ASME-Landmark:Boeing 367-80

After World War II, British and Canadian companies and The Boeing Company realized that the new gas turbine engines developed during the war provided the basis for a better commercial transport airplane. Great Britain's "Comet" flew first, but Boeing decided that flexible, sweptback wings would give more speed, a better ride, and improved economics.

The Boeing 367-80, also known as the Dash-80, is the prototype for most jet transports. Its success was due largely to its mechanical systems, including turbine engines with thrust reversers and noise suppressors, redundant hydraulic control systems, and an improved cabin-pressurization system. Honeycomb flap panels were introduced, along with a strong, lightweight structural design that controlled fatigue cracking. These led to several innovations in aircraft tooling and manufacturing techniques.

The 367-80 flew in research and development service with Boeing from 1954 until 1970. In 1955, the Dash 80 flew from Seattle to Washington, D.C. in 3 hours, 58 minutes; transcontinental flights by commercial airlines using the 707 took only 5 hours. This was some 3 hours faster than the fastest piston-powered airliners.

The Dash-80 was the first commercial airliner economical enough to take the US airline industry off subsidy. Moving from piston engines to gas turbines, aircraft then flew at higher altitudes with less vibration. The 707's speed, comfort, and popularity led to Boeing's reputation as a world leader in aviation. In 1972 Boeing donated the Dash-80 to the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian. See ASME website for more information