Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Long-range commercial transport

Power Plant:

Four 17,000 lbst Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3 turbofans

Specifications:

History:

Following some years of service with the 707-138 series, Qantas looked to a larger and more powerful aircraft due to increased traffic loads. Boeing had been developing the series as more powerful engines became available and in 1963 Qantas ordered the Model 338C, which was convertible to enable the company to use the aircraft to carry a full load of freight or be in all-passenger configuration. The first of these aircraft VH-EBN arrived in Sydney on 15 February 1965.

The Model 338-300 series was a larger aircraft powered by four 17,000 lbst JT3D-3B turbofans and had a gross weight of 151,180 kg (333,000 lb). However, cruising speed was reduced to 917 km/h (570 mph). All had a 3.35 m by 2.28 m (11 ft by 7 ft 6 in) cargo door fitted and could be used as cargo aircraft if required. The Model 707-338C could fly from Sydney to Buenos Aires in Argentina non-stop.

Qantas aircraft in the 707-338C series were: VH-EBN (c/n 18808 – ‘City of Parramatta’) exported to Singapore Airlines as 9V-BFW; VH-EBO (c/n 18809 – ‘City of Townsville’) exported as 9V-BFN; VH-EBP (c/n 18810 – ‘Alice Springs’) exported to Trans World Airlines as N14791; VH-EBQ (c/n 18953 – ‘City of Ballarat’) exported to Malaysian Airlines as 9M-ASQ; VH-EBR (c/n 18954 – ‘City of Wollongong’) exported to Malaysian Airlines as 9M-ATR; VH-EBS (c/n 18955 – ‘Kalgoorlie’) exported as 9M-ASO; VH-EBT (c/n 19293 – ‘City of Bendigo’) exported to ITEL Corp as G-BFLE; VH-EBU –(c/n 19294 – ‘City of Broken Hill”, later ‘City of Parramatta’) sold to Air Niugini as P2-ANH; VH-EBV (c/n 19295 – ‘City of Tamworth’) exported to Zambia Airways as 9J-AEL; VH-EBW (c/n 19296 – ‘City of Armidale’) exported to British Caledonian Airways as G-BDEA; and VH-EBX (c/n 19297 – ‘Port Moresby”; later ‘City of Port Moresby’ and ‘City of Parramatta’) exported to British Caledonian as G-BCAL.

Further 707-338Cs were obtained and these were: VH-EAA (c/n 19621 – ‘City of Toowoomba’) exported to Itel Corp as OO-YCK; VH-EAB (c/n 19622 – ‘City of Canberra’; also ‘Winton’) exported to ITEL Corp as OO-YCL; VH-EAC (c/n 19623 – ‘City of Sydney’; also ‘Longreach’) exported to British Caledonian as G-BDKE; VH-EAD (c/n 19624 – ‘City of Melbourne’, also ‘City of Newcastle’ and ‘City of Ballarat’) to the RAAF in March 1979; VH-EAE (c/n 19625 – ‘City of Brisbane’, later ‘Swan Hill’) exported to ITEL Corp as G-BFLD; VH-EAF (c/n 19626 – ‘City of Adelaide’, also ‘City of Townsville’ and ‘City of Armidale’) exported to Korean Airlines as HL-743; VH-EAG (c/n 19627 – ‘City of Hobart’, also ‘Alice Springs’) to the RAAF; VH-EAH (c/n 19628 – ‘City of Perth’, also ‘City of Launceston’) to ITEL Corp as HL-743; VH-EAI (c/n 19629 – ‘City of Darwin’, also ‘City of Kalgoorlie’) exported to British Caledonian Airways as G-BDLM; and VH-EAJ (c/n 19630 – ‘City of Geelong’, also ‘City of Broken Hill’) exported to British Caledonian as G-BDSJ. VH-EAG made the last scheduled Qantas Boeing 707 flight from Auckland, NZ to Sydney on 25 March 1979.

