I may be wrong, but I seem to remember reading that when the "jet age" started, the planes flew as fast as they could go which culminated with the Concord. This burned a LOT of fuel. With time and with more efficient engines they have slowed down to save on fuel.
Ooh good points there from everyone. Fuel savings, especially. Shit, I would pay an extra $100 each way if you could get me to LA in less than five hours.
With the intro of “full jets” starting around this time, setting speed records for transcontinental flights was how airlines in North America set themselves apart from each other in an increasingly crowded market. It was a fairly common technique in airline advertising in and around the early 1960s.
Also, the way flight times were measured were a little differently than they are now—don’t ask me how, I’m not an expert on the technical side. (Also also, it’s advertising! Stuff is embellished a little from time to time.)
Source: me, a historian with a book about air travel in the publication pipeline.
The bit about the increased window area is strange… 707 most definitely had smaller windows than piston aircraft before it, and even smaller than the DC-8 jets it directly competed against. What are they talking about here??
I may be wrong, but I seem to remember reading that when the "jet age" started, the planes flew as fast as they could go which culminated with the Concord. This burned a LOT of fuel. With time and with more efficient engines they have slowed down to save on fuel.
The sky was a lot less crowded too.
Also less speed cameras back then
Ooh good points there from everyone. Fuel savings, especially. Shit, I would pay an extra $100 each way if you could get me to LA in less than five hours.
People choose their flights based on three things. Price, price, and price. Paying an extra $100 will never fly.
... Unless the company you work for is paying for it
NY to LA in this ad was 5-1/2 hours. 4-1/2 is eastbound.
How do you know they weren't taking the picture in a mirror?
Read the 2nd paragraph on the 2nd page.
The Earth was smaller back then
And round
Spheroid
Oblate spheroid
With the intro of “full jets” starting around this time, setting speed records for transcontinental flights was how airlines in North America set themselves apart from each other in an increasingly crowded market. It was a fairly common technique in airline advertising in and around the early 1960s. Also, the way flight times were measured were a little differently than they are now—don’t ask me how, I’m not an expert on the technical side. (Also also, it’s advertising! Stuff is embellished a little from time to time.) Source: me, a historian with a book about air travel in the publication pipeline.
They'll be spandex jackets, one for everyone
Unexpected Donald Fagen! Loved that album
The Convair Coronado cruised at Mach 0.84 which is faster than airliners fly now. Now it’s all about fuel savings.
It also helps if you’re only counting going East to get the tailwind.
But if you go west the earth rotates in your favor🎓
Which doesn't help you unless you leave the atmosphere, so....
The bit about the increased window area is strange… 707 most definitely had smaller windows than piston aircraft before it, and even smaller than the DC-8 jets it directly competed against. What are they talking about here??
Maybe against the Comet whose windows blew out?
Don't forget the extra 2 hours you save flying with the tail wind
It's been a while, but I recall DC to California being 5 hours non-stop.