear" purchasing Boeing 707 equipment after their big order and promotion (including Jet-O Rama) for the Douglas DC-8. When ordered the DC-8 was actually a "paper aircraft" and resulted in Boeing redesigning the upper fuselage lobe to seat six across and sported a two inches wider cabin than the DC-8. Ancient history however: "History not recorded correctly becomes myth." Living Legend Barry Schiff 2017. This noted I was commuting between LAX and SFO and back when we had a rare static discharge about 0300 in the morning after the actual trip had been cancelled for maintenance reasons. Crew only the Boeing needed to be back in LAX for departure later in the day; that never happened. Beginning with Saint Elmo's Fire we had a massive static discharge/lightning strike when "ball lightning rolled out of the center stack, hovered and bounced back the floor. It was amazing and the size of a basketball. It actually never touched anything but rather just "hovered." The lights went out when it hit the pressure bulkhead. Damage was very extensive although we never knew until blocking in at LAX. The flight was crew only (ORD based) on the jet and my memory is still crystal clear on the event that happened in 1969 perhaps 15 minutes out of SFO over the Pacific. The aircraft was registered N7201U which was actually the prototype 720. Later it would do service for such events as the Led Zeppelin band tour and others receiving a number of different paint schemes too. Last time I photographed N7201U was parked in storage at Stapleton in 1972. Easy way to spot a 720 in old photos is a single over-wing exit and no TC hoods on number 1 and 4 engines. With the JT-3D engines and light weight it was like a Rocket ship! Prior to being on UAL's payroll I began my aviation airline career with Continental. United Air Lines never upgraded the engines from original equipment as AA had. And their original order was for 29 aircraft.

Brings back childhood memories hanging out at KDAL!