Most were sold overseas as they were replaced by Boeing 747s, and two were sold to Air Niugini (VH-EAA and VH-EAB) becoming P2-ANB and P2-ANA respectively. In the mid 1980s Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) bought an interest in Transcorp Airways (HK) Ltd, a Perth-based freight charter operator, this company operating a leased Boeing 707-331C (9G-ACY) on freight work.

Four were obtained by the Federal Government for the RAAF to be used as VIP transports. Two A20-624 (c/n 19624 – ‘Richmond Town’ – ex VH-EAD) and A20-627 (c/n 19627 – ‘Windsor Town’ – ex VH-EAG) were operated by No 34 Squadron in this role, being based at Richmond, NSW, and regularly being flown overseas taking high-ranking members of the Australian Government. They were also used to carry Australian troops overseas on exercises. As a military transport they could seat 173, but were able to be converted for VIP use to seat about 60.

In 1983 the Australian Government purchased two further Model 707-338Cs A20-623 (c/n 19623 – ex C-GRYN, G-BDKE, VH-EAC) and A20-629 (c/n 19629 – ex VH-EAI) for the RAAF, these also being used for long-range transport duties and to supplement the Lockheed C-130 Hercules force within Australia.

In 1986 the Australian Government announced it would convert four Moel 707-338Cs to air-to-air refuelling configuration for the McDonnell Douglas FA-18 Hornet fighter force. These aircraft were operated by No 33 Squadron from RAAF Richmond. The last RAAF Boeing 707 was retired in June 2008. The type was also used for VIP flights but, because of their inability to meet noise requirements at a lot of overseas and Australian airports, the Government was not prepared to re-engine the aircraft.

After retirement A20-627 (ex VH-EAG) was dismantled at RAAF Richmond in November 2009 and used for training purposes at that base. This was the 707th Boeing 707 built. It was eventually cut up and the fuselage was used by the Department of Defence at the Army base at Holsworthy, near Sydney, for anti-terrorist training. When the aircraft was retired from RAAF service the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) sought to obtain the aircraft but to no avail. In mid-2015 the forward fuselage of the aircraft was retired from its training role and conveyed to the HARS facility at Albion Park, NSW, where it was restored to its original configuration and placed on display.

Five further Model 707s were purchased for the RAAF, four being converted to tanker configuration. A20-623 and A20-629 were purchased from Worldways Canada, and three Model 707-368Cs were obtained form Saudia Arabia, becoming A20-103 (ex HZ-ACG), A20-261 (ex HZ-ACI) and HZ-ACC (c/n 19809), the latter being used for spares and as a training aid. A20-103 was lost off the Victorian coast near East Sale on 29 October 2006 during asymmetric training; and A20-261 was retired in August 2006 and sold to Turbine Motor Works in the United Kingdom.

Following the retirement of the type from RAAF service on 30 June 2008, three aircraft (A20-623, A20-624 and A20-629) were placed in storage at RAAF Richmond pending their sale. In late 2011 these three aircraft were sold to Omega Air Inc in the United States and became N623RH, N624RH and N629RH respectively. These aircraft were to be operated as tankers, to eventually be fitted with twin-point fuselage mounted hose and drogue systems and at some stage to be re-engined with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines. Omega also obtained the 707 simulator from RAAF Richmond. Omega Tankers provided aerial fuel support for the delivery of Boeing FA-18F Super Hornets to the RAAF.

One other Boeing 707-330C was registered to Ansett Transport Industries. This aircraft, VH-HTC (c/n 18937 – ex VR-HTC – ‘Brisbane’), was registered from 28 October 1988 to 14 January 1992, being placed in storage at Perth, WA in December 1990 and was exported to Bulgaria as LZ-PVA to Global Air in December 1991. In addition, two 707-320 series aircraft were leased by Qantas. These aircraft were: VH-EBZ (c/n 19354 – ‘City of Swan Hill’), a Model 707-349C which was leased from Aer Lingus from September 1970 to September 1971; and N7099 (c/n 19108), a Model 707-327C leased from Braniff Airways from January to September 1971.

Many Boeing 707s have visited Australia over the years, and occasionally freight operators have visited Australia using the type. The US Air Force re-engined many of its tanker fleet and these have occasionally been seen in this area during exercises